Lil Kleine

Emerging as a bold presence in Dutch rap circles, Lil' Kleine put out his opening EP, Tuig van de Richel, during 2012, then expanded his reach the following year through the track "Zo Verdomd Alleen." After the breakout impact of his 2015 collaboration "Drank and Drugs" alongside Ronnie Flex on the New Wave compilation, his first full-length project, WOP!, claimed the summit of the Dutch album rankings in 2016; he duplicated that achievement with Alleen in 2017 and Jongen van de Straat in 2020.

Jorik Scholten entered the world on October 15, 1994, in Amsterdam's Nieuwmarkt district. At age one he overcame a life-threatening cancer diagnosis that necessitated an operation, an episode he later referenced in his lyrics. His parents separated when he turned seven, after which he moved with his father. Displaying early appeal and a sharp aptitude for performance, the boy auditioned at various talent agencies. His screen introduction came via the 2005 feature Diep, after which he began showcasing dance and rap abilities. He formed a connection with Lange Frans from the D-Men hip-hop collective in Diemen and joined the group for live appearances.

Adopting the moniker Lil' Kleine in 2012, Scholten issued Tuig van de Richel, whose brash, nonchalant lyricism set the tone for his work even as commercial returns remained modest. That same year he featured on Brett's single "Het Leven Is Een Melodie," tied to the film De Groeten Van Mike!. A 2013 slot on the television program Ali B Op Volle Toeren brought further exposure when he delivered "Zo Verdomd Alleen," lifting him to wider recognition. Also in 2013 he joined the roster of Top Notch, which promptly released "Verliefd Op Je Moeder." April 2015 saw the label unveil the New Wave anthology of fresh recordings from its artists; Lil' Kleine's contribution with Ronnie Flex, "Drank and Drugs," drew criticism for its drug-and-alcohol themes yet secured the top chart position in the Netherlands.

Capitalizing on that momentum, Lil' Kleine prepared his debut album with Ronnie Flex contributing to the majority of its songs. Released as WOP!, the project centered on themes of sex, drugs, and wealth and quickly replicated the single's chart dominance at home. Alleen followed in 2017, again reaching number one; its eleven tracks set new Dutch streaming benchmarks for any individual artist across a single month.

Beginning in 2018, Lil' Kleine served two seasons as a coach on The Voice of Holland before returning in 2020 with Jongen van de Straat, which once more topped the Dutch chart and peaked at number two in Belgium.