31 Facts About Diplo

1.

Diplo is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with Sia and Labrinth, a member of electronic duo Jack U with producer and DJ Skrillex, and a member of Silk City with Mark Ronson.

2.

Diplo founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as co-founding the non-profit organization Heaps Decent.

3.

Diplo was born on November 10,1978, in Tupelo, Mississippi, the son of Barbara Jean and Thomas Pentz.

4.

Diplo began attending the University of Central Florida in 1997.

5.

Diplo moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Temple University, where he first garnered attention as a DJ.

6.

Diplo moved to Delhi, India when he was barely 20, with barely any money.

7.

Diplo traveled on an Enfield motorcycle everywhere from Ladakh to Rishikesh to Calcutta.

8.

Diplo accentuated the club aesthetic of his Hollertronix music for a more reflective sound on his solo debut, Florida, which was released on the Ninja Tune imprint, Big Dada Records.

9.

Coincidentally, Diplo was playing her songs "Galang" and "Fire Fire" as she entered the club, which he got from a worker at i-D magazine.

10.

From this, Diplo went from an unknown DJ to taking off as a producer, landing him collaborations with artists like Shakira, Robyn, Kid Cudi, Bruno Mars, No Doubt and Snoop Dogg, as well as work with Maluca, Kid Sister, Die Antwoord, Alex Clare, Rolo Tomassi, Amanda Blank and Dark Meat.

11.

Diplo spent some time documenting the music, and the favelas of Brazil.

12.

On October 16,2015, Diplo released "Be Right There" along with fellow producer Sleepy Tom.

13.

Diplo produced two tracks on the album, "All Night", and one of the three singles, "Hold Up".

14.

On February 8,2015, during the Grammy Award ceremony, Diplo revealed details of the third Major Lazer album.

15.

Diplo confirmed that the album would incorporate artists such as Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding and Pusha T It is called Peace Is the Mission.

16.

Diplo announced the project by releasing the Mad Decent Block Party lineup with Jack U playing at multiple stops on the tour.

17.

On January 2,2018, Diplo announced a new project with British DJ and singer Mark Ronson, entitled Silk City.

18.

Diplo was nominated for Non-Classical Producer of the Year at the 55th Grammy Awards and 58th Grammy Awards.

19.

Diplo performed on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, the iHeart Radio Music Festival, The NRJ Music Awards, the 2015 Latin Grammy Awards and the 2016 Grammy Awards.

20.

In February 2016, Diplo was one of the first and very few mainstream Western artists to perform in Islamabad, Pakistan alongside Adil Omar, Talal Qureshi, SNKM and Elliphant.

21.

In 2018 Diplo returned to with Major Lazer for Islamabad's first Mad Decent Block Party alongside Adil Omar, SNKM, Talal Qureshi, Valentino Khan, Chrome Sparks, Lyari Underground and a host of other acts.

22.

Diplo was nominated for two Grammy's in 2016 for Album of the Year.

23.

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

24.

Diplo has three sons: Lockett and Lazer, with Kathryn Lockhart; and Pace, with Jevon King.

25.

Diplo dated singer Katy Perry for nearly a year in 2014 and 2015.

26.

Diplo is a soccer and cricket fan and supporter of the US men's national team.

27.

Diplo created a mix for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and produced the 2018 World Cup official song "Live It Up".

28.

Diplo purchased a minority share of Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship on January 27,2016.

29.

On February 24,2016, Diplo endorsed Bernie Sanders as the Democratic presidential nominee.

30.

On June 9,2016, Diplo was featured on the cover of the American entertainment media magazine Billboard.

31.

On May 1,2019, Diplo live-streamed Joe Jonas' Las Vegas wedding to Sophie Turner on Instagram, "not knowing it was a serious wedding".