DJ DIESEL and LAYZ’s long-awaited collaboration “BRING THE PAIN” has arrived with full force. The single not only sets the tone for a blistering festival season but also marks the official reveal of DJ DIESEL’s forthcoming EP, MOST DOMINANT set to drop July 18th.
Continuing his mission to spotlight the bass music community on a global stage, DJ DIESEL (aka Shaquille O’Neal) continues building authentic friendships with the genre’s top rising producers. “BRING THE PAIN” has already stirred immense excitement following its live debut at EDC Mexico and a surprise back-to-back at Shaq’s Bass All-Stars in San Francisco, with mosh pits and crowd roars marking every play.
“BRING THE PAIN” immediately pulls listeners into its chaos with a commanding spoken-word intro from Shaq layered atop acid-drenched synths, laser-like FX, and crushing distortion. As tension builds, claps cut through the mix, driving energy skyward before Shaq bellows: “BANG IT ON MY CHEST, IN THE PIT, ‘BOUT TO THROW A FIT.”
What follows is a cavernous dubstep drop that rattles the floor, only to be outdone by the second drop’s hard techno onslaught — a surprise switch-up that hits like a freight train. Built for the festival mainstage, this is a destructive anthem engineered to level any crowd.
QUOTE FROM DJ DIESEL:
“This record means a lot to me. I love working with artists who are hungry and have that raw power behind their sound. LAYZ is one of the most talented young producers out there right now, and the energy we created in this track is pure madness. ‘BRING THE PAIN’ is just a taste of what’s coming.”
The single arrives after a string of heat from DJ DIESEL, including the trap-dubstep hybrid “Pay Respect” with GorillaT and FRAXURE, the DnB anthem “Run It” with IVORY, and his colossal debut with Virtual Riot, “Damage.” All three singles will appear on MOST DOMINANT, which will also feature four brand-new collaborations with a range of cutting-edge bass producers, rounding out an eight-track EP that showcases his most ambitious sound design to date.
Both artists continue riding major momentum. DJ DIESEL just announced new editions of Shaq’s Bass All-Stars in Sacramento this July and Boca Raton in August, with a stacked roster of support including Juelz, Rated R, and Celo. He also maintains a Las Vegas residency at The Wynn and continues to perform across international festivals under the Medium Rare banner.
As for LAYZ, the breakout bass phenom has had an explosive run in 2025. Following the release of her viral hit “LIGHTS OUT” with Calcium, she took the stage for an unforgettable B2B with Kompany at Forbidden Kingdom and was recently announced on this year’s Lost Lands lineup. Known for delivering bone-rattling drops and relentless energy, she has quickly cemented herself as one of dubstep’s fiercest rising forces.
With “BRING THE PAIN,” DJ DIESEL and LAYZ have unleashed a true festival weapon. It is a battle cry for bass lovers and a high-octane preview of what both artists have in store for the months ahead.
ABOUT DJ DIESEL:
Globally recognized as “The World’s Biggest DJ,” the Hall of Famer first discovered dance music after crashing TomorrowWorld festival in 2014, and that event changed his life forever after being exposed to DJs such as Tiesto, Steve Aoki, and Skrillex. Shaquille has been passionate about music from a very young age — at just 14 after O’Neal saw Public Enemy live for the first time, sandwiched in a crowd of 5,000 people, he became fixated on DJ’ing. He cut his neighbors’ grass, walked dogs, and scraped together any cash that he could until he saved up $200 to buy his first set of turntables at a local pawn shop. Fast-forward to today, Medium Rare has booked DJ DIESEL across global festivals such as Tomorrowland and Lollapalooza, secured his residency at The Wynn in Las Vegas, and launched his personal festivals — Shaq’s Fun House and Shaq’s Bass All-Stars.
Before his foray into electronic music, Shaquille O’Neal, a.k.a. DJ DIESEL, had already marked his territory in the music world. His musical journey began in the early ’90s when he released his platinum-certified debut album, ‘Shaq Diesel’, which boasted chart-topping hits such as “What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock)” and “(I Know I Got) Skills”. This was followed by the gold-acclaimed ‘Shaq Fu: Da Return’ and later by ‘You Can’t Stop the Reign’ and ‘Respect’, each painting a portrait of his versatile musical identity. While the trajectory of his music career has seen shifts and evolutions, one thing remains constant: DJ DIESEL’s unyielding passion for rhythm and rhyme.
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ABOUT LAYZ:
Leyla Ali, known professionally as LAYZ, has stormed onto the bass scene and quickly become a fan favorite. Establishing herself in the dubstep community for producing the heavy, new age sound and bringing it to the touring circuit with sets filled with energy and excitement. LAYZ has toured with Excision, Kayzo, Sullivan King, Wooli and more, in addition to festival plays at EDC Las Vegas, Lost Lands, EDC Orlando and Mexico, Bass Canyon, Rampage Belgium, Hard Summer and many others. Her music has been seen on labels such as Monstercat, Subsidia, Welcome Records, Disciple Round Table and Bassweight. She has grown an international fan base bringing her to new levels after every tour stop and song released.
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MONSTERCAT’S NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS/ACCOLADES:
- Their track “Give in to you” by Rezz, Virtual Riot, & One True God was just nominated for a 2025 Juno Award
- 5 releases each week across its Uncaged, Instinct, and Silk imprints
- Genres range from bass, dance, pop, house, chill, electronic, and others
- Hosted stages at festivals like Tomorrowland, EDC, ADE, and Miami Music Week
- Syncs and gaming partnerships with Fortnite, Rocket League, Roblox, and more
- Founded in 2011, Monstercat now has 3 hubs across Vancouver, Toronto, and LA
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