Born Thomas Wesley Pentz on November 10, 1978, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Diplo is a pioneering force in contemporary electronic music. Growing up in Florida, he developed an early passion for hip-hop, dancehall, and global rhythms, which later influenced his genre-blending sound. Relocating to Philadelphia for university, he quickly became immersed in the city’s music scene, forming a reputation as a boundary-pushing DJ and producer.

Teaming up with British-Sri Lankan artist M.I.A.

in the early 2000s, Diplo’s production on her debut album **“Arular”**—especially the hit single “Paper Planes”—brought him international recognition. In 2009, he co-founded the dancehall-inspired project **Major Lazer** with Switch, launching global anthems like “Lean On” and “Cold Water.” Diplo’s musical reach expanded further with forming **Jack Ü**, a collaboration with Skrillex that swept the 2016 Grammy Awards with the Justin Bieber-assisted “Where Are Ü Now.

” Beyond his own projects, Diplo has become a prolific producer for superstars such as Beyoncé, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Sia. Renowned for his restless creativity and work ethic, he has traversed genres from trap and EDM to country, via his project **LSD** with Labrinth and Sia, and his country-inspired persona **Thomas Wesley**. Diplo’s high-energy DJ sets have made him a festival staple and club favorite worldwide, while his record label, Mad Decent, continues to champion innovative artists and sounds.

A restless musical adventurer, Diplo remains at the cutting edge of global pop and dance music.