DIPLO RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

Mad Decent boss Diplo has responded to accusations of cultural appropriation surrounding his new tracks 'Lean On' and 'Cold Water'.

The American producer/DJ, who is also one third of dancehall trio Major Lazer, alongside Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, is said to be misrepresenting Indian culture with the new songs.

“For me, the band that’s most influential to us is The Clash," said Diplo in retaliation. "Nobody said, ‘You’re culturally appropriating,’ when they made Rock The Casbah. I think what makes a great artist is someone who can change the direction of music, not someone who stays the same all the time. Otherwise music would be so f**king boring.”

Continuing he added: “When I grew up, no one told me what I was supposed to listen to. I grew up and I loved music. I didn’t think: ‘Oh, I’m white, I’ve got to play a guitar.’ I never had a guitar. I really fucked that up. I only had turntables. I wish I got a guitar, then I wouldn’t have so much criticism.”

Diplo went on to explain that he found it difficult to get anyone to feature on 'Lean On', with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna turning down the track. “People didn’t understand it," he said. "Now, every song on the radio sounds like 'Lean On'. I’ve always worked in an industry where your goal is to give [a song] to the biggest star. That’s gone now.”