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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
23
Diplo
3

It should be no surprise to see this superstar producer, DJ and Mad Decent head honcho (real name Thomas Wesley Pentz) in the Top 100. He’s not only graced it in the past, but 2016 has been a banner year for the tastemaker — even by Diplo standards.

By now we’re all familiar with the genre-bending artist with a spidey sense for what sounds are going to be the next big thing. Through label Mad Decent (and through his own productions), Dip has, over the years, introduced global sounds from funk carioca to dancehall to America through label Mad Decent and his own endeavors (both solo and with groups Major Lazer and Jack Ü).

It’s hard to overstate his impact on dance culture, and even harder to rifle through his resume’s highlights. After all, this is the man who not only co-produced two tracks on Beyoncé’s groundbreaking ‘Lemonade’ album, but has also collaborated with Justin Bieber on multiple occasions (including 2016’s ‘Cold Water’), brought a Major Lazer animated series to Cartoon Network and introduced NoLa bounce to the masses with church of twerk anthem ‘Express Yourself.’
Add to this the Mad Decent touring parties, radio shows on BBC Radio 1 and Apple Music and shopping a Voice-like reality show to networks… whew… when does he sleep? ERIN SHARONI