With a none-more-contemporary sound and a wide-reaching outlook, Kris Kross Amsterdam are one of the most dynamic acts in the game and are rapidly (and deservedly) ascending to the top of the pile.

Formed in the Dutch capital in 2011 – with their name paying homage to the legendary American duo from the ‘90s hip-hop golden age which they are so fond of – brothers Sander and Jordy Huisman set about creating a sound which forged their myriad influences together in seamless fashion. Although they were fans of the house and techno sounds that dominated their home country, they missed the rap and rap-related sounds they grew up listening to – and so they decided to do something about it. First finding fame as a DJ duo playing around Amsterdam, they soon decided to start throwing parties in the city under the Kris Kross Amsterdam name where they could play exactly what they wanted to.

These events rapidly became some of the most talk-about in the city for lovers of beats and bass, with the duo gradually developing a distinct sound of their own. Bridging R&B, hip-hop, funk, soul and house both old and new, they helped to educate a new generation of fans as well as bring through a new wave of young local artists. In 2014, MC Yuki Kempees joined the duo to perform vocal duties, taking their already raucous club shows to the next level. When they began producing and releasing records in 2015, not even they could have predicted the rapid success they would enjoy. Spinnin’ Records snapped them up without hesitation and debut release Until The Morning with CHOCO proved a huge hit, with millions of plays and downloads for this feisty trap-meets-EDM hybrid. Follow-up Sex with Los Angeles outfit Cheat Codes exceeded lofty expectations once again, flipping Salt-N-Pepa’s classic Let’s Talk About Sex on its head in a tropical R&B style.

This anthem which is aired on major radio stations like Kiss FM and Capital went on to reach #11 on the Billboard Hot Electronic & Dance Chart and the Spotify Chart top 20 in over 20 countries, go Platinum in Holland and Sweden, Gold in Norway and pick up over 100 million plays on Spotify alone. Support has come from everyone from Diplo to Carnage, Don Diablo, Krewella, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Nicky Romero, with recognition that their prowess behind the decks has perfectly translated to understanding how to craft bombs in the studio. Meanwhile their regular Mixtape series has proved immensely popular, deftly illustrating the breadth of styles they play in their sets and showing why the likes of Mysteryland, Emporium, Amsterdam Open Air and Wish Outdoor have booked them to rock their shows.

Their own regular parties at Amsterdam’s De Marktkantine continue to pack the crowds in on each occasion, showcasing their favourite new talent in the process. With all this and their very own clothing line, it’s clear that Kris Kross Amsterdam’s skillset is as diverse as the selections in their record box. There aren’t many acts in the EDM sphere who demonstrate a real reverence and respect for the past in their music while also striving to push things forward, and perhaps that’s a big part of the reason these guys are making such a mark for themselves.