Header image is a creative interpretation and by no means a reflection of any actual event.
Twenty years ago, a Belgian producer named Koen Bauweraerts – better known as Coone – started a record label because he wanted full creative control over his music. No compromises, no waiting for someone else to decide what got released. Just a platform to put out the sounds he believed in.
That label was Dirty Workz. And two decades later, it’s one of the most recognized names in hardstyle worldwide.
Here are the tracks that tell the story.
The Foundation (2006-2010)
The Reverze Anthem (2006) – The year Dirty Workz launched was also the year Coone was asked to create the anthem for Reverze. It was the moment that put both the producer and his brand-new label on the map. When a festival trusts you with their anthem, it means something. When it happens in your first year, it means everything.
D.W.X. – Coone – The track that gave the label its identity. Simple, direct, and impossible to forget. When Coone played this in a set, everyone knew exactly where they were.
The Breakthrough (2011-2014)
The Challenge (Album) – Coone (2011) – Coone challenged himself to produce an entire album in just 30 days. The result won Best Hard Dance Album of 2011. Tracks like “Traveling” and “Universal Language” showed the label wasn’t just about bangers – it could tell stories too. This album is the reason we just released it on vinyl as part of the 20 Years celebration.
Dim Mak collaboration (2013) – When Coone linked up with Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records, Dirty Workz officially stepped out of the hardstyle bubble. It was one of the first times a hardstyle label crossed over into the broader dance music world, and it opened doors that benefited the entire genre.
Da Tweekaz Era (2015-2019)
Jägermeister – Da Tweekaz – The Norwegian duo moved to Belgium and made Dirty Workz their home. They brought something the scene hadn’t really seen before: humor, personality, and an insane talent for turning anything into a hardstyle anthem. “Jägermeister” became a festival staple and proved that hardstyle could be fun without sacrificing quality.
How Far I’ll Go – Da Tweekaz – A Moana bootleg becoming one of the most played hardstyle tracks of its era? Only Da Tweekaz could pull that off. This track brought an entirely new audience to the label.
Electric Fox launch (2018) – The happy hardcore sublabel showed that DWX wasn’t afraid to branch out. Not everything had to be 150 BPM with a reverse bass. Sometimes you just want to feel good.
New Blood (2020-Present)
The Saints – TUTUTU (with Ivector, 2024) – The track that put The Saints on the radar of the entire hardstyle scene. From a three-day DJ lesson to a viral hit – their story is one of the best in recent hardstyle history. From this release, to their jump to the Dirty Workz Main label…
DETONATE – Mish (2026) – The newest addition to the family, and a signal of where the label is heading. Mish brings a raw energy and a massive following, and her debut release shows she’s not here to play it safe.
What’s Next
Twenty years of releases, anthems, festivals, sublabels, and artists who started here and went on to play every major stage in the world. From a bedroom in Belgium to Ultra Music Festival, from vinyl records to millions of streams.
We’re not slowing down. The next 20 starts now.
