DJ Snake
Who was DJ Snake?
French DJ and producer who achieved global success with electronic dance hits like "Turn Down for What" and "Lean On."
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on DJ Snake (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, known as DJ Snake, was born on June 13, 1986, in Paris, France. He became one of the big names in electronic dance music during the 2010s, known for his unique sound that mixes trap, EDM, and global music. He went from working behind the scenes to becoming an international star and an important artist in modern electronic music.
DJ Snake first got noticed in the music world for his production work with well-known artists, including contributions to Pitbull's "Shut It Down" and Lady Gaga's "Applause." He hit it big in 2013 with "Turn Down for What," a collaboration with rapper Lil Jon that became a global hit. The track, released by Mad Decent and Columbia Records, was a huge commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning eight-times platinum status from the RIAA. Its lively and wild music video was nominated for a Grammy and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction in 2014.
Riding this wave of success, DJ Snake kept producing hit collaborations that dominated electronic dance music in the mid-2010s. His 2015 single "Lean On," made with Diplo's Major Lazer and featuring Danish singer MØ, became one of the most successful electronic dance tracks ever. The song topped charts in nine countries and hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100, further proving his talent for creating hits that appealed to both electronic and mainstream music fans.
His debut studio album, "Encore," came out in 2016, showing his skill in putting together full albums in addition to singles. The album reached number eight on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Let Me Love You" with Justin Bieber, which also became a top-five Billboard Hot 100 song. His second album, "Carte Blanche," released in 2019, included the worldwide hit "Taki Taki," featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B. Throughout his career, DJ Snake has been a constant presence at electronic music festivals and has been recognized by industry magazines. Billboard placed him ninth on their 2018 Dance 100 list. He has won numerous awards, including several NRJ DJ Awards and NRJ Music Awards for DJ of the Year, marking his lasting impact in the electronic music world.
Before Fame
Growing up in Paris during the rise of electronic music in the 1990s and early 2000s, DJ Snake was part of the city's lively music scene from a young age. His early years matched the global spread of electronic dance music, as styles like house, techno, and later dubstep gained mainstream popularity beyond the underground club scene.
Before gaining fame as a solo artist, DJ Snake refined his skills as a producer by working on projects for well-known artists in different genres. This period helped him develop his production skills and understand the business side of music, ultimately preparing him to move from session producer to headline artist when electronic dance music exploded in the early 2010s.
Key Achievements
- "Turn Down for What" reached number 4 on Billboard Hot 100 and earned octuple platinum certification
- "Lean On" topped charts in nine countries and became one of the most successful EDM tracks of all time
- Debut album "Encore" peaked at number 8 on Billboard 200 with hit single "Let Me Love You" featuring Justin Bieber
- Won multiple Billboard Music Awards for Top Dance/Electronic Song in 2015 and 2016
- Received MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and multiple NRJ DJ Awards and Music Awards
Did You Know?
- 01.His stage name "DJ Snake" was inspired by his ability to slither between different musical genres and his fascination with the reptile
- 02."Turn Down for What" became one of the most-used songs in sports venues and was featured in numerous film trailers and commercials
- 03.He was selected as an alternating supporting act alongside Dillon Francis for Skrillex's Mothership Tour in 2014
- 04."Lean On" became the most-played song on Spotify in 2015 and accumulated over 2 billion views on YouTube
- 05.He has Algerian heritage through his family background, which has influenced some of his musical choices and collaborations
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction | 2014 | — |
| Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song | 2015 | — |
| NRJ DJ Awards | 2015 | — |
| NRJ DJ Awards | 2017 | — |
| NRJ DJ Awards | 2018 | — |
| NRJ Music Award for DJ of the Year | 2018 | — |
| NRJ Music Award for DJ of the Year | 2019 | — |
| NRJ DJ Awards | 2019 | — |
| NRJ Music Award for DJ of the Year | 2020 | — |
| Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song | 2016 | — |
| NRJ Music Award for DJ of the Year | 2021 | — |
| American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers | 2019 | — |
| Latin American Music Awards | 2019 | — |
| Lo Nuestro Awards | 2019 | — |
| MTV MIAW Awards | 2019 | — |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2021 | — |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2014 | — |