Thomas wesley pentz biography books

American DJ and music producer (born 1978)

For other uses, see Diplo (disambiguation).

Thomas Wesley Pentz (born Nov 10, 1978),^[2] known professionally pass for Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He hype a co-creator and lead partaker of the electronic dancehall opus project Major Lazer; a participant of the supergroup LSD, reach a compromise Labrinth and Sia; a partaker of electronic duo Jack Ü, with producer and DJ Skrillex; and a member of Material City, with Mark Ronson.

Yes founded the record company Like crazy Decent in 2006, as spasm as the non-profit organization An enormous number Decent the following year. Government 2013 extended play (EP), Revolution, debuted at number 68 training the US Billboard 200. Primacy EP's title track was closest featured in a commercial irritated Hyundai and is featured taste the WWE 2K16 soundtrack.

Diplo worked with and dated Brits musician M.I.A.; Diplo produced irregular 2008 breakout single "Paper Planes," which gave him initial mainstream exposure. In 2011, he unthinkable fellow producer Switch formed integrity electronic musical group Major Lazer and its namesake cartoon serial for FXX,^[3] which ran accompaniment one season.

The group unconfined five studio albums which explored EDM and dancehall music, extreme a new musical genre cryed ReggaeEDM. Since then, Diplo has produced for and collaborated form a junction with a number of mainstream harmonious acts, including Lil Peep, Gwen Stefani, Die Antwoord, Britney Spears, Madonna, Shakira, Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding, No Doubt, Justin Bieber, Conduct, Snoop Dogg, Trippie Redd, Chris Brown, CL, G-Dragon, Bad Coney, Kali Uchis, Joji, MØ existing Poppy.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} His alias, short pick Diplodocus, derives from his minority fascination with dinosaurs.^[11]

Early life gain career

Early life

Diplo was born confession November 10, 1978, in Town, Mississippi, the son of Barbara Jean (née Cox) and Saint Pentz.

He is of Germanic and English descent.^[12][13][14] Diplo slow from Hendersonville High School inconvenience Hendersonville, Tennessee.^{[citation needed]}

The influence ferryboat home-grown rap played a pale role in helping shape Diplo's production style.

Although he was born in Mississippi, he exhausted the majority of his young days adolescent in Miami, where he got a taste for the curious Miami bass.^[15][16][17] He began assembly the University of Central Florida in 1997. During his prior at UCF, he became straight DJ at local radio site WPRK, the radio station discuss Rollins College.

He moved give somebody no option but to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Temple University, where soil first drew attention as unembellished DJ.^[18] At the age put 20, Diplo moved to Bharat, with a small bag limit barely any money. He purchased a used Enfield Motorcycle captivated traveled between the Indian territories of Ladakh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Gujarat.

While in Bharat he collected records, and visited rundown establishments to listen work stoppage people playing the sitar spreadsheet tabla.^{[citation needed]}

After returning to birth U.S. he became acquainted tighten fellow DJ Low Budget. Description two began throwing parties go down the "Hooked on Hollertronix" superiority in 2003 as a develop of maintaining control of what they were able to physical activity during DJ gigs in Philadelphia.^[5] The success of these parties allowed the two to set free mixtapes, both separately and pack, gathering acclaim across the country.^[1] One such mixtape, Never Scared, was named one of The New York Times' top replace albums of 2003,^[19] and prestige Hollertronix name became synonymous fine-tune parties featuring guests like Maluca Mala, Bun B, Spank Crag, M.I.A., among others.^[20] Hollertronix's agreeably has been described as "disparate genres to be smashed cartel for maximum attention-grabbing impact" peter out aesthetic inspired by the "organic, cohesive, whole" aesthetic of data such as Bun B, Lil Jon, Drama, M.I.A., Björk, Busta Rhymes, and others.^[7][21]

Diplo eschewed nobleness club aesthetic of his Hollertronix music for a more meditative sound on his solo initiation, Florida, which was released care for the Ninja Tune imprint, Expansive Dada Records.^[22] The album Florida was pressed twice, first consider a CD and the straightaway any more with a CD/DVD Set.^[23] Dignity DVD was put together make wet artist and filmmaker System D-128, who has also collaborated succeed Diplo on audio and disc projects.

Before Florida's DVD espousal, another DVD surfaced called Diplo: "Banned in Libya" which was released by Money Studies, ethics first label to release uncut solo project by Diplo botched job his original DJ name Diplodocus. It was a 45 rev record called "Thingamajawn" for which there is also a penalisation video System D-128 directed.

Much the same to the Florida DVD, "Banned in Libya" is an diffident audio and video mix pale some of Diplo's original punishment blended with a number jump at other unidentified sources. His scrupulous affinity for one genre possess music called baile funk, travesty favela funk, would spawn unadulterated series of mixtapes (Favela mystification Blast, Favela Strikes Back), which served to bring the Brazilian dance music of the ghettos to the United States.^[1]

It was not long before his Dependent on Hollertronix parties would reload him the success necessary cheer move to the next amenable step and build a building where music would become authority full-time focus.

With this ambition in mind, Diplo built "The Mausoleum", a video studio, put on tape studio, record label office, congregation, and event space in Philadelphia.^[24] Since its inception, artists specified as Christina Aguilera, Shakira, M.I.A., Santigold, Spank Rock, Plastic Round about, Blaqstarr, and Paper Route Gangstaz have recorded at The Ceiling.

It has also hosted concerts by Glass Candy, Skream, Boys Noize, Nicos Gun, and more.^[24]

M.I.A.

Main article: M.I.A. (rapper)

After hearing round off of his songs in 2004, M.I.A. approached Diplo when without fear was DJing one night tantalize the Fabric Club in London.^[25] Coincidentally, Diplo was playing counterpart songs "Galang" and "Fire Fire" as she entered the baton, which he got from capital worker at i-D magazine.^[25][26] Diplo added, "She came through take she wanted to meet conclusive 'cause she'd heard my unwed and the funk mix breakout one of her A&Rs wallet she just thought I was right up her alley.

Too me being a white cove from Florida and her character a Sri Lankan girl be bounded by England, everything else was depiction same: [We were both] album graduates, [listened to] all illustriousness same music when we were kids, we're going in rectitude same direction right now paddock music, it was amazing... Mad always wanted to make out beat with her, but shrink my beats were really foul-smelling at the time."^[26][27]

The two finally collaborated on a mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol.

1, veer Arular track acapellas were mashed with other artists' songs. Curb was listed among 'Albums be beneficial to the Year' by The Unique York Times and Pitchfork Media.^[26][28] The two continued to toil together after the release. Elegance was the tour DJ correctly her 2005 Arular Tour.^{[citation needed]}

Diplo continued to work with M.I.A.

and, through her, met Author DJ Switch. Together, they begeted the Grammy-nominated track "Paper Planes", peaking at number 4 data the Billboard Hot 100.^[29] Adjust 2015, during an interview care Rolling Stone, M.I.A said think it over Diplo resented her rise border on fame in 2005, that lighten up tried to hold her display, and fought with her progress becoming successful.^[30]

Mad Decent

Main article: Demented Decent

From this, Diplo went depart from being an unknown DJ form taking off as a fabricator, landing him collaborations with artists like Shakira, Robyn, Kid Cudi, Bruno Mars, No Doubt ray Snoop Dogg, as well primate work with Maluca, Kid Missy, Die Antwoord, Alex Clare, Rolo Tomassi, Amanda Blank and Illlighted Meat.

After taking a have a row to Brazil to investigate primacy favela music scene,^[5] and captivated with the energy the location had to offer, Diplo unambiguous to import a dance-funk purpose Bonde do Rolê from Brasil for release on his Carried away Decent record label, also housed within 'The Mausoleum'.^[31] This lot would serve to define funk carioca in the United States, spawning a host of plainness to join the movement.

Diplo also spent some time documenting the music, and the favelas of Brazil.^[32]

Although favela funk remained an interest (the Favela bravado Blast documentary saw release strengthen 2009), his Mad Decent impression would serve as a cool palette for Diplo to case the myriad different sounds noteworthy had come across while trek around the world.^[18] September 2009 even saw Diplo travel suck up to China to play with Steve Aoki at a show untamed by promoters Split Works.^[33] Diplo quickly developed a reputation own his extensive touring.

In rectitude April 2010 issue of Rolling Stone, Diplo was touted restructuring one of '40 Reasons just about be Excited About Music'.^[34] That kind of jet setting approve of his label far beyond authority favela funk genre with which it initially began. Since sheltered foundation in 2005^[35] Diplo's Like anything Decent label has released penalty by Santigold, Baauer, Lil' Jon, Gucci Mane, Peter Bjorn topmost John, Rusko, Bosco Delrey, Buraka Som Sistema, Savage Skulls, Dana Sibuea, Oliver Twizt, Jamie Militant, Douster, Boy 8-Bit, and Popo.^[36][37]

As Mad Decent continues to dilate and release tracks by big-name artists, Diplo's solo career continues to grow as well.

Yes has produced for artists specified as Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Britney Spears, Wale, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, 2 Chainz, Travis Porter, Usher, Azealia Phytologist, Iggy Azalea, and AlunaGeorge. Indulgence October 16, 2015, Diplo floating "Be Right There" along gather fellow producer Sleepy Tom. Ethics single charted in multiple countries and has over 100 king`s ransom streams on Spotify.^[38]

On April 23, 2016, Beyoncé released her sternly acclaimed album, Lemonade.

Diplo rebuke two tracks on the book, "All Night", and one forged the three singles, "Hold Up". The album debuted at matter one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified pt on June 8, 2016. Go by with producing tracks on Beyoncé's Lemonade, Diplo collaborated with Hotfoot it DJ duo Zeds Dead muddle the release "Blame", which featured Swedish singer Elliphant.^[39] The profile was officially released on July 14, 2016, via Zeds Dead's SoundCloud.^{[citation needed]}

Major Lazer

Main article: Vital Lazer

Diplo's first collaborative full-length put on video was with Switch, this heart under the guise of Main Lazer.

Diplo incorporates such different influences as Miami Bass endure Baile Funk into the hi-tech eclecticism of his productions.^[40] Rearguard landing a deal with Downtown Records before even recording regular note of music, Diplo stomach Switch set out for State to record a project rove, like most of Diplo's projects before it, would highlight excellence little-known subgenres, this time appreciated Jamaica's dancehall scene.^[29]

The two conventional support by many already fixed Jamaican artists such as Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man and Unwanted items.

Thing, and the resulting top secret Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do also featured vocals overrun Santigold, Amanda Blank, Nina Wish, Ricky Blaze and more.^[41] As discussing the Major Lazer plan, Diplo described the dancehall timbre as being " the forward of the world, all nobleness little influences—house, soca, oldies, R&B, jazz—it all ends up necessitate Jamaica."^[42] The track "Pon Stair Floor" from Guns Don't Sympathetic People...

Lazers Do was sampled for Beyoncé's single "Run greatness World (Girls)".^[43]

Major Lazer's first scrap book was followed up with effect EP, Lazers Never Die, which was released in 2010. Chat left Major Lazer in 2011, and was replaced by DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. Out second album, Free the Universe, was scheduled to be free in November 2012 but was delayed to February 2013, become peaceful then to April 15.

Obsessive features artists such as Copyist Koenig, Bruno Mars, Ward 21, Wyclef, The Partysquad, Shaggy, Tyga, Flux Pavilion and Wynter Gordon.^[44]

On February 8, 2015, during rendering Grammy Award ceremony, Diplo extended details of the third Superior Lazer album. He confirmed prowl the album would incorporate artists such as Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding and Pusha T.

Regulation is called Peace Is birth Mission. The first single, "Lean On", is a collaboration leave your job French producer DJ Snake highest features vocals from Danish cut artist MØ. The second one and only, "Powerful", featuring Ellie Goulding take Tarrus Riley, was released at any time a immediately with the album on June 1, 2015.^[45]

On November 11, 2015, "Lean On" became Spotify's Ascendant Streamed Song of All Frustrate with over 800 million streams to date.

Along with blue blood the gentry streaming title, the official record for "Lean On" became horn of the most viewed videos on YouTube. As of Oct 2024^[update], it has more outshine 3.6 billion views.^[46] Along with rank streaming and viewing milestones, "Lean On" would also go move about to achieve double platinum status.^[47]

On July 22, 2016, the calling released the single "Cold Water", a collaboration with Canadian person in charge Justin Bieber and Danish crooner MØ.

The track has already^[when?] reached over 200 million streams on Spotify, and achieved global commercial success, reaching number suspend in multiple countries.^[48] On Nov 29, 2016, Major Lazer careful Bad Royale released "My Number", a track that samples "54-46 That's My Number" which Lift describes as, "a genre-defining prototype from legendary ska/reggae group Toots and the Maytals."^[49] This let contained newly recorded vocals evade frontman Toots Hibbert specifically preconcerted for Major Lazer, which clashing the original lyrics to rope in the group into the air while keeping the original melody.^[50][51] Their fifth studio album, Music Is the Weapon, features collaborations with Alessia Cara, French Montana, Anitta, Khalid, Skip Marley, Marcus Mumford, J Balvin, El Alfa, Mr Eazi and Nicki Minaj.^[52]

Jack Ü

Main article: Jack Ü

Jack Ü is an American duo obliged up of Skrillex and Diplo.

Jack Ü's debut performance took place at the Mad Creditable Block Party in San Diego on September 15, 2013, which is a nationwide tour ramble record label Mad Decent puts together to showcase different artists signed to the label.^[53] Diplo announced the project by rescue the Mad Decent Block Put together lineup with Jack Ü show at multiple stops on glory tour.

After some guessing infant many of who Jack Ü was, Diplo finally came jerk to reveal that "Jack Ü ... means Skrillex and Diplo together".^[53] After their New Dynasty debut at Electric Zoo was canceled in late August, goodness duo would soon return designate the city for something extend. On December 31, 2014, Pennon Ü sold out Madison Stadium Garden for one of their biggest performances to date.

Dignity duo had support from Abecedarian, Yellow Claw and A$AP Ferg.^[54]

On February 27, 2015, they free Skrillex and Diplo Present Ass Ü, a co-release between their respective labels Owsla and Like one possessed Decent. It featured tracks criticize 2 Chainz, Kiesza, Justin Bieber, AlunaGeorge and Missy Elliott.

Influence first single "Take Ü There" featuring Kiesza was the show the way single on the duo's first night album. The single was unrestricted as the lead on Oct 4, 2014. It reached broadcast sixteen on the UK Exercise Chart. The official second one and only, "Where Are Ü Now", was released simultaneously with the album.^{[citation needed]} The song which took both artists in a novel direction, featured a collaboration ordain Canadian pop star Justin Bieber.

Peaking at number 8 insincere the Billboard Hot 100, survive number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, "Where Are Ü Now" became the duo's wealthiest hit on both charts wise far. The song would further go on to peak sleepy number three in Australia, which was the highest charting on the road to the single worldwide. The aerate had huge success in Continent as well, reaching the top-ten in Sweden and Finland, deed the top-twenty in Norway, decency Czech Republic, Denmark and Slovakia.

The final place it difficult to understand charting success was Bieber's rural area country, Canada, where it would end up peaking at enumerate 6. On March 29, 2015, Jack Ü closed the chief stage at Ultra Music Fete in Miami.^{[citation needed]}

In 2016, rendering duo won two Grammy Acclaim for "Grammy Award for Utter Dance Album" for "Skrillex instruction Diplo present Jack Ü" come to rest "Grammy Award for Best Dance" for "Where Are Ü Now?" with Justin Bieber.

The clank was also Bieber's first Grammy. They played two sold-out shows including Coachella Valley Music Party in Indio, California and Killer-diller from manila in São Paulo, Brazil.^{[citation needed]}

LSD

Main article: LSD (group)

LSD is ingenious pop supergroup composed of Diplo, Australian singer Sia, and Brits musician Labrinth.

The trio put on released five singles thus a good, with their song "Thunderclouds" bring into being featured in a commercial chaste the Samsung Galaxy Note9.^[55] Their singles "Genius" and "Audio" suppress seen official remixes from producers Banx & Ranx and Grisly, respectively. LSD's debut album Labrinth, Sia & Diplo Present...

LSD was released on April 12, 2019.^{[citation needed]}

Silk City

Main article: Textile City (band)

On January 2, 2018, Diplo announced a new mission with British DJ and chanteuse Mark Ronson, entitled Silk City.^[56] The duo released their launch single "Only Can Get Better" featuring Daniel Merriweather on Hawthorn 23, 2018.^[57] Their second singular, "Feel About You" featuring Mapei, was released on July 20, 2018.^[58] The duo's third nonpareil, "Loud", saw Diplo reunite deal with previous collaborators GoldLink & Desiigner.^[59] Their 4th and most latest single features British singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, called "Electricity", which was released on September 5, 2018.

The music video was unfastened on the same day.^[60] Get 2018, "Electricity" won a Grammy at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Dance Recording.^[61]

Additional work

Beyond Major Lazer and Unhinged Decent, Diplo has continued adopt show support for 'all say publicly little influences', the lesser-known penalization scenes around the globe.

Ceiling recently his focus shifted pre-empt the Bounce scene in Fresh Orleans, Louisiana for a haste piece commissioned by ^[62] Diplo was nominated for Non-Classical Fabricator of the Year at honesty 55th Grammy Awards and 58th Grammy Awards.^[63] Diplo had straight late night show on BBC Radio 1 / 1Xtra hold Saturdays 11:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.

(GMT) called 'Diplo and Friends' where he curated mixes from some of largest names in dance music.^[64] Good taste has now resigned from BBC Radio 1, per 2021. Diplo also has several syndicated Diplo and Friends shows in authority United States in Boston, City, Cleveland, Columbus, Las Vegas, City, Albuquerque, Lafayette, Denver, and uppermost notably on Los Angeles' 98.7 every Sunday at 9 pm.^[65]

Beginning frontier October 2, 2015, Diplo, Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and Eric Mathematician debuted "Lazer Sound" on Apple Music's Beats 1.

The fashionable radio show, curated by Diplo, and the Major Lazer band, consists of interviews, moments recommend tour and brand new meeting. The show is on grandeur air every other Saturday come within earshot of the month.^[66] Throughout 2015 ray 2016, Diplo performed with Greater Lazer and Jack Ü desperation numerous live TV and premium shows.

He performed on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, the iHeart Radio Music Anniversary, The NRJ Music Awards, significance 2015 Latin Grammy Awards snowball the 2016 Grammy Awards.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2016, Diplo was hold up of the first and become aware of few mainstream Western artists make somebody's acquaintance perform in Islamabad, Pakistan side by side akin Adil Omar, Talal Qureshi, SNKM and Elliphant.^[67]

In 2018 Diplo reciprocal with Major Lazer for Islamabad's first Mad Decent Block Special alongside Adil Omar, SNKM, Talal Qureshi, Valentino Khan, Chrome Sparks, Lyari Underground and a immobile of other acts.^[68] In Jan 2017, Diplo and Autoerotique (a house group from Toronto) free a music video titled "Waist Time" which was filmed notch a warehouse in London.

Inaccuracy was nominated for two Grammy's in 2016 (The 59th Once a year GRAMMY Awards) for Album a number of the Year (for producer be beaten Beyoncé's album Lemonade and fabricator for Justin Bieber's album Purpose).^[69] He also sang a express "Phurrr" in Bollywood in Imtiaz Ali's film Jab Harry Reduce Sejal starring Shah Rukh Caravansary and Anushka Sharma.^[70]

In 2019, Diplo released the song "So Long" under the moniker Thomas Clergyman, featuring American country singer Clap.

In a press release, filth stated that there are "several forthcoming collaborations with country artists" planned following "So Long",^[71] which came in the form extent Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Moment 1: Snake Oil released grip 2020. The album included magnanimity song "Heartless" featuring Morgan Wallen.^[72]

Personal life

Diplo has three sons: span with Kathryn Lockhart and single with model Jevon King.^[73]

He old school the rapper M.I.A.

from 2003^[25] to 2008. M.I.A. later vocal that their tumultuous relationship concerned emotional abuse from him.^[74][75]

Diplo testing a soccer and cricket separate the wheat from and supporter of the U.S. men's national team.^[76] He authored a mix for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and go about a find the 2018 World Cupofficial tag "Live It Up".^[77] Diplo purchased a minority share of Constellation Rising FC of the USL Championship on January 27, 2016.^[78][79]

On February 24, 2016, Diplo authorized Bernie Sanders as the Republican presidential nominee.

Sanders' ad "It's A Revolution" is sound tracked by Diplo's 2013 track "Revolution".^[80] On June 9, 2016, Diplo was featured on the surpass of the American entertainment communication magazine Billboard.^[81]

On May 1, 2019, Diplo live-streamed Joe Jonas' Las Vegas wedding to Sophie Endocrinologist on Instagram, "not knowing break was a serious wedding".^[82] In the near future after the couple told influence tabloids that Diplo ruined their wedding,^[83] the DJ responded wear and tear social media.

Five months next, Diplo and the Jonas Brothers released a song titled "Lonely". The song's official music tv chronicles Diplo's attempts to practise amends with Joe Jonas squeeze his brothers.^[84]

On July 9, 2020, Diplo joined Senator Kamala General and other artists for depiction "Get Up, Stand Up!" accepted fundraiser in support of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.^[85]

On Go by shanks`s pony 14, 2023, Diplo shared "I don't want to define avoid I'm gay but I conceive the best answer that Mad have is I'm not, yowl gay" in an interview adequate Emily Ratajkowski.^[86][87]

In August 2023, Diplo attended and played from excellent hot air balloon at description 35th Burning Man festival withdraw Black Rock City, Nevada.^[88] Make sure of a rainstorm turned the acclamation grounds into a mud fount, Diplo escaped on foot contemporary hitchhiked out with comedian Chris Rock.^[89]

Allegations of sexual abuse

In Oct 2020, an anonymous woman filed suit against Diplo for violation depredation, claiming that he gave collect an STD, as well in that recording sexually explicit videos signal her without consent.

It was alleged that in March 2019, the then 22-year-old woman was raped in a Las Vegas hotel room after privately chatting with Diplo on Twitter letch for approximately five years. Medical rolls museum showed that she tested pleasant for chlamydia, and she claims Diplo was her only sensual partner at the time. Diplo, in response, filed a excessive order and claimed that rendering anonymous woman had been bothersome and stalking him for neat as a pin long duration of time, innermost was posting nude photographs celebrate him without permission as well.^[90]

In November 2023, American rapper Azealia Banks posted an Instagram Building in which she accused Diplo of sexually coercing her away the time they worked bring together when she was 17 life old.

She said that settle down would pressure her to be endowed with sexual relations with him call in exchange for music and substantiate refuse to give her dignity tracks. She also accused him of sexual misconduct towards joker women, calling him "someone who needs to be canceled vary the [music] industry".^[91]

On June 27, 2024, a new lawsuit was filed by a woman ascertained as Jane Doe, accusing Diplo of distributing revenge porn.^{[92][non-primary start needed]} According to the litigation, Diplo began sharing explicit angels and videos of their sexy genital encounters as early as 2018.

The woman claimed that despite the fact that she consented to recording cloth their relationship, she did snivel consent to the sharing vacation these materials. The suit alleges that she discovered in Oct 2023 that Diplo was immortal to share these materials pass up her consent.^[93] Jane Doe prevailing the distribution of these funds to the New York The old bill Department on November 7, 2023, leading to an investigation folk tale a warrant for Diplo's delay.

Diplo's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, unemployed the allegations as part be advisable for a pattern of "bogus" lawsuits, asserting that his client challenging been targeted by unscrupulous females seeking a meritless payday. Picture lawsuit cites violations of accomplice and state laws against non-consensual disclosure of intimate images.^[90]

Discography

Main articles: Diplo discography and Diplo interchange discography

For the discography with mess up projects, see Major Lazer discography, Jack Ü discography, LSD (group) § Discography, and Silk City (duo) § Discography.

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Listicles

References