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Lelowhatsgood Is Redefining Gqom With New EP
Lelowhatsgood is proving that Gqom still has plenty of room to grow. The Johannesburg-born producer just released a project that pushes the genre forward. AfrobeatsGlobal explores how his new Lelowhatsgood gqom EP is reshaping South African electronic music.
The producer’s latest project, titled “Rebirth Is Necessary,” follows his debut album “Next Level,” which earned a SAMA nomination. He discovered gqom growing up in Durban, where the sound first captured him during his high school years. Since then, his relationship with the genre has only deepened.
How Lelowhatsgood’s Gqom EP Pushes Boundaries
Lelowhatsgood wants his music to stay rooted in tradition while sounding futuristic at the same time. “I wanted to stay true to my roots and also be quite daring,” he explained. His approach blends the raw energy of classic gqom with more experimental electronic elements. As a result, the new EP feels both familiar and completely fresh.
Beyond production, the artist has built a multidisciplinary career that spans events, writing, and DJing. He curates VNJ Ball, an inclusive movement celebrating queer culture through music, art, and fashion. Furthermore, his work has connected gqom’s origins to broader conversations around identity and self-expression. This makes his artistic vision unusually layered for the genre.
A Sound Shaped By Durban And Beyond
Lelowhatsgood describes how gqom has evolved significantly since his teenage years discovering it. “We have a lot more tools now to use to our advantage,” he said. He credits globalized influences and digital media for shaping how the genre sounds today. Consequently, the gqom being made now looks very different from its earlier, rawer form.
His debut album, “Next Level,” featured five songs covering a wide range of South African electronic styles. The lead single, “Ba Ko Kae,” intentionally departed from convention by not centering isiZulu vocals. Meanwhile, another standout track, “Mind ur Business,” morphed from Afro tech into full gqom mid-song. That risk paid off, becoming one of the year’s most daring production choices.
The producer’s new EP builds on that same spirit of experimentation and boundary pushing. It also reflects his belief that gqom is a language rather than just a sound. Additionally, his artwork for the project features fragmented imagery inspired by a close friend and fellow artist. This visual concept mirrors the themes of transformation running through the music itself.
As gqom continues gaining international attention, artists like Lelowhatsgood remain central to its evolution. His work bridges Durban’s township roots with a more global, forward-facing sound. Therefore, this new EP cements his place as one of the genre’s most compelling voices right now. Fans of South African electronic music should not sleep on this project.
What do you think of Gqom’s evolution? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Share this post with every Afrobeats fan you know. Follow AfrobeatsGlobal for daily updates on the music you love. Check out our previous blog post on Shoday Opens Up on His Biggest Fear as an Artist.
