Vic G Expands ‘DAT BOI’ With a Vertical Music Experience

The R&B, Afrobeat and reggae artist celebrated his new single with a Los Angeles performance, vertical video premiere and a closer look at the creative process behind the record.

5,566 3 minutes read

R&B, Afrobeat and reggae artist Vic G at The DAT BOI Experience in Los Angeles celebrating his single “DAT BOI.” — R&B, Afrobeat and Reggae Recording Artist Vic G performs at the DAT BOI Experience. For Media Use Credit Ricardo Photography --

For Vic G, the rollout surrounding “DAT BOI” extends beyond releasing another single.

The R&B, Afrobeat and reggae artist brought the record into a broader visual and live-performance setting during The DAT BOI Experience on Aug. 25 at El Cid on Sunset in Los Angeles, where the evening combined a red carpet, live music, a vertical music video premiere and an introduction to the creative process behind the project.

Created by director and producer Zarian “King Z” Hadley, founder of Zakanda Entertainment, in collaboration with Green Boy Music, the event placed “DAT BOI” at the center of an experience that connected recording artists, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals.

For Vic G, that environment reflected the musical direction of the single itself.

“I wanted ‘DAT BOI’ to feel soulful, rhythmic and global. It’s rooted in my R&B background, while Afrobeat and reggae allowed me to take the music somewhere new,” Vic G said.

Taking ‘DAT BOI’ From the Record to the Stage

Vic G performed “DAT BOI” alongside Jamaican reggae artist Mr. Suprize, backed by The Frequency Squad band.

The performance gave the audience a live interpretation of the song’s blend of contemporary R&B, Afrobeat and reggae, bringing together the musical elements Vic G has increasingly incorporated into his work.

Dancehall and Billboard recording artist E. Dee Dennis also delivered a surprise performance during the evening.

Red carpet attendees included Ras Kass, Lizzy Jeff, Fik-shun, also known as Dushaunt Stegall, Qbwoy, Baby Mahusay, Shawn Cornist, Cheryl K., the Roney Boys, PR1ME, Louis Harden, Invinceable, Brooke Ivory and others from across music and entertainment.

But the evening’s larger creative proposition arrived when “DAT BOI” moved from the stage to the screen.

Vertical Filmmaking Becomes Part of the Release

Hadley directed and produced the “DAT BOI” music video specifically in a 9:16 vertical format.

Rather than treating vertical video simply as a social-media adaptation of a traditional music video, the project approaches the format as its own visual canvas, using movement, performance and composition designed around the way audiences increasingly consume entertainment on mobile devices.

“Vertical filmmaking allows us to rethink how audiences experience music visually. With ‘DAT BOI,’ we paired that cinematic approach with a micro-doc to take viewers beyond the performance and into the people, emotion, and creative process behind the project,” Hadley said.

The video features Vic G alongside Mr. Suprize and Binghi Canusee, who also appears on the single.

Afrobeat choreographer Nksogorgeous contributes to the visuals as well. Her previous work has appeared in music videos involving artists including Davido, Wizkid, Cardi B, Chris Brown and Ciara.

The finished “DAT BOI” vertical video is available through Hadley’s @ZARIANH YouTube channel.

Going Behind the Record With ‘The Power of Support’

The DAT BOI Experience also introduced “The Power of Support,” a micro-documentary series examining the creation of the record and the people involved in bringing the project together.

The series appears on Look at Zakanda, Zakanda Entertainment’s vertical content platform focused on microdramas and micro-documentaries.

That additional layer makes the “DAT BOI” campaign notable beyond the music video itself.

Instead of allowing the finished song and visual to represent the entire story, the documentary component opens the production process and creative relationships behind the release to the audience.

For an artist who has already spent years performing and recording, the expanded format provides another way for Vic G to introduce where he is heading next.

Vic G Builds From an R&B Foundation

Although “DAT BOI” reflects Vic G’s movement into Afrobeat and reggae influences, his foundation remains rooted in R&B, gospel and classic soul.

The Cincinnati native previously served as lead vocalist for the group III Frum Tha Soul and has accumulated recording credits alongside Gerald Levert, Angie Stone and Keith Sweat.

His performance history also includes six victories at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.

That background provides useful context for “DAT BOI.” The record is less a departure from Vic G’s earlier musical identity than an expansion of it, taking the vocal and soul foundations of his past work into a broader rhythmic space.

The combination also mirrors his stated intention for the record: music capable of retaining its R&B center while reaching beyond a single genre framework.

With “DAT BOI,” Vic G is pairing that musical evolution with an equally intentional visual rollout.

A live performance establishes the song in front of an audience. A vertical music video adapts its imagery to contemporary viewing habits. A micro-documentary series gives viewers access to the collaboration behind it.

Together, those elements turn a single release into something closer to a developing creative world around the music.

“DAT BOI” is available through Green Boy Music, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming platforms.