Gqom () ( igqomu (), gqom tech, sgubhu, 3-step or G.Q.O.M) is an African electronic dance music genre and subgenre of house music, that emerged in the early 2010s from Durban, South Africa,
Unlike other South African electronic music, traditional gqom is typified by minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass but without the four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern.
Music industry personnel who were pivotal in accelerating the genre's international acclaim in the genre's initial developmental phases included the likes of South African rapper Okmalumkoolkat, Italian record label Gqom Oh owner Nane Kolè, as well as other South Africans, including event curator and public relations liaison Cherish Lala Mankai, Afrotainment record label owner DJ Tira, Babes Wodumo, Mampintsha and Busiswa.
Lexicology and morphology
The word
gqom derives from an
Onomatopoeia combination of
click consonants in the
Zulu language which could be interpreted as a "hitting drum", "
ricochet" or "bang".
Gqom's isiZulu
pronunciation is pronounced with an
alveolar click followed by a
guttural "om". The word itself in a literal sense resembles the sound produced by a
kick drum.
It is also expressed as GQOM (stylization), gqom tech, sgubhu, qgom, igqom, gqomu or variants thereof.
Characteristics
Gqom is known for its beats which have a minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass as well as incorporations of
techno, Durban kwaito, kwaito,
maskandi, afro house,
breakbeat,
tribal house and broken beat.
Traditional gqom is mainly described as having a dark and hypnotic club sound. The style of beats does not primarily use the four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern which is often heard in other house music.
Typical
Lyrics themes include
nightlife. It often uses one phrase or a few lines which are repeated numerous times in the song. Gqom was developed by a young generation of technologically skilled DJs producing in D.I.Y. fashion with software such as
FL Studio and often self distributing their music on
file sharing platforms.
Griffit Vigo is credited for pioneering the 'sweep' sound used within the genre, described as having a sound that resembles "the sound of a
broom".
Other notable sounds include, tom rolls and Zulu
.
Gqom production and mixing
In 2018, Rudeboyz noted that they occasionally blend gqom with an array of other genres such as hip hop and
Pop music.
Gqom musicians often blend (gqom and
Afro tech), together.
Additionally, DJs commonly blend gqom with a conspicuous combination of sgubhu and hip hop during their
DJ mix.
Sgubhu employs the typical elements found in gqom music production, however what sets it apart is the
Bass drum. In sgubhu, the kick follows a consistent 4-beat pattern reminiscent of traditional house music and deep house.
In 3-Step, a predominant 3-beat pattern or beats are commonly arranged in groups of three.
Gqom 2.0, is characterized by a slower
tempo, infused with other elements such as amapiano.
Gqom exhibits variances in rhythm, for instance such as a 3-step (three-step),
Quadruple meter (four-step) and
Duple metre tempo patterns.
History
Gqom emerged in the early 2010s.
Influences in the 2010s, cite acts such as Naked Boyz, prominently known for producing the track "
Ithoyizi" which appeared on Afrotainment signee DJ Cndo's compilation as well as music producers Blaq Soul and Culoe de Song's inclination towards tribal house which involved experimenting with beat formations. Additionally, in certain Durban nightclubs, early gqom and tribal house seamlessly alternated in DJ sets, while the music of Durban kwaito,
Pretoria (bacardi house) and
Eastern Cape (
isjokojoko) record producers like
DJ Spoko, Machance,
DJ Mujava, DJ Mthura and DJ Soso as well as
sgxumseni (attributed to
DJ Clock and DJ Gukwa) were prevalent during the era.
From the mid-2010s, the genre gained prominence abroad, especially in London.
" Wololo" singer and choreographer, Babes Wodumo, received a nomination for the BET Awards, , category.
In 2018, Babes Wodumo made an appearance on the Marvel Comics, compilation by Kendrick Lamar showcasing a gqom vocal style delivery on the song " Redemption",
Duo, FAKA's (comprising Desire Marea and Fela Gucci) music from their " Amaqhawe" EP was enlisted by Italian fashion luxury Fashion design Donatella Versace for the Versace Spring 2019 Menswear Collection, fashion show.
Both Distruction Boyz (comprising Que DJ and Goldmax) as well as Babes Wodumo
In 2019, DJ Lag produced the song " My Power" for Beyoncé featuring various artists inclusive of songwriter and singer Busiswa and musician as well as dancer Moonchild Sanelly, the song was on the track list of The Lion King–inspired album, titled .
Thabo Ramokoena founded the Annual South African Gqom Awards. The awards honor various facets of gqom across different domains, including fashion and music, featuring 25 categories. The inaugural ceremony was held at the ICC Arena on 20 April 2019.
In 2021, the South African Music Awards, officially introduced separate categories for gqom and amapiano, which had previously been awarded under the Best Kwaito Album category.
DJ Lag won the Best Gqom album at the, South African Music Awards.
Subgenres
Afrikaans gqom
Afrikaans gqom (also Gqom Afrikaans) integrates Afrikaans language associated with Afrikaans culture and musical influences. It merges the distinctive beats and rhythms of gqom with Afrikaans lyrics and themes and appeals to Afrikaans-speaking audiences.
, rap-rave duo
Die Antwoord and rapper Slagysta's "
Baita Jou Sabela" 2019 single displayed a combination of
Afrikaans, English and
Sabela rap vocal-delivery.
Some yaadt music producers ( a type of Afrikaans musical style originating in Cape Town) for instance Darryl Davids who produced "
Baita Jou Sabela" are influenced musically by Distruction Boyz and Babes Wodumo's music.
Prominent Afrikaans gqom musicians include Barkie Vieslik, Temple Boys Cpt, Weh Sliiso, Jay Music and Dlala ikamva Badlalele ikamva.
Core tribe
Core tribe gqom is characterized as frequent use of triplets (tresillio rhythm) as well as a blend of percussion patterns with tribal vocalizations.
Syncopation plays a significant role in the production style, emphasizing drums over melodies. Illustrations of core tribe gqom music are Da Soul Boyz'
Welcome To Durban EP and Dominowe's "
Darbuka Tribe (Core Tribe)", single.
Electro gqom music (EGM)
Electro gqom music, abbreviated and referred to as "EGM" was introduced by Distruction Boyz and Griffit Vigo. It is characterized as upbeat and incorporates percussion instrument elements. EGM is described as dark,
Futurism, esoteric and
Spirituality evocative.
From the Streets to the World, an album by Distruction Boyz released in November 2019, demonstrated EGM.
Gqom 2.0
Gqom 2.0 is characterized by decelerated beats and incorporates elements of amapiano, afrohouse, and afrotech.
Church Grooves
Church Grooves, also referred to as gospel gqom or "Cape Town gqom" pioneered by
Mr Thela, Mshayi and Cairo CPT in the 2020s incorporates
gospel music and sgubhu elements interwoven with gqom in the form of a "church keyboard"-driven sound.
Gqom tech
Gqom tech blends traditional gqom with elements of
tech house and electro. The genre features a diverse array of musicians, including notable figures such as Menchess and singer, Skyes.
Gqom trap
Gqom trap, blending elements of gqom and
trap music, arose in the 2010s, pioneered by the Durban hip hop collective Witness The Funk.
In 2018, Record producer,
DJ Maphorisa's
BlaqBoyMusic EP, was an amalgamation of gqom and trap. The EP's opening song "
Walk ye Phara" featured DJ Raybel, rapper and songwriter K.O., Moonchild Sanelly and ZuluMakhathini.
BlaqBoyMusic included other various rappers, singers, record producers, and guest appearances by musicians such as Bontle Smith,
A-Reece,
Lerato Kganyago, Wichi 1080 and Lucasraps.
Trap and amapiano rapper
Costa Titch's
Gqom Land EP released in 2019, comprised three songs, whereas the rapper delivered his verses over gqom beats.
Sgubhu
Sgubhu, a variant of gqom and a form of house music, shares certain characteristics with gqom but distinguishes itself through its beat structure. In a 2019 Afropop Worldwide interview transcript, Citizen Boy described sgubu as featuring a three-step esque kick pattern and the incorporation of
, citing DJ Maphorisa, Shimza and Moonchild Sanelly's "
Makhe" single, as an example. Unlike typical gqom, sgubhu features a significantly steadier kick drum pattern often following a consistent 4-beat rhythm, resembling traditional house music and infused with elements of deep house.
In praise of an Emo Kid song (regarded as one of the pioneers of sgubhu), Griffit Vigo remarked:
Taxi kick
Taxi kick, is characterized by a heavily distorted
Bass drum,
and triplets. It was created to specifically attract taxi passengers for taxi business owners and drivers. TLC Fam, a
Newlands West musical collective comprising 23 record producers, disc jockeys, dancers and
emcees developed as well as popularized the taxi kick, sound alongside other producers spanning the late 2010s and early 2020s.
3-step
Following the introduction of the term "three-step" as an additional name for gqom music and a gqom beat structure associated with
triple time coined by gqom producers in the 2010s, subsequent to the genre gaining mainstream popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s, Emo Kid, DJ Lag, Ben Myster, and Menzi introduced, pioneered and developed a distinct variation of gqom known as "3-step" (also referred to as 3 step, three-step, and similar spelling variants). 3 step music is characterized by its gqom elements combined with triple time and broken beat features. Producers often blend 3-step with various other production styles and musical genres.
Triple metre, also referred to as triple time or American triple metre, is a musical time signature distinguished by its primary division of three beats per bar. This is typically indicated by a 3 (for simple) or a 9 (for compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with examples such as , and being most prevalent. In 3-step, beats are often organized in sets of three, which gives rise to a triple metre characteristic in the music or song.
In 2023, Dlala Thukzin and Kabza De Small collaborated for the release of a single titled, " Magical Ideas" featured on Thukzin's, Permanent Music 3, EP.
uThayela
uThayela, meaning "
corrugated iron" symbolizes its ability to induce the physical shaking of objects (often cited as a
roof) in the literal sense due to its
Subwoofer broken beat gqom sound, crafted specifically for nightclub environments. The EP
Uhuru by DJ Lag exemplifies this style of gqom. The genre was pioneered by Uniticipated Soundz.
Derivative and fusion genres
Amapiano
Amapiano, combines elements of house, piano melodies, kwaito, gqom, deep house, jazz,
Soul music and
lounge music.
Amapiano
often feature sounds curated from gqom music.
Initially known as
iNumba the genre derives its name from IsiZulu which translates to "the pianos". Amapiano is thought to have evolved in various
Johannesburg townships as well as introduced, pioneered and popularized by a plethora of various producers and DJs for instance The Soul Dictators,
MFR Souls, Arasoul,
Gaba Cannal,
Dj Stokie, Kabza De Small, Luu Nineleven, Busisiwa, Sphectacula and DJ Naves, DJ Maphorisa and Sha Sha.
Bérite club
In
France, in 2016, musical artist
Teki Latex and various other French record producers introduced a new French
club music sound, dubbed "bérite club" blending elements from genres gqom, afro trap,
Baltimore house, ballroom house,
kuduro and
Grime music.
Cruise (Nigerian cruise)
In the 2020s, a new musical phenomenon emerged in
Nigeria known as Nigerian cruise, also referred to simply as "cruise" or "freebeat". The genre's name was coined by the WhatsApp generation. A typical cruise song encompasses a blend of gqom and amapiano, integrated with elements of techno, melodies with
afrobeats influences, sharp percussion, rapid tempo and often vocal samples featuring
Nollywood actors,
, or snippets from
social media and
Televangelism. Original recordings are often remixed by dancers who accelerate the tempo of the music, filming themselves dancing to the beat, and subsequently sharing these videos on
TikTok. In 2022, MOVES Recordings,
Cruise, compilation showcased the Nigerian cruise sound. It featured artists DJ Stainless, DJ Elede, DJ Yk Mule (pioneer of Nigerian cruise), DJ West, Fela 2, and DJ OP Dot. Notably, in 2020, "
Zazu Beat" by DJ Yk Mule and Portable was released, while "
ZaZoo Zehh," released in 2022 by Poco Lee, Portable,
YBNL Nation founder and rapper
Olamide, made an entry into the Billboard Global 200.
Street pop
Street pop (also known as street hop) is an experimental vocal-rap musical style, which originated in
Lagos, evolving from a fusion of Nigerian hip hop,
popular music,
Afropop, afrobeats and Nigerian street music. It was influenced by artists like Danfo Drivers, Baba Fryo and
Daddy Showkey (known for galala, a dance and music genre derived from the efforts of
Nigerian reggae musicians in the 1990s) as well as shaku shaku, originally a Nigerian dance style influenced by gqom, which later evolved into a distinct music genre. Street pop is distinguished by its upbeat tempos and its incorporation of gqom,
highlife, pop, hip hop and other
EDM music elements. Although, street pop songs typically feature a rapid tempo, slower-paced street pop music is also common. It features a fusion of
Melody , urban colloquial language,
Nigerian Pidgin,
Yoruba language, singing as well as indigenous and Western rap. Lyrically, it frequently explores themes of improvement of quality of life and
Invocation across various
. Variants of street pop are neo-
Fuji music, shaku shaku and zanku. Notable musicians of the street pop genre include Marlian Records label founder and rapper
Naira Marley, Slimcase,
Mr Real, Olamide, Idowest, Reminisce,
Rexxie,
Zlatan Ibile (Zanku records), 9ice,
Lil Kesh,
Zinoleesky,
MohBad, T.I Blaze, Poco Lee,
Asake, Portable,
Bella Shmurda, Balloranking,
Seyi Vibez,
DJ Kaywise and
Sarz.
Quantum sound
Quantum sound is a taxi-kick influenced genre and it is characterized by its
re-editing style. Musicians ascribed to the genre include RealShaunMusiq, Sizwe Nineteen and Nandipha808.
UK gqom
Scratcha DVA envisioned UK Gqom as a unique offshoot of gqom, influenced by British club culture, particularly the
UK funky sound. An illustration of UK gqom is KG & Scratchclart's EP
The Classix. Other notable releases include the EPs
& Baga Man and
Touch by KG & Sctratcha DVA.
Notably musician, Kode9 (Steve Goodman a pioneer of dubstep) as well as head of the electronic music label Hyperdub exhibited a heightened interest in gqom in the mid-2010s. Various United Kingdom record labels such as Gqom Oh!, Hyperdub and Goon Club All Stars, released gqom records by gqom pioneers and record producers such as Mafia Boyz, Dominowe, Cruel Boyz, Angrypits Fam, DJ Lag, Julz Da Deejay, Formation Boyz, 3D & Untifam, DJ Mabheko, Angelic Fam, Forgotten Souls, Chaostee, Swag Fam, Mosthatedboyz, Untichicks, Formation Chix, TLC Fam, Unticipated Soundz, Emo Kid and Okzharp.
Alternative gqom
In 2017,
Electronic music rapper
Okmalumkoolkat's "
Gqi" alongside Amadando was produced by Rudeboyz (comprising Menchess and Massive Q).
Stiff Pap, a Cape Town-based duo comprising rapper Ayema Probllem and Jakinda, gained recognition with their debut EP Based On a Qho Story. The EP received critical acclaim and comprised a blend of gqom, kwaito, house and industrial music.
Sho Madjozi's Limpopo Champions League album was a mixture of gqom, hip hop, shangaan electro, trap, afrobeats, House music, pop, reggae, dancehall, R&B, and EDM. The album featured musical acts such as Makhadzi and rapper Kwesta.
In 2019, DJ Tira's self-produced album, Ikhenani (meaning "Canaan") consisted of a blend of genres gqom, maskandi, Gospel music, amapiano, trap and hip hop. The album featured several guest appearances including Chymamusique, Duncan, Skye Wanda, Dlala Mshunqisi, Kwesta, Hlengiwe Mhlaba and Tipcee.
" Bum Bum" by El Maestro featuring TP integrated components of afrobeat, gqom, amapiano and ragga.
In 2020, commercial gqom duo Worst Behaviour enlisted Okmalumkoolkat, DJ Tira, rapper Beast RSA, DJ Lag and Tipcee for the remix of their breakout single " Samba Ngolayini".
In 2022, The Natal Piano Movement's gqom album, The Legendary Edition was a fusion of gqom, deep house and amapiano.
Moonchild Sanelly's Phases album inclusive of a guest appearance by Blxckie showcased a mix of kwaito, gqom and amapiano interwoven with constituents of hip hop, jazz, pop, R&B and trap which Sanelly refers to as "future ghetto funk".
Australia
Rapper Teether and producer Kuya Neil, described their musical style as "future-focused rap" influenced by gqom along with other genres such as
bass music and footwork. Teether and Kuya Neil's nine-track album titled,
Stressor was released in 2023.
Austria
In 2024, Franchise released, "
Satisfaction".
Brazil
and other producers established a bridge between gqom and
Baile Funk (funk carioca), as seen with examples such as JLZ's
GQOM IDEIAS EP and State OFFF's "
I Need Some Baile-GQOM", song.
Canada
In 2021, musical artist
Jessy Lanza's contemporary house and techno
DJ-Kicks album incorporated elements of gqom, footwork and funk carioca.
China
In 2019, Chinese DJ and producer Terry Zhong, known for his gqom and afro house style, collaborated with Canadian electronic music record label
Monstercat to release his debut song which featured
Conro, "
Play It Cool".
Dominican Republic
In the late 2010s, musical artist
Kelman Duran explored musical styles originating from the African and Afro-Caribbean diasporas, including gqom, reggaetón, dancehall, kuduro, and hip hop. Duran's
13th Month album encompassed gqom, batida and
dembow beat.
France
The Gqommunion collective was initiated in 2017 by Sebastien Forrester and Amzo, the latter associated with the Gqom Oh!, record label. In 2019, Forrester released the gqom-inspired EP
Salvo, which additionally employed coupé-décalé rhythms.
Greece
In 2020,
Greeks duo Bang La Decks and
Dutch people producer Wiwek collaborated on a single titled "
GQOM". The duo and producer paid tribute to gqom while expressing their admiration for Guinean vocalist Mory Kanté by incorporating Kanté's vocal from his 1987, single "
Yé ké yé ké" into the record's production.
India
In the 2020s, musician Ravish Momin blended acoustic instruments with mechanical sounds to create a fusion influenced by gqom, kuduro and
mahraganat (a type of Egyptian electronic dance music). A notable song, "Song For The Zanzi" paid homage to the Zanzi (or
Siddi) people, an African diasporic community.
Indonesia
In 2024,
Bandung DJ and music producer REYY released a song titled, "
Tokyo Gqom", a remix of
Teriyaki Boyz' 2006 single,"
Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)".
Japan
In
Japan, a gqom scene emerged, spearheaded by DJ and producer
KΣITO, who was initially involved in the Japanese footwork scene. The record producer's interest in gqom grew in the mid-2010s. In 2016,
KΣITO released
Hatagaya an EP which incorporated gqom. Various other projects by
KΣITO, such as
Jakuzure Butoh, drew inspiration from gqom music.
Additionally, the producer established the USI KUVO record label, which serves as a hub for the Japanese gqom scene as well as released gqom records by Durban gqom artists such as Loktion Boyz. Some Japanese producers such as Indus Bonze, blend gqom with gorge, an experimental Japanese music style.
Mexico
In 2021, N.A.A.F.I (
Mexico DJ collective and record label) music producer OMAAR's,
Drum Temple album was inspired by gqom among other genres such as UK funky. Single, "
Drum Dance" was described as "a rapturous reinterpretation of gqom and techno, at once resembling an ancient ritual and an intense strength-training session" by Isabelia Herrera of Pitchfork.
Nigeria
Reggae-dancehall musician
Patoranking's 2017, released single "Available" fused afrobeats and gqom, the song produced by South African musicians DJ Catzico and Vista was described as "Patoranking proves how powerful gqom can sound in a pop setting" by Mike Steyels writing for Pitchfork.
In 2018, Citizen Boy, collaborated with
Nigerians singer Dapo Tuburna on the afrobeats and gqom single, "
Alala". The song was featured on the
B side of Citizen Boy's EP titled,
Gqom Fever.
"
Container" by
CKay was a fusion of gqom, jazz, afrobeats and trap.
Songwriter and singer
Yemi Alade featured on "
My Power" in, 2019.
South Korea
In 2018, boy band
BTS released "
Idol" from their
album. The song served as the album's opening track, drawing inspiration from and incorporating gqom rhythmic elements. Moreover, the band promoted an alternate, digital-only version of the song featuring Trinidadian-American rapper and singer,
Nicki Minaj.
In 2022, gqom trio Phelimuncasi (consisting of Malathon as well as
twin vocalists Makan Nana and Khera) enlisted, NET GALA to produce their song "
Dlala Ngesinqa".
Uganda
, record label Nyege Nyege Tapes, released gqom records featuring gqom pioneers, gqom record producers and vocalists such as Menzi Shabane, Phelimuncasi, Ugandan DJ Scoturn, DJ Ndakx and DJ Nhlekzin.
United States
In 2018, Nicki Minaj collaborated with BTS on "
Idol". In 2019, American rapper and singer
Tierra Whack and record producer as well as songwriter
Nija Charles featured on Beyoncé's "
My Power".
Beyoncé's, 2022
Renaissance studio album, incorporated gqom among other genres.
In March 2024,
Skrillex, Ahadadream and
Priya Ragu released the track "Taka", which integrated elements of gqom and South Asian music.
Zimbabwe
In 2017, DJ Tira teamed up with rapper Awa for a single featured on the rapper's debut album,
African Women Arise. The song was recorded in Germany.
In 2019, house musician DJ Juta and Bhizer, the record producer behind "
Gobisiqolo" collaborated for a single titled "
Ngiceli Space" which translates to "give us space to shine."
Gqom dance
Gqom music is associated with a number of distinctive dance moves, including
gwara gwara,
vosho and
bhenga.
Gwara gwara
Gwara gwara is performed by rolling and swinging the arm and the elbow in terms of making a circle, and one of the leg moves in connection with the arm's rhythm. It appears to have some similarities to the stanky legg, however it is distinct from it.
Gwara gwara
was made famous by South Africans DJ Bongz and musician
Babes Wodumo.
The dance move was created by disc jockey and producer DJ Bongz, and was heavily performed and popularized in the mid-2010s.
It also received widespread popularity globally as the choreography was adopted by notable musicians such as
Rihanna, who performed the dance move while performing "
Wild Thoughts" at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018.
Childish Gambino performed the dance in the video of his song "This Is America".
performed the dance in the choreography for their song "Idol".
See also
External links
-
Future Sound of Mzansi (Part 1), 2014 film documentary by Spoek Mathambo and Lebogang Rasethaba featuring gqom.
-
The Gqom Generation of Durban, South Africa (Afopop Worldwide podcast episode, 19 July 2018)
-
Gqom music: Spreading from Durban to the world (5 minutes) (First aired 22 November 2018 on BBC World Service - Global Beats) **See Gqom for the full podcast (53 minutes)
-
Versace Men's Spring-Summer 2019 Collection Show, Gqom used as runway music - (Versace, 2018)
-
BTS: IDOL | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, BTS, Jimmy Fallon, 2021)
-
Surf Sangoma (official trailer) - Gqom soundtrack (Disney+, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, 2023)
