Once again, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike has teamed up with David Guetta to create an absolute banger of a hit with the help of global singing superstar Akon and rising duo Afro Bros, titled “She Knows”. All six individuals have worked together on a variety of projects in the past but this is the first time all of them have come together and what an addicting song it is – we expect nothing less from all these guys. “She Knows” acts as the official first single from Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s forthcoming debut studio album, set to be titled “Rewind + Repeat”. This acts as the follow-up to Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s collaboration with Bassjackers and The Darkraver on the single “Komtie (Kom Tie Dan He!)” which featured DJ Norman; David Guetta’s release of the acoustic version of “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” in collaboration with Anne-Marie and Coi Leray; Akon’s feature on The Colleagues’ single “RespectYourself”; and Afro Bros’ collaboration with Papi Mikey Dinero on the single “Caribbean Vibes”.
The Belgian DJ brothers, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, whose real names are Dimitri Thivaios and Michael Thivaios, have been unstoppable in recent years, topping DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs in 2015 and 2019, and placing second in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020 – overall being in the top 5 for the last nine years, as well as winning several awards including MTV EMAs. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike are certainly on top of their game, and we can’t get enough of their music. We also managed to exclusively interview them about their 2018 single “When I Grow Up” and working with Wiz Khalifa on that track. Most recently they’ve grabbed collaborations with the likes of David Guetta, Daddy Yankee, Paris Hilton, Era Istrefi, Armin van Buuren, Timmy Trumpet, and Regard. Their collaboration with David Guetta & Daddy Yankee, titled “Instagram” featuring Afro Bros and Natti Natasha is their most-streamed single on Spotify with 287.5 million streams – how that song didn’t become a global number one hit, we’ll never know; with their collaboration with Regard titled “Say My Name”, a cover of the Destiny’s Child hit, behind at 156 million and their collaboration with Martin Garrix titled “Tremor”, which was Sensation 2014’s anthem, is their third most-streamed track on the platform at 114.2 million streams. They have had multiple global chart hits but have yet to score a worldwide successful chart hit although we reckon many of their songs were worthy of international chart placements – we’re sure a global hit for them is just around the corner.
As for the legendary international DJ, David Guetta, full name Pierre David Guetta, he is a true musical trailblazer and international icon, who is not only a DJ and producer but a multi-faceted artist. He is currently number two on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs, behind Martin Garrix and only slightly ahead of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – who are at number three. With an impressive list of accolades, including 2 Grammy awards, 11 Grammy nominations, and 7 UK number one singles, he has solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in the music industry. With over 40 billion global streams and 50 million records sold worldwide, David Guetta is currently the 4th most-streamed artist on Spotify, boasting a massive 74 million monthly global listeners. Recognised for his outstanding production skills, he was recently honoured with the “Producer of the Year” award by the BRIT Awards. Collaborating with an array of mega-stars, such as SIA, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Becky Hill, and Black Eyed Peas, to name a few, David Guetta’s discography is a treasure trove of hit singles, with tracks like “When Love Takes Over”, “Sexy Bitch”, “Titanium,” and “Without You” amassing over 1 billion streams each. David Guetta’s reign in 2023 has been nothing short of remarkable, with his latest dance sensation “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”. featuring Anne-Marie and Coi Leray, dominating the charts and earning him his eleventh Grammy nomination. With countless achievements under his belt and an unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries, David Guetta continues to reign supreme as the most cherished electronic artist of our generation.
Then there’s Akon, real name Aliaune Thiam, a multitalented American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur, who possesses a distinct and soulful voice that has become synonymous with countless hits spanning genres like pop, R&B, hip-hop, and dance. With over 35 million albums sold worldwide, five Grammy Award nominations, and a remarkable 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs, Akon’s impact on the music industry is unparalleled. Notable singles like “Smack That” and “I Wanna Love You” cemented his chart dominance, and his guest appearances for music icons such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Eminem have further solidified his legendary status. Beyond music, Akon has been at the forefront of philanthropic efforts, launching “Akon Lighting Africa” to address the pressing need for electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Alongside his musical career, Akon founded record labels Konvict Muzik and KonLive Distribution, nurturing successful acts like Lady Gaga and T-Pain. His contributions to the music industry earned him a spot on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list and Billboard’s Top Digital Songs Artists of the Decade. With millions of monthly listeners on Spotify and a legacy that continues to grow, Akon remains an influential and trailblazing force in the world of entertainment.
Watch the visualizer video for “She Knows” by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta & Akon featuring Afro Bros here:
Featured on the track are Afro Bros, a dynamic Latin Grammy-nominated DJ/Producer duo hailing from The Netherlands, who have solidified their position as influential players in the music industry. Comprised of Giordano Ashruf and Rashid Badloe, Afro Bros have completely made their mark as award-winning DJs and producers in the music industry. Their journey to success began with the release of the infectious track “18 Plus” in 2016, catapulting them into the international spotlight and paving the way for collaborations with industry heavyweights like Major Lazer, J Balvin, and Nicky Jam. Their groundbreaking work also includes co-producing chart-topping hits in the Netherlands, such as “Energie” and “Come Again”, and contributing to the Latin Grammy-nominated track “Sua Cara” by Major Lazer. Undoubtedly, their biggest hit and Latin Grammy-nominated record, “X” by Nicky Jam & J Balvin, garnered over 2 billion views on YouTube and 900 million streams on Spotify alone. Continuing their meteoric rise, 2019 saw the release of massive singles like “Instagram” with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, Daddy Yankee & Natti Natasha, amassing over 200 million streams, and “Boomshakalaka”, with Sebastián Yatra featuring Camilo and Emilia. As they step into 2023, Afro Bros embark on a new chapter of creativity and collaboration with international artists, complemented by a global tour, spreading their captivating “Booty Beats” across dancefloors worldwide. Already making waves, they joined forces with DJ Snake to co-produce the hit lead single “Amarillo” on J Balvin’s acclaimed album “Colores”. With an impressive portfolio of achievements and a penchant for genre-defying innovation, Afro Bros are an unstoppable force in the music landscape, and their journey of reinvention and artistic excellence is just getting started.
As we previously mentioned, all these artists have worked together on a variety of different projects together individually, but never as a full collective of six. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike have worked with David Guetta and Afro Bros on their hit single “Instagram” which was also with Daddy Yankee and also featured Natti Natasha. Dimitri Vegas recently teamed up with David Guetta for “The Drop” with Nicole Scherzinger featuring Aztek. And we can’t forget about “Complicated” featuring Kiiara which was the first time Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike collaborated with David Guetta. The DJ duo also previously collaborated with Afro Bros on the song “Boomshakalaka” with Sebastián Yatra featuring Camilo and Emilia. We all know that David Guetta had a hit single titled “Sexy Bitch” featuring Akon, but they also worked together on the track “Play Hard” which also featured Ne-Yo. Akon also featured on David Guetta’s album track “Crank It Up” as well as David Guetta’s collaboration with Master KG titled “Shine Your Light”.
Stream the newly-released track on Spotify here:
Talking about this track, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike said: “It’s so great to team up with David again for this summer anthem – we’re also huge Akon fans, so to bring those two back together on our collaboration is next level for us. The sample from “The Sunclub – Fiesta” is part of our musical history and journey and sets the tone of what we want to achieve with our upcoming album: going back to our roots!”
Written by Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, Bob Sandee, David Guetta, Dieter Kranenburg, Dimitri Thivaios, Fabian Bohn, Giordano Ashruf, Joren van der Voort, Michael Thivaios, Michel Rozenbroek, Rashid Badloe, Robin Albers, and Shareef Badloe, whilst it was produced by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, Fabian Bohn, and Bob Sandee, “She Knows” is a ’90s-inspired reggae dance track that has a Caribbean vibe to it that is fully fleshed out by these iconic DJs and producers to truly bring the summer energy. Easily a track that will become a banger of an anthem as time goes on, “She Knows” brings a catchy rhythm and addicting vocals with Akon always being identifiable as he flawlessly delivers. Euphoric basslines and electronic beats twist around R&B and hip-hop rhythms with reggae sounds thrown in too to create an unforgettable rhythm that flows around dynamic melodies, effortlessly serving a summer essence like no other. This is one to add to all your beach party playlists.
“She Knows”, by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta & Akon featuring Afro Bros, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Smash The House under exclusive license to Xploded Music Limited. Look out for Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s forthcoming debut studio album, which is set to be titled “Rewind + Repeat”.