DNK (duo)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Vladimir Blažev (Pančo), Andrej Gjorgjieski (Andrej DNK) |
| Defunct | 2025 |
| Headquarters | Skopje , North Macedonia |
| Products | Hip-hop music albums and singles |
DNK () was a hip-hop pair originating from Skopje, North Macedonia, formed by Vladimir Blažev (known as Pančo; born 29 July 1979, deceased 14 October 2025) and Andrej Gjorgjieski (stage name Andrej DNK; born 9 February 1982, deceased 16 March 2025). In 2025, a fatal fire erupted during their show in a Kočani nightclub, resulting in Andrej’s death and severe injuries to Vladimir along with six other crew members.
History
Established in 2001 by seasoned artists Andrej DNK and Pančo, the duo promptly launched their debut single. Their first album, It's Everything, was released in 2010 under their own label "Production Republic," with production by Vrcak. This record contained eighteen tracks, including the singles "Full Moon," "Keep Me," and "Purposed to You."
Their initial live performance took place in September 2011 at the Metropolis Arena in Skopje.
In June 2012, DNK introduced the single "Plane," which preceded their sophomore album Heart released in 2013. The album featured fifteen songs such as "Dada" and "From Morning to Dark." That same year, they staged an acoustic concert at Universal Hall Skopje, accompanied by a chamber orchestra and a live band.
The third studio album, Another Day, arrived in 2016 with twelve tracks including "Only She Knows How" and "It's from Shutka." To celebrate their fifteenth year as a group, DNK performed a commemorative concert at Metropolis Arena in May 2017. The following year saw the release of a compilation titled The Best of, which comprised twenty-two songs plus an exclusive bonus track named "Diamond."
In 2019, four singles were launched: "If You Knew Everything," "Romeo and Juliet," "We," and "Up or Down."
Early in 2020, the group premiered the single "Call Me" alongside an animated music video. By March, DNK embraced digital platforms by conducting a virtual concert streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Kočani nightclub fire
On 16 March 2025, Andrej Gjorgjieski perished in the nightclub fire in Kočani. The tragedy also claimed the lives of their photographer Aleksandar Efremov, backup vocalist Sara Projkovska, drummer Gjorgji Gjorgiev, and keyboardist Filip Stevanovski. Although two band members initially survived the incident, they succumbed to injuries later that day. Vladimir Blažev endured severe burns and underwent oxygen therapy; he survived for several months but ultimately passed away on 14 October 2025. Consequently, all members associated with the band lost their lives due to this disaster.
Members
- Vladimir Blažev – Pančo (29 July 1979 – 14 October 2025)
- Andreja Gjorgjieski (9 February 1982 – 16 March 2025)