Chocolate Puma: The Dutch House Music Pioneers
Chocolate Puma is a Dutch DJ and production duo renowned for their energetic and influential house music. Hailing from the Netherlands, the pair have built a formidable career spanning decades, marked by club anthems and a consistent presence on international dance charts.
Early career
The duo, formed in 1995, consists of Gaston Steenkist and René ter Horst. Both were already established figures, having previously worked under the name The Good Men, which scored a global hit with Give It Up in 1992. This early success provided a foundation for their new project, which they launched with a focus on funky, sample-heavy house tracks.
Breakthrough
Chocolate Puma solidified their status in the late 1990s and early 2000s with a string of releases on prominent labels like Defected, Spinnin' Records, and their own imprint, Dirty Dutch Music. Their track I Wanna Be You became a staple in DJ sets worldwide, demonstrating their knack for crafting infectious grooves with widespread appeal.
Key tracks
Give It Up — Although released as The Good Men, this track laid the commercial groundwork for the duo's future success as Chocolate Puma.
I Wanna Be You — This early 2000s release became a defining house anthem, cementing their signature sound in clubs globally.
Scrub The Ground — A collaboration with vocalist Tommie Sunshine, this track showcased their ability to merge classic house elements with a modern, gritty edge.
Step Back — This 2014 collaboration with Firebeatz was a mainstage festival hit, proving their enduring relevance in the evolving big room house scene.
Lose My Mind — Featuring bass house innovator Mightyfools, this track highlighted Chocolate Puma's adaptability and influence on newer generations of producers.
Throughout their career, Chocolate Puma have remained prolific, collaborating with a wide array of artists including Junior Sanchez, Curbi, and Pep & Rash. Their releases consistently find homes on leading dance labels, maintaining a steady output of club-ready music that respects house traditions while pushing a contemporary sound.
Fans of the Dutch house sound should also explore Fedde Le Grand for his anthemic big room house productions. Oliver Heldens represents the future-forward, bass-inflected side of the Netherlands' house scene. The iconic Tiësto shares the same national roots and global dancefloor dominance. For another veteran Dutch duo with a similar longevity, check out W & W and their high-energy festival style.
The music of Chocolate Puma is a regular feature on electronic dance music radio stations and online house music streams. Their classic anthems and new releases are frequently spun by DJs on dedicated house and tech-house channels, keeping their funky beats in constant rotation for club music enthusiasts.
Listeners can discover the dynamic catalog of Chocolate Puma through the various electronic music radio stations available on onairium.com. Tune in to hear their timeless house tracks and latest productions featured across our curated network of dance music streams.