In a recent interview with GQ, the producer Dlala Thukzin said his 2023 “iPlan” changed how he views himself as an artist. Thukzin watched as tracks like “iPlan” topped charts and “take on a life of their own”. The success confirmed to him that his voice had a place in the music world.
Born Thuthuka Wandile Zindlovu, the producer began his solo career in 2020 before “iPlan” became one of South Africa’s biggest hits three years later. The following year, “AmaGear”, which featured Zee Nxumalo and Funky Qla, hit #5 on Local Streaming Top 10.
South African dance music
Thukzin’s “iPlan” was a significant part of South African dance music growing in the 2020s. The producer has helped build the success of gqom: he produced “Umngan’wami” for Babe Wodumo, which helped popularise the genre. Last year, Rolling Stone Africa covered the rise of 3-step and credited Thukzin, along with other DJs like Mörda and Atmos Blaq, with championing the genre.
Thukzin dips into other styles, including amapiano and 3-step, which have also gained global popularity (Zindlovu won Best New International Act at the BET Awards in 2025). The producer told GQ that his fusion of sounds is “a way to bring people together”. In the digital age, one country’s trend can become a global sensation. Amapiano – a mix of deep house, R&B, and kwaito, among other styles – has been widely listened to and discussed across the continents. The possibility for trends to cross the oceans is seen across all media: music, film, TV, food, fashion, and gaming. In iGaming, certain titles like Aviator have found their way to South African platforms after first becoming popular abroad; South Africans can play Aviator for real money.
Thukzin was first recognised by his own continent; he won Best Gqom Album and Best Dance Album, among other awards, at the South African Music Awards and All Africa Music Awards. Thukzin told GQ that his community remains his “foundation” and “inspiration”.
Origins of gqom
Gqom is a subgenre of house music, which originated in Chicago, USA in the 1980s. House has since become a worldwide genre and inspired many other styles, including Johannesburg’s kwaito, which eventually helped birth gqom.
The success of gqom was neatly summarised by Resident Advisor, who pointed out that the music had been used in The Lion King, sampled (controversially) by Will.i.am, heard at an NBA match, and played at festivals across the world.
Gqom is known for heavy bass and a dark, hypnotic sound. Back in 2015 when it had taken Durban by storm and was beginning to influence London club culture, the producer Lag told Dazed that he was “amazed” that a British label wanted to release his music. Dazed said gqom’s success was an example of local music finding pockets of “avid fandom” internationally.
DJs have often blended gqom with hip-hop and sgubhu, which follows the more traditional 4-beat pattern of house (rather than 3-beat, as in 3-step). The collective RudBboyz said they sometimes blend the gqom with hip-hop and pop; Masive told Independent Online said that gqom is “just beats”, but when you add different sounds to beats and drums, the result is unique.
Masive said that the style referred to as broken beats was their starting point: RudeBoyz took that and made it “darker”, using strings, synths and drums to experiment with an “almost metal, hard rock” sound. That was back in 2011-12, he said.
Rudeboyz collaborated with Sykez and Skillz for the track “Sisekakeni Babies” the same year as Dlala’s “iPlan” was released.
“iPlan”
Dlala’s big hit arrived on his 2023 EP Permanent Music 3; the song quickly surpassed 2 million streams on Spotify alone. It was soon certified 2x Platinum and hit #1 on South Africa’s Billboard chart.
He told Independent Online that he was trying to address the emotional and social issues of the every day, and credited Sykes and Zaba for “breathing life” into the track.
The song is built around a repetitive bassline and fidgety percussion; it promises to build to a crescendo but after almost four minutes in, a brief instrumental passage is followed by another patient, restrained vocal. Then a drum roll does increase the energy, and Dlala’s electronic percussion takes on a bigger role, the compressed snares becoming the lead instrument.
Thukzin has been making music since an early age. He was inspired by his uncle, who was also a DJ. Thukzin began playing local Durban clubs and now runs his own “one-man” concerts and sells out “Dlala Thukzin Weekend” three-day events. GQ called him one of the country’s most influential DJs.