Diplo

Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo, is unquestionably one of the most dynamic forces in music today. He is as much as an international brand (tastemaker, spokesman, curator) as he is a musician/DJ/producer.

Year after year, he’s proven himself to be an ubiquitous cultural figure, consistently bridging high and low, mainstream and underground, with remarkable tact and reverence.

In 2004, after studying film at Temple University, throwing influential parties in South Philadelphia, and releasing multiple mixtapes promoting the aesthetic of his party, Hollertronix, Pentz cemented himself as a full fledged artist through his debut album, “Florida.” Receiving praise within the underground community, “Florida” caught the attention of XL Recording’s newest act at the time – M.I.A. – who partnered with Pentz to release mixtape “Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1.” This pivotal mixtape (listed by the New York Times and Pitchfork Media as “Album of the Year”) helped build buzz for M.I.A.’s debut and boosted Diplo’s reputation as a scene-spotter, championing the mongrel pop of the global underclass to the speakers of American clubs.

Diplo would continue to work with M.I.A. on her first and second albums, eventually creating the Grammy nominated track “Paper Planes” in 2007, which hit No. 4 in the U.S. Hot 100 Charts and has sold more than 3 million copies.

After multiple Grammy nominations, including Producer of the Year, and being crowned the #1 most streamed artist on Soundcloud in 2013, Diplo’s might continues to grow in 2014. Diplo’s touring remains extensive, playing hard ticket venues all around the world 300 days of the year, headlining the 22-city Mad Decent Block Party tour across North America, as well as launching the inaugural Mad Decent Boat Party on the Caribbean seas. Following the success of Diplo’s “Express Yourself” EP in 2012 and Major Lazer’s sophomore album Free The Universe in 2013, 2014 will see the release of his compilation album Random White Dude Be Everywhere, which includes some of his biggest recent hits that have been seen in TV commercials for Doritos and Fiat. His chart-climbing single “Revolution” recently broke the Top 40 Pop Chart at radio, making it Diplo’s biggest hit to date.

In addition, Beyonce’s “Run The World” heavily sampled Major Lazer’s “Pon De Floor” and went on to sell over a million copies, further cementing Diplo’s place in the pop world. He remains the go-to producer for the who’s who of the pop music landscape – Usher, Snoop Lion, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, No Doubt, Beyonce, Madonna, Pharrell and more.