Watch DJ Lag & Mr Nation Thingz Celebrate Viral Single “Hade Boss” With New Visuals

Collaborations are the driving force behind South Africa’s dance music scene. For "Hade Boss," DJ Lag responded to a collaboration request from Mr Nation Thingz, the rising vocalist whose music predominantly leans into amapiano and who had previously scored a breakout hit with “Tholakele.”

After winning the Best Gqom Album at last year’s SAMAs for Meeting With the King, DJ Lag experimented with amapiano — teasing the possibility of fusing his gqom core and 'piano to come up with a veritable, signature sound. “Hade Boss,” the resulting collaboration with Mr Nation Thingz, is an ultra-funky banger that folds log drums and other ‘piano-related elements into Lag’s patented gothic sound, a style he’s chosen to refer to as "shubo."

Created to evoke the breezy days of December, when many South Africans are seeking fun thrills, Mr Nation’s booming voice bellows out infectious chants throughout the song. Topically, he demands a yearly bonus from his employer, so there’s enough in his pocket for a good time out, a sentiment many can relate to.

At the end of the last year, Mr Nation Thingz performed “Hade Boss” on stage to consistently raucous reception and shared the track on TikTok, a move that inspired a viral dance trend. Exclusives are a huge promotional tool in South African dance music, and “Hade Boss” already scored DJ Lag and Mr Nation a hit single before its official release in mid-January.

In the new visualiser, the pair, along with co-producer K.C Driller, celebrate the viral dance moves that made the single an online hit. The visuals, shot at a parking lot in Johannesburg, features dancers from Soweto’s Finest dance studios, recreating the viral TikTok dance steps, as well as other choreographed moves.

Watch the visualiser for “Hade Boss” here.