Diplo Biography

Diplo is an L.A.-based American DJ, record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter and record executive. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project, Major Lazer and along with producer and DJ Skrillex, formed the electronic duo Jack Ü.

Early Life 

Diplo was born in 1978, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He grew up listening to rap, which influenced his future career. He spent most of his youth ibn Miami, before studying at the University of Central Florida and then moving to Philadelphia where he began DJing. During the early 2000s, he gained some recognition for the mixtape “Never Scared”. Furthermore, he began performing at parties as Hollertronix. Next up he founded a studio, label, gallery and event space called The Mausoleum, thus collaborating with numerous huge artists. In 2009 he received a Grammy nomination for co-creating M.I.A.’s breakthrough single “Paper Planes”.

Major Lazer & Jack Ü

Diplo formed Major Lazer with British DJ Switch, releasing their debut album “Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do” in 2009, a mix of house, oldies, R&B and jazz. The duo rose to fame with their third album, “Peace Is The Mission”, which spawned the iconic “Lean On”. Additionally, it spawned a second single, “Powerful”, a collaboration with Ellie Goulding. In 2016, Major Lazer came out with the single “Cold Water”, with Justin Bieber and Mo.

Additionally, Diplo formed the second duo, with none other than Skrillex, in 2013. They released one studio album, “Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U”, two years later. The record included collaborations with 2 Chains, Kiesza, Justin Bieber, AlunaGeorge and Missy Elliott. Most noteworthy, it won two Grammy Awards. The duo performed at Coachella and Lollapalooza.

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