Diplo

Diplo, the producer behind M.I.A. this year's hottest newcomer, was raised across the southern states of America; fed on a diet of shrimp, Miami Bass and DIY DJ party culture. In his late teens he began DJing and migrated north to Philly and New York, where he began to produce his own tracks and taught computer music to little kids. While living in Japan he read about Ninja Tunes hip hop offshoot Big Dada and sent them demo, swiftly signed he put out the deep, diverse and funky 'Florida' LP in 2004. He's remixed for artists ranging from Beck and Gwen Stefani to Bun B, Kano and Le Tigre. Diplo pushes the envelope of new sounds and rhythm that constantly absorbs and amazes listeners of his mixtapes and Hollartronix parties. He's previously recorded compilations for the forward thinking Def Jux and releases on Money Studies in NYC. Most recently he's been working on a full DJ and Audio Visual show.

This is a fast paced, funk fuelled ride through the badlands of hip hop, dubstep, electro, rock and techno sounds. There's sexy sunny vibes at the opening when Plantlife meet Nina Sky's alluring vocals, Killer Mike's brooding beats meet the sparkling robotic electro of Cybertron, the old skool vocal vibes from Yazoo and Debbie Deb then classics like Freestyle's 'Don't Stop The Rock'. Throwing down the techno bass there's cuts from Hashim, Model 500, Aphex Twin and Cajmere before Solid Groove get sick. The beats come fresh and raw from Two Culture Clash and Ludacris, dirty latin tinged rhythms from Diplo and Gaiola Das Popozudas, with M.I.A.'s distinctive vocals. Heading to the close rock class from The Cure meets Outcastes furious hip hop, Le Tigre's grinding guitars, DJ Nasty's pulsing Hurricane, before winding down with Turbulance and the sweet sounds of Cat Power.