Afrojack
A Dutch electronic music titan whose thunderous beats and production savvy shaped the sound of modern pop and dance floors worldwide.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Dutch DJ and record producer·Birthday: September 9·Millennials
Biography
Emerging from the Dutch house scene, Afrojack, born Nick van de Wall, became a central architect of the early 2010s electro-house explosion. His signature sound—a massive, distorted synth lead often called the 'Afrojack kick'—became instantly recognizable, powering his own anthems and countless collaborations. He didn't just make club tracks; he became a hitmaker for pop royalty, co-producing and lending his sonic stamp to global smashes for the likes of Pitbull, Beyoncé, and David Guetta. Beyond the studio, his high-energy DJ sets made him a mainstage festival staple. A sharp entrepreneur, he founded Wall Recordings and took on executive roles, shaping careers and business strategies within the industry. His influence is measured in decibels, chart positions, and the enduring template he provided for big-room electronic music.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Afrojack was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Afrojack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Afrojack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Grammy Award in 2011 for Best Remixed Recording for his work on Madonna's 'Revolver'.
- Co-produced and was featured on the international hit 'Give Me Everything' by Pitbull, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Founded his own record label, Wall Recordings, in 2007, which has released music from numerous prominent DJs.
- Has been consistently ranked in the top 10 of DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs poll for over a decade.
Did You Know?
His stage name was inspired by his distinctive hairstyle as a teenager.
He began producing music at the age of 11 using a pirated copy of FruityLoops (now FL Studio).
He is the CEO of LDH Europe, a branch of the Japanese entertainment conglomerate.
He designed his own line of headphones in collaboration with Pioneer DJ.
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