Antoon

Antoon is a steady presence in the pop scene of the Netherlands in the 2020s, combining a steady hand at electronic production with an engaging delivery that incorporates catchy melodies and appealing, rap-inspired lyrical flows. After a successful stint as a traveling DJ, he's amassed streams in the hundreds of millions thanks to tracks like "Hyperventilatie," the Kris Kross Amsterdam/Sigourney K collaboration "Vluchtstrook," "Leuk," and "Beetje Van Mij." Born Valentijn Antoon Verkerk in Hoorn in 2002, he began studying drums and piano at a young age and earned the enthusiastic support of his family, who accompanied him as he began securing DJ gigs as a teenager. While attending the Herman Brood Academie, a local magnet school for musicians, he met Dutch rapper Big2 (of the Opposites), who inspired him to pivot from EDM toward a more melodic pop-rap style. Antoon's breakthrough came in 2020 with the release of his debut album, De Nacht Is Van Ons; the lead single "Hyperventilatie" reached the Top Five on the local Single Top 100. A collaborative EP with Big2, Heilig Water, arrived by the end of that year. As Antoon launched a club tour around his homeland, the single "Vluchtstrook," a team-up with dance trio Kris Kross Amsterdam and singer Sigourney K, was released. It topped the Single Top 100 for two weeks and became the most-streamed song of 2022 in the Netherlands. Material from Antoon's 2022 EPs Hallo and Klop Klop formed the backbone of his sophomore album, Engel (2023), which featured "Vluchtstrook," the further chart-toppers "Hallo" and "Olivia," and Top Fives "Hotelschool" and "Tantoe Lekker" (featuring Big2). He signed to Atlantic before releasing 2026's Tot Het Eind Van Mij, featuring another local number one hit in "Beetje Van Mij." ~ Mike Duquette