# DJ Snake
**DJ Snake** is the stage name of William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, a French DJ and record producer born in 1986 in Paris, known for electronic trap hits such as "Turn Down for What" and "Lean On" and for three studio albums, *Encore* (2016), *Carte Blanche* (2019), and *Nomad* (2025).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) Of Algerian descent and raised in the Paris suburbs, he first gained attention producing for [Lady Gaga](https://www.edgepedia.org/lady-gaga) before his own singles turned him into one of the most-streamed French artists in the world.[2](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/djsnake/biography/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, born 1986 in Paris, France, to parents of Algerian origin[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [3](https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/dj-snake/actus/dj-snake-connaissez-vous-le-vrai-nom-du-dj-71298059) |
| Breakthrough | "Turn Down for What" with Lil Jon (2013), an EDM/trap hybrid that topped the US dance charts and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100[4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2018/Billboard-2018-08-11.pdf) |
| Biggest hit | "Lean On" (2015) with Major Lazer and MØ, a multi-platinum global chart-topper that became Spotify's most-streamed track up to that time[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [5](https://minatrix.fm/en/artists/name/dj_snake/) |
| Albums | *Encore* (2016, No. 8 on the Billboard 200), *Carte Blanche* (2019, No. 1 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums), *Nomad* (2025, 17 tracks)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [6](https://music.apple.com/us/album/nomad/1847992539) |
| Streaming | Four of his songs have each passed one billion streams on Spotify[2](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/djsnake/biography/) |
| Recognition | Two Grammy nominations: Album of the Year for his production work on Lady Gaga's *Born This Way* (nominated 2012) and Best Music Video for "Turn Down for What"[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [5](https://minatrix.fm/en/artists/name/dj_snake/) |
## Early life and start in Paris clubs
Grigahcine grew up in Ermont, in the Val-d'Oise department outside Paris, and began DJing as a teenager, playing hip-hop clubs in the capital.[7](https://mena.rollingstone.com/cover-story-2/dj-snake-cover-story/) • [8](https://clients.sacem.fr/actuimg/fr/live/v4/Createurs-Editeurs/grands-prix/2019/dj_snake.pdf) He has said he took up the turntables partly because he disliked dancing, and adopted sunglasses on stage to keep distance from the crowd; as a youth he also tagged walls as a graffiti writer, which is where the name Snake came from.[9](https://www.canalplus.com/articles/divertissement/en-aparte-dj-snake-se-livre-sur-canal-de-grand-timide-a-roi-des-platines-1) • [10](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/quien-es-dj-snake-el-parisino-que-acompanara-a-rihanna-en-el-super-bowl-2023-n/) The decisive moment, he has said repeatedly, was watching the turntablist Cut Killer perform from a window in [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/mathieu-kassovitz)'s 1995 film *La Haine*.[11](https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/dj-snake/actus/dj-snake-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-le-roi-de-l-electro-356539) • [12](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/08/24/behind-the-ears-of-dj-snake-edms-viral-hitmaker/)
His entry into production came through Lady Gaga. He sent a batch of original tracks to Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair, Gaga's touring DJ, and five were used on her albums, including "Government Hooker" on *Born This Way* (2011) and "[Do What U Want](https://www.edgepedia.org/do-what-u-want)" on *ARTPOP* (2013).[12](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/08/24/behind-the-ears-of-dj-snake-edms-viral-hitmaker/) The *Born This Way* credit brought a Grammy nomination when the album was up for Album of the Year in 2012, along with production work for Diddy and T-Pain.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [12](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/08/24/behind-the-ears-of-dj-snake-edms-viral-hitmaker/)
## Breakthrough singles, 2013 to 2016
In 2013 Diplo released "Bird Machine" on his [Mad Decent](https://www.edgepedia.org/mad-decent) label, and late that year "Turn Down for What," featuring the crunk rapper [Lil Jon](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-jon), became Snake's first bona fide hit. Built on booming 808 kick drums and a vocal synth lead, the EDM/trap hybrid topped the dance charts and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video spread widely through celebrity spoofs.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2018/Billboard-2018-08-11.pdf) In 2014 he collaborated with [Dillon Francis](https://www.edgepedia.org/dillon-francis) on "Get Low," and in 2015 he joined Major Lazer and the Danish singer MØ on "Lean On," which topped charts in more than a dozen countries; in November 2015 Spotify announced it had become the most-streamed track in the service's history to that point.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [5](https://minatrix.fm/en/artists/name/dj_snake/) • [13](https://time.com/4001153/diplo-interview/)
By 2015 he was among the most in-demand live acts in dance music: Forbes reported 87 gigs in the twelve months to June 2014, including Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas, with an estimated $12 million in earnings.[12](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/08/24/behind-the-ears-of-dj-snake-edms-viral-hitmaker/)
## Albums
**Encore (2016).** His debut album appeared on Interscope and reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200. It carried "Middle" with Bipolar Sunshine and "Let Me Love You" with [Justin Bieber](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-bieber), the latter topping charts and earning multi-platinum certifications worldwide.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) Critical reception was mixed: Pitchfork's reviewer called the party tracks exceptional but questioned the need for the album as a format, judging the ballads unnecessary.[14](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22197-encore/)
**Carte Blanche (2019).** The second album hit No. 1 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart and produced "Taki Taki" with [Selena Gomez](https://www.edgepedia.org/selena-gomez), Ozuna, and [Cardi B](https://www.edgepedia.org/cardi-b), which reached No. 2 in France, and "Loco Contigo" with [J Balvin](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-balvin) and Tyga, a French No. 1.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642) • [15](https://universalmusic.fr/artistes/30843093758) By 2019 SACEM, the French authors' society, which honored him that year, counted 4.6 billion views on his YouTube page and ranked him among Forbes' fifteen highest-paid DJs.[8](https://clients.sacem.fr/actuimg/fr/live/v4/Createurs-Editeurs/grands-prix/2019/dj_snake.pdf)
**Nomad (2025).** Released on 7 November 2025, *Nomad* is a 17-track, 58-minute album on DJ Snake Music Productions Limited under exclusive license to Interscope.[6](https://music.apple.com/us/album/nomad/1847992539) Rolling Stone UK reported it was five years in the making and shaped from 300 tracks, stitching together EDM-trap, Afrobeat, North African street music, reggaeton, dubstep, dancehall, and K-pop; standout track "Patience" reworks "Sabali" by the Malian duo [Amadou & Mariam](https://www.edgepedia.org/amadou-and-mariam) and was released with a short film about Senegalese migrants featuring [Omar Sy](https://www.edgepedia.org/omar-sy).[16](https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/dj-snake-nomad-album-review-55742/) • [7](https://mena.rollingstone.com/cover-story-2/dj-snake-cover-story/) Guests include [Stray Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/stray-kids), Travis Scott, Future, J Balvin, Don Toliver, and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, and the album debuts Snake's bass-driven alter ego The Outlaw on "Final Fantasy."[17](https://www.universalmusic.ca/2025/11/07/dj-snake-releases-long-anticipated-new-album-nomad/)
## Recent releases and collaborations
Since *Nomad*, his release pace has stayed high. 2026 singles include "Tonto" with J Balvin and Ryan Castro (February), "WORSHIP" with Asake (March), "Club Soda," a track drawing on Brazilian funk (June), "TOKA" (July), and "ROLLIN (Remix)" with Bia, Bay Swag, and Stunna Sandy (August).[18](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/djsnake/news/cat/topics/) • [19](https://www.beatport.com/artist/dj-snake/22591/releases?page=1&preorders=false) Earlier collaborations include "Teka" with [Peso Pluma](https://www.edgepedia.org/peso-pluma) (2024) and "Noventa" with J Balvin (2025).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642)
He has also built infrastructure around his own work: the Pardon My French collective with fellow French DJs including Tchami and Mercer, created in 2015, and his own label, Premiere Classe, launched in March 2018.[11](https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/dj-snake/actus/dj-snake-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-le-roi-de-l-electro-356539)
## Production style
Production analysis of his catalog points to a consistent method: one dominant musical statement per section, sounds chosen because they already work before processing, and an arrangement built for instant recognition across clubs, festivals, and streaming playlists.[20](https://massivefm.com/inside-dj-snakes-global-hit-machine-bass-design-drop-architecture-and-borderless-groove/) His signature sound, established on "Middle" and "Lean On," has been described by Billboard as a mainstay of modern production, and his records frequently translate local rhythmic identities, from Algerian raï to Brazilian funk and reggaeton, into a mainstream, high-impact arrangement language.[4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2018/Billboard-2018-08-11.pdf) • [20](https://massivefm.com/inside-dj-snakes-global-hit-machine-bass-design-drop-architecture-and-borderless-groove/)
## References
1. [DJ Snake biography by David Jeffries, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-snake-mn0001279642)
2. [DJ Snake biography, Universal Music Japan](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/djsnake/biography/)
3. [DJ Snake: connaissez-vous le vrai nom du DJ ?, NRJ](https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/dj-snake/actus/dj-snake-connaissez-vous-le-vrai-nom-du-dj-71298059)
4. [Billboard Magazine, 11 August 2018 (Hot 100 Festival feature)](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2018/Billboard-2018-08-11.pdf)
5. [DJ Snake biography and discography, Minatrix](https://minatrix.fm/en/artists/name/dj_snake/)
6. [Nomad, album page, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/nomad/1847992539)
7. [DJ Snake Moves by Appetite: On Algeria, Authenticity & the Future, Rolling Stone MENA](https://mena.rollingstone.com/cover-story-2/dj-snake-cover-story/)
8. [DJ Snake, SACEM Grands Prix 2019 (PDF)](https://clients.sacem.fr/actuimg/fr/live/v4/Createurs-Editeurs/grands-prix/2019/dj_snake.pdf)
9. [EN APARTÉ : DJ Snake se livre sur CANAL+, Canal+](https://www.canalplus.com/articles/divertissement/en-aparte-dj-snake-se-livre-sur-canal-de-grand-timide-a-roi-des-platines-1)
10. [Quién es DJ Snake, el parisino que acompañará a Rihanna en el Super Bowl 2023, AS](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/quien-es-dj-snake-el-parisino-que-acompanara-a-rihanna-en-el-super-bowl-2023-n/)
11. [DJ Snake: ce qu'il faut savoir sur le roi de l'électro, NRJ](https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/dj-snake/actus/dj-snake-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-le-roi-de-l-electro-356539)
12. [Behind The Ears Of DJ Snake, Dance Music's Viral Hitmaker, Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/08/24/behind-the-ears-of-dj-snake-edms-viral-hitmaker/)
13. [How Diplo Is Making Pop Music Weird, TIME](https://time.com/4001153/diplo-interview/)
14. [DJ Snake: Encore Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22197-encore/)
15. [DJ Snake, Universal Music France](https://universalmusic.fr/artistes/30843093758)
16. [DJ Snake 'Nomad' review: finding emotion in chaos, Rolling Stone UK](https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/dj-snake-nomad-album-review-55742/)
17. [DJ Snake releases long-anticipated new album Nomad, Universal Music Canada](https://www.universalmusic.ca/2025/11/07/dj-snake-releases-long-anticipated-new-album-nomad/)
18. [DJ Snake news, Universal Music Japan](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/djsnake/news/cat/topics/)
19. [DJ Snake Releases, Beatport](https://www.beatport.com/artist/dj-snake/22591/releases?page=1&preorders=false)
20. [Inside DJ Snake's Global Hit Machine, MassiveFM](https://massivefm.com/inside-dj-snakes-global-hit-machine-bass-design-drop-architecture-and-borderless-groove/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › DJs and electronic music producers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license