William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, known professionally as DJ Snake, is a French DJ, record producer, and rapper born on June 13, 1986, in Paris, France. He is of Algerian descent and gained international fame with hit singles “Turn Down for What” (2013) and “Lean On” (2015), which became one of the most-streamed songs in Spotify history. DJ Snake is a Grammy-nominated artist known for mixing hip-hop and electronic dance music.
DJ Snake Biography / Wiki
DJ Snake Education
Specific details about DJ Snake’s formal education have not been publicly disclosed. He has remained tight-lipped about his educational background, and it is not clear if he enrolled in traditional schooling before he began his DJ career. His early focus was on street art and music rather than conventional academic pursuits.
Early Life
DJ Snake was born William Sami Étienne Grigahcine on June 13, 1986, in Paris, France, to Algerian parents. His father is French, while his mother is Algerian. He grew up in Ermont, a banlieue district outside Paris, which he describes as a ghetto, though it is not an economically-deprived suburb.
During his youth, DJ Snake produced graffiti art around Paris, which earned him the moniker “Snake” because he was able to consistently evade police arrest. He grew up alongside a sister whose identity remains unknown. DJ Snake cites a scene with Cut Killer in the French film “La Haine” as well as hip-hop artists KRS-One and Cypress Hill as early influences.
When he decided to start DJing, he adopted the name DJ Snake, explaining: “When I started DJing, everyone called me ‘Snake’ in my city first, I was like ‘DJ Snake, OK let’s go for it.’ The name sucks, but it’s too late now”. DJ Snake started DJing at age 14 and later began producing music at 19 years old.
DJ Snake Career Journey
DJ Snake began his career performing at clubs including Les Bains Douches in Paris in his early years. In 2005, he met his manager Steve Goncalves, who encouraged him to begin creating his own music. His breakthrough came when he met Lady Gaga’s DJ, Paul Blair, who selected five songs that Snake had written, later integrating them into Lady Gaga’s work.
DJ Snake gained production credits on several singles for major artists, including “Shut It Down” by Pitbull and “Applause” by Lady Gaga, before achieving widespread recognition. In 2013, he debuted onto the international scene with singles “Bird Machine” (a collaboration with fellow French musician Alesia) and “Turn Down for What” featuring Lil Jon. “Turn Down for What” became a massive hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2014.
In March 2015, DJ Snake released “Lean On” with Major Lazer and Danish singer MØ, which became one of the most-streamed tracks on Spotify during 2014 and 2015. The song was written after a slower reggae arrangement was rejected by both Rihanna and Nicki Minaj. “Lean On” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with “Turn Down for What” as DJ Snake’s highest-charting hit.
In 2014, DJ Snake and Dillon Francis were announced as alternating supporting artists for the summer Mothership Tour with Skrillex. In March 2018, Billboard named DJ Snake as number nine on their 2018 ranking of dance musicians titled Billboard Dance 100. His debut album “Carte Blanche” was released and featured collaborations with numerous major artists.
In 2018, DJ Snake released “Taki Taki” featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B, which became another major international hit. The song is currently certified diamond in France and spent 57 weeks on charts, becoming Ozuna, Gomez’s, and Cardi B’s longest-running song and DJ Snake’s second longest-running song after “Loco Contigo”. Other notable releases include “Magenta Riddim” (2018), “Loco Contigo” with J Balvin and Tyga, and “Selfish Love” with Selena Gomez.
In 2022, DJ Snake paid homage to his Algerian roots in his music releases, reconnecting with his cultural heritage. He continues to be active in the electronic music scene, releasing collaborative tracks including “In The Dark” with Stray Kids (2025).
DJ Snake Songs
DJ Snake’s notable songs include:
Major Hits:
- “Turn Down for What” (2013) featuring Lil Jon
- “Lean On” (2015) with Major Lazer featuring MØ
- “Taki Taki” (2018) featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B
- “Magenta Riddim” (2018)
- “Loco Contigo” with J Balvin and Tyga
- “Selfish Love” with Selena Gomez
Other Notable Tracks:
Production Credits:
DJ Snake Profession
DJ Snake is a professional DJ, record producer, and rapper who specializes in mixing hip-hop and electronic dance music. He works across multiple genres including EDM, moombahton, trap, and electronic music. His role involves creating original productions, remixing tracks, collaborating with international artists, and performing at major music festivals and venues worldwide.
As a producer, he has worked with numerous high-profile artists including Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Lil Jon, Major Lazer, Selena Gomez, Ozuna, Cardi B, J Balvin, and Tyga. He also performs as a live DJ at clubs, festivals, and tours.
DJ Snake Achievements
DJ Snake received a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video for “Turn Down for What” in 2015. He has won multiple awards including the Premio Lo Nuestro for Crossover Collaboration of the Year (2019) and El Premio ASCAP Winning Songs award (2019), both for “Taki Taki”. In March 2018, Billboard named him number nine on their Billboard Dance 100 ranking of dance musicians.
His song “Lean On” became one of the most-streamed tracks on Spotify during 2014 and 2015. “Taki Taki” was certified diamond in France and spent 57 weeks on charts. He has received multiple Billboard Latin Music Award nominations, including Producer of the Year and Crossover Artist of the Year.
DJ Snake has accumulated 10 award wins and 28 nominations throughout his career. His debut album “Carte Blanche” received a nomination for Top Dance/Electronic Album. He has been nominated for multiple NRJ Music Awards for collaborations with Selena Gomez.
DJ Snake Controversies
No publicly reported controversies involving DJ Snake have been documented. He has maintained a professional reputation throughout his career and is respected within the electronic music community.
DJ Snake Personal Life
DJ Snake maintains a largely private personal life, keeping details about his marriage and family away from the public eye. He has made a conscious decision to separate his career from his personal affairs. This strategy allows him to maintain privacy while continuing to have a thriving career in the electronic music community.
Despite his fame, DJ Snake has chosen to keep information about his family and personal relationships confidential. Fans appreciate his music and performances, and many respect his choice to keep his family life private. He continues to stay connected with his Algerian roots, paying homage to his heritage in his music.
DJ Snake Boyfriend, Husband, Wife, Girlfriend
DJ Snake’s relationship status remains largely undisclosed to the public. According to some sources, he reportedly married his longtime girlfriend in a private ceremony in France in 2018, though this event was kept under wraps and minimal information is available about his wife, who prefers to maintain her privacy. Other sources indicate he is currently single.
There is no public information regarding children or further family details, which is part of DJ Snake’s strategy to keep his personal life away from the spotlight. He has been rumored to have had relationships with various celebrities including Selena Gomez, though these remain unconfirmed. Some sources have linked him to Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, and Frank Ocean, though these relationships have not been publicly verified.