Drum & bass legend Lenzman has died following a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.
The Dutch producer and DJ—born Teije van Vliet—passed away on Saturday, according to a post his family shared on Instagram yesterday. He was 47 years old.
“For 3.5 years he fought with so much strength, courage, and love,” Lenzman’s wife, Ashanti, wrote. “He showed us what true strength means, and I will be forever proud to have walked this life beside him.”
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported us, loved Teije, sent messages, visited, helped, and stood beside us during this difficult time,” she continued. “Your kindness and love have meant more than words can ever express.”
Lenzman revealed his terminal illness to the public last year, sharing that since he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in January 2023, it had spread to other parts of his body, including his brain, and was impossible to cure. After undergoing reconstructive surgery, he continued to perform until the summer of 2025, when he was hospitalized for an epileptic seizure triggered by the cancer, according to a report from The Daily Express.
A global ambassador for soulful liquid D&B and jungle, Lenzman’s studio output spanned decades and remained prolific up until his death.
After his jazz and hip-hop-infused productions emerged on the scene in the mid-aughts, he released his debut album, Looking at the Stars, on Metalheadz in 2014 to massive acclaim, and while maintaining a strong affiliation with Goldie’s famous label, he platformed dozens of other talented D&B artists with his own influential imprint, The North Quarter, which turns 10 years old this year.
Lenzman continued to make and release music throughout his battle with cancer, writing in 2025 that producing “helped him stay positive” as he underwent treatment.
Since the news of Lenzman’s death broke, tributes have poured in from across the dance music community, including condolences shared by fellow legends like Metalheadz, Mantra, and Goldie, who wrote in part today: “You lived like a true artist, taking it all in and being inspired by everything and everyone around. I will miss you way too much; that unmistakable laugh and your wicked sense of humor.”
Featured image courtesy: Lenzman / The North Quarter.