$HIRAK

Jack $hirak – real name Julien Willemsen – was born in Rotterdam in 1993 and is one of the most influential producers and DJs in the Dutch urban scene. His breakthrough came through the "New Wave" writers' camp on the island of Schiermonnikoog, where he produced for a new generation of Dutch rappers. The standout result was "Drank & Drugs" by Lil' Kleine and Ronnie Flex, released in 2015 on the album *New Wave* (TopNotch label), which reached number one in the Netherlands and number three in Belgium. He also collaborated with Boef, Jonna Fraser, and Bokoesam. Beyond his work as a producer and beatmaker, $hirak performs as a solo artist and DJ under his own name. In 2018 he won the MTV Award for Best World Wide Act. He regularly tours the Netherlands and Europe, with recent festival appearances including Paaspop and Smèrrig Zomer Festival. His sound spans trap, Afro, Latin, and dancehall.