Diplo
1710418
223010177
2008-07-02T04:21:37Z
203.52.104.69
/* 2008 */
{{Cleanup|date=October 2007}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name = Diplo
| Img = Diplo1.jpg
| Img_capt = Diplo in 2005
| Background = non_performing_personnel
| Birth_name = Wesley Pentz
| Alias =
| Born = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mississippi]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| Died =
| Origin =
| Instrument =
| Genre = [[Electronic dance]], [[hip hop]], [[trip hop]], [[baile funk]]
| Occupation = [[DJ]], [[Record producer|producer]]
| Years_active = 2003–present
| Label = [[Big Dada]]
| Associated_acts = [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]], [[Bonde do Rolê]], [[Spank Rock]], [[Amanda Blank]], [[Plastic Little (rap group)|Plastic Little]], [[Santogold]]
| URL = [http://www.formdiplo.com/ Official site]
| Notable_instruments =
}}
:''For the British international monthly publication see [[Diplo magazine]]. For the international monthly publication nicknamed Le Diplo, see [[Le Monde diplomatique]]. For the Puerto Rican poet known as Diplo, see [[Ramón Rivero]].''
'''Diplo''' (born '''Wesley Pentz''', also variably known as Diplodocus, Wes Gully, and Wes Diplo) is a [[Philadelphia]]-based [[DJ]] and [[record producer|producer]]. Together with DJ Low Budget, he runs [[Hollertronix]], a club and music collective. In addition to his solo career, he dated and worked with the British-Sri Lankan [[singer]] and [[artist]] [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]] which brought him increased recognition.<ref> Dan DeLuca,"Musical Diplo-mat", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan 19, 2006, Pg C01 </ref> Pentz's alias, short for ''[[Diplodocus]]'', derives from his childhood fascination with [[dinosaur]]s.
M.I.A. approached Pentz when he was DJing one night at the [[Fabric (club)|Fabric Club]] in London. "Besides me being a white dude from [[Florida]] and her being a Sri Lankan girl in England, everything else was the same: [We were both] film graduates, [listened to] all the same music when we were kids, were going in the same direction right now in music, it was amazing."<ref name="pfdiplo05">{{cite web | author= Pytlik, Mark | title= Interview: Diplo | work= Pitchforkmedia.com | url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/14685-interview-diplo | date= [[4 April]] [[2005]] | |accessmonthday=[[6 September]] | accessyear=[[2007]]}}</ref> he said of their meeting. Coincidentally, Diplo was playing her single "Galang" as she entered the club.
As a DJ, Diplo is characterized by his eclectic, often 80s-oriented [[Bastard pop|mashups]], [[mixtape]]s, and live sets.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} On his full-length solo effort, ''[[Florida (album)|Florida]]'', his sound is closer to sample-based cinematic [[instrumental hip hop]], such as the work of [[DJ Shadow]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
The record Florida was pressed twice,one with a CD and one with a CD/DVD,the DVD was created by [[System D-128]] another artist
that has collaborated with Diplo on some musical recordings but mostly video projects from the information provided currently from the internet.
Before the Diplo Florida DVD there was another DVD that surfaced called "Diplo Banned in Libya"
which was released by [[Money Studies]], the 1st label to release a solo project by Diplo under the moniker Diplodocus, it was a 45 called "Thingamajawn" which there is a full length music video for as well. Similar to the Florida DVD "Diplo Banned in Libya" is an experimental mix of videos created to some of Diplo's work from Florida and other sources that are unknown.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
Born in [[Mississippi]]<ref> Dan DeLuca,"Musical Diplo-mat", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan 19, 2006, Pg C01 </ref> and raised across the [[southern United States]], Diplo picked up much of the local culture while growing up there. [[Music genre|Music styles]] such as [[dirty south]], [[crunk]] and [[Miami bass]] are now key ingredients of Hollertronix's output. Pentz's solo work is also influenced by [[Southern Gothic]] and other [[southern literature]]. Additionally [[Baile Funk]] or [[Funk Carioca]] is a strong musical influence on Diplo, which he encountered while DJing at a house party with Hollertronix<ref name="pfdiplo05"/> and has used for sampled beats in numerous productions.
Diplo can be attributed with playing a key role in bringing the musical genre Baile Funk from Brasil to the United States.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} After traveling to Rio de Janeiro and experiencing the music first hand in 2004,{{Fact|date=March 2008}} he released a number of Baile Funk mixes, such as “Favela on Blast: Rio Baile Funk 2004” and “Favela Strikes Back,” which introduced Funk to some listeners in America.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} He later went on to produce the mix ''Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1'' with M.I.A, which included some Baile Funk themes. Diplo is additionally in the post-production stage of producing a documentary on Baile Funk, entitled ''Favela on Blast,'' which will continue to bring attention to the genre.
<ref name="vvdiplo">{{cite web | author= Wolk,Douglas | title= Booty Call | work= The Village Voice | url= http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0451,wolk,59374,22.html | date= [[17 December]] [[2004]] | |accessmonthday=[[14 February]] | accessyear=[[2008]]}}</ref>
Diplo is signed to the [[Ninja Tune]] imprint [[Big Dada]]. Since working with M.I.A., he has gone on to remix and work with other artists. In 2006, he started his own label, Mad Decent, signing Brazilian [[baile funk]] group [[Bonde do Role]] and [[DJ Blaqstarr]].
He attended the University of Central Florida and Temple University in Philadelphia. He is now touring a Myspace.com sponsored tour with the French hit group [[Justice (French band)|Justice]].
==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''[[Florida (album)|Florida]]'' ([[2004 in music|2004]])
===EPs and Singles===
* "Newsflash" ([[2003 in music|2003]]) (as Diplodocus)
* "Epistemology Suite" ([[2003 in music|2003]]) (as Diplodocus)
* "Thingamajawn" ([[2003 in music|2003]]) (as Diplodocus)
* "Diplo Rhythm" ([[2004 in music|2004]])
* "Reload It" 2005 (as Diplo)
===Mixtapes===
* ''AEIOU'' ([[2003 in music|2003]])
* ''AEIOU Pt. 2: Making Music Your Own'' ([[2004 in music|2004]]) (with Tripledouble)
* ''[[Piracy Funds Terrorism]]'' (with [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]]) ([[2004 in music|2004]])
* ''Favela on Blast'' ([[2004 in music|2004]])
* ''Favela Strikes Back'' ([[2005 in music|2005]])
* ''[[Fabric Live 24]]'' ([[2005 in music|2005]])
* ''Mad Decent Radio, Vol. 1'' ([[2006 in music|2006]])
* ''I Like Turtles'' ([[2007 in music|2007]])
===Remixes===
====[[2005 in music|2005]]====
* [[Disco D]] - Lets Hug It Out Bitch (Diplo Remix)
* [[Edu K]] - Popozuda Rock n' Roll (Diplo Remix)
* [[Gwen Stefani]] - [[Hollaback Girl]] (Hollatronic Remix)
* [[Kanye West]] - [[Gold Digger]] (Diplo Mix)
* [[Spank Rock]] - Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix)
* [[Three 6 Mafia]] - [[Stay Fly]] (Mad Decent Remix)
* [[Biz Markie]] Vapors (Diplo Remix)
* [[Walter Wanderley]] - Popcorn (Diplo Remix)
* [[Modest Mouse]] - [[Float On]] (Diplo Remix)
====[[2006 in music|2006]]====
* [[Beck]] - Wish Coin (Go it Alone)
* [[Bloc Party]] - [[Helicopter (song)|Helicopter]] (Diplo Remix)
* [[Clipse]] - Queen Bitch (Diplo Remix)
* [[Cansei de Ser Sexy|CSS]] - [[Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above]] (Diplo Remix)
* [[Daedelus]] - Sundown (Diplo Remix)
* [[Hot Chip]] - [[Over and Over (Hot Chip song)|Over And Over]] (Shake It Over And Over)
* [[Justin Timberlake]] - [[My Love (Justin Timberlake song)|My Love]] (Diplo Remix)
* [[The Beatles]] - [[Twist and Shout]] (Diplo B'more Edit)
* [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] - [[Gold Lion]] (Diplo Remix)
====[[2007 in music|2007]]====
* [[Claude VonStroke]] - The Whistler (Diplo Remix)
* [[Kanye West]] - [[Stronger (Kanye West song)|Stronger]] (Diplo's Work Is Never Over)
* [[Peter Bjorn and John]] - [[Young Folks]] (Diplo's Drums of Death Remix)
* [[Znobia]] - Tchilo (Diplo Mix)
* [[Bart Simpson]] - (Bartman So So Krispy Remix)
* [[The Decemberists]] - (Doing Time Remix)
* [[Bloc Party]] - Where Is Home? (Diplo Mix)
* [[Black Lips]] - Veni Vedi Vici (Diplo Remix)
* [[Hot Chip]] - Shake a Fist (Diplo Remix)
====[[2008 in music|2008]]====
* [[Sunny Day Sets Fire]] - Brainless (Mad Decent Remix)
* [[Spoon]] - Don't You Evah
* [[Kanye West]] - "[[Flashing Lights]]"
* [[The Black Ghosts]] - Repetition Kills You (Diplo Remix)
* [[Marlena Shaw]] - [[California Soul]] (Diplo Remix)
===Soundtracks===
* [[ATV Offroad Fury 4]] - Tambo, Newsflash (Ft. [[Sandra Cretu|Sandra]])
===Podcasts===
Diplo presents these podcast serials.
* [[Mad Decent]]
* [[Trocabrahma]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.formdiplo.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.maddecent.com/ Mad Decent]
* [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1269 ''Stylus'' Diplo interview (10/2004)]
* [http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0451,wolk,59374,22.html ''Village Voice'' article (December 2004)]
* [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=8794 ''Philadelphia Weekly'' article (February 2005)]
* [http://formatmag.com/features/music/diplo/ Interview @ Format Mag]
* [http://www.dummymag.com/ Interview in Dummy Magazine]
* [http://smokingsection.rawkus.com/TSS/?p=3078 Interview With The Smoking Section (2/08)]
[[Category:Hip hop DJs]]
[[Category:Hip hop record producers]]
[[de:Wesley Pentz]]
[[pt:Diplo]]