DJ Snake

DJ Snake was born in the Parisian suburb of Ermont on 13 June 1986 to parents who were Algerian immigrants. Snake, who regarded the suburb where he grew up as a slum, quit studying at 15 to take up employment in a well-known record store in Paris.

It was while working in the popular record shop that DJ Snake came across many celebrated hip-hop artists, rappers, and EDM DJs. He established a good rapport with some of these singers and musicians, including DJ Cut Killer, and hip hop vocalists, Cypress Hill and KRS-One who later on would become his gurus.

DJ Snake expressed in an interview once that he decided to become a disc jockey when he witnessed DJ Cut Killer composing music for a cultish French movie’ “La Haine”.

Snake in the initial phase of his career, participated in shows and events at bars and nightclubs in Paris, prominent amongst these being ‘Les Baines Douches’ and ‘VIPROOM’ as a budding DJ. He did small, impromptu gigs in house parties before moving on to perform at famous Parisian clubs.

DJ Snake came across Steve Goncalves, his future manager at one of the clubs in 2005 when deejaying was still in its infancy with open format ruling the roost. Steve teamed up with Snake after three years and persistently egged him on to compose music on his own.

DJ Snake got the first big break of his career when he came in touch with Lady Gaga’s on-the-road DJ, Paul Blair. From the 20 original songs that Snake composed for Blair, the latter picked five which he later on integrated with ‘Government Hooker’, a track from Lady Gaga’s album, ‘Born This Way’.

DJ Snake contributed towards producing ‘Born This Way’ which was eventually nominated for a Grammy in 2012. He co-produced the track ‘Government Hooker’ that was adjudged as the best by countless aficionados of Lady Gaga, following the record’s release.

Snake effectively remixed tracks by rap luminaries including ‘New Slaves’ by Kanye West, ‘Bubble Butt’ by Major Lazer, and Aluna George’s ‘You Know You like It’ in 2012. He collaborated with Paul Blair for producing the tracks ‘Do What U Want’, ‘Sexxx Dreams’, and ‘Applause’ for Lady Gaga’s record ‘ARTPOP’.

DJ Snake collaborated with Lil Jon for the single ‘Turn Down for What’ in December 2013 that was released and distributed by Columbia Records. The track made it to the top 10 of Billboard’s Electronic Dance Music chart in the same month and year.

'Turn Down for What’ climbed to the 5th position on Billboard EDM chart in January 2014 and opened at number 38 on Billboard Hot 100. This track bagged gold and platinum certifications in February and March 2014 respectively.

Frenchman DJ Snake is a celebrated rapper and musician, having collaborated with the likes of Lil John, Justin Bieber, Bipolar Sunshine, MØ, Skrillex, and Lady Gaga for recording singles. His collaborative singles like ‘Turn Down for What’, ‘You Know You like It’, ‘Lean On’ and ‘Let Me Love You’ have been globally acclaimed.

DJ Snake’s partnership with Paul Blair, popularly called ‘DJ White Shadow’ for producing the song ‘Government Hooker’ for Lady Gaga’s album, ‘Born This Way’ merited him an ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy nomination. He also coordinated with Blair on the production work of ‘ARTPOP,’ another Lady Gaga album.

'Encore’ has been DJ Snake’s debut and only studio album to be released till date.