Ashanti Riddim

THE REBELLION

Dubula (feat. Da Man)

Ubhiya

Shay'sana (feat. Kamo Mphela)

Umlilo (feat. Holy Alpha & Kay Faith)

Yebo (feat. Thobeka)

Head of the Gqom Oh! label, Nan Kolè has been undertaking a massive project over the past few months. Allying with Rome-based radio station Crudo Volta, Kolè has been travelling around South Africa, and Durban in particular, to investigate the various shades of Gqom that are gradually emerging. For many of these artists, the resultant Woza mixtape and the accompanying documentary are their first chance at exposure outside of the country. It's also an opportunity to contextualise Gqom and educate the rest of the world about the culture as a whole. Crafting a balance of the biggest hitters in the scene, the biggest tracks and those most representative of the sound and its scene must have been a difficult tightrope to walk. One of our favourites—and it really was tough to pick just one—was "Cruel Drumz", a dubby example of the gritty, minimal, bass-heavy sound of Gqom by Cruel Boyz (whose "Touch It" we premiered last year).

Read the full interview with label boss Nan Kolè here: http://uk.complex.com/music/2016/07/premiere-cruel-boyz-cruel-drumz

Premiere: Cruel Boyz - Cruel Drumz

Gqom Oh! records presents "The Originators"; a five track EP respresenting the past, the present and the future of Gqom - the thunderous club sound from Durban, South Africa. 

The Gqom Oh! label was set up by Rome-based DJ and musician Nan Kolè to highlight the music and artists of Durban, the often overlooked cradle of the new South African sound. The label's 2016 compilation - ‘Gqom Oh! The Sound of Durban Vol.1’ - broke the sound out of South Africa, Pitchfork calling it “The largest and most thoughtful survey of the genre available to western audiences to date”. Recently joining Kolè is Sboniso Brandon Luthuli aka Citizen Boy on the ground as local A&R. 

The EP's A-Side is dedicated to two of the genre's most prominent producers. DJ Lag is a frontrunner in pushing Gqom worldwide. Making music from a young age and building up a solid reputation in South Africa, he’s known as the "King of Gqom". Griffit Vigo, a real innovator in the Gqom genre, grew up in the same area as DJ Lag and has attained a legendary status amongst his peers.

"When I was in Durban the first time I noticed that Griffit Vigo was a kind of legendary figure, he'd been inspiring all the Gqom Durban artists for a long time. Nobody knew where he was but everybody was playing him and sometimes using his beats to make new songs. The main track 'Ree’s Vibe' was the peak moment of DJ Lag's sets all over the world. If Lag is the Gqom King then Griffit Vigo is the Gqom Legend."
- Nan Kolè 

Sbucardo is one of the most respected DJs around the streets and the townships of Durban. Featuring Abnormal on 'Iphoyisa', whose lyrics in Zulu translate to “We at the club, Mr police man don’t disturb us", the track represents the South African scene and Gqom culture in Durban very well. Naked Boyz (officially the first in Durban to explore new territories in broken beat in 2011) 'Story Teller' is characteristic of the Sgubhu style, a blend of Gqom with more conventional house sounds, the new genre taking over Durban and finding its way onto mainstream radio. Scene kingpins Rude Boyz round off the release's line up of Gqom originators with 'Umshunto'.

The Originators

Griffit Vigo - Gqomu 5 (2017 remastered)

Sbucardo da Deejay - IPhoyisa feat. Abnormal

Hagan x Gafacci - Yenko

The Gqom King

For inquiries contact: 
sevi@blackmajor.co.za

Bookings:
Africa: sevi@blackmajor.co.za
US: booking@onthesly.co 
EU & UK : toby@3feethi.com

Umlilo (feat. Holy Alpha & Kay Faith)

DJ LAG

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