This is from a former Mad Decent/Diplo stan.
I've been following his career since Hollertronix in 2002. When he was just doing mash-ups of the clash and missy elliot.
As much as it pains me to admit this, yes he is the biggest culture vulture to ever walk the earth. Bigger than Elvis and Eminem COMBINED.
He made a name for himself co-opting the sounds of third world country DJs. Who were too poor to make any money off of their own material. Basically traveling to countries like Brazil, buying rare records and playing them for american audiences. Which led to his first signing, Bonde De Role.
He made poorly crafted imitations of Baile Funk in the early 00s.
At one point when he was dating MIA he was pissed because she was getting more fame than him. This was around the time Arular came out.
He latches himself onto any hot internet based movement or musical movement and claims he was on it first.
Dubstep
Moombahton
NOLA Bounce music
Carribean Rave
Kuduro
Reggaeton
Club (Baltimore/Philly/Jersey)
Vogue/Ballroom House (which is a very black and gay movement based in the tristate, mainly NYC, for further reference check out the movie "Paris is Burning")
EDM Trap
etc til infinity
Dancehall Reggae
Juke
rap
3ball
Venus X of Ghetto Gothik called him out for going to their shows here in NYC and others amd bringing a tape recorder to tape what was being played to use in his sets.
When he was doing Mad Decent parties in Baltimore in 2006/2007, he did the same thing.
He used to play shows with K-Swift (RIP) and others...when he would play all the black people would leave the room.
He made more off Baltimore club music than others did. Why?
What people don't know is that baltimore club music never really was able to leave baltimore due to the tax on records and music...so they had to sell it like incense...for $5 on receipts. Which means the artists who crafted the sound really didn't make dikk off of it other than playing live.
BAsically was able to co-opt this in house and techno sets...which showed some innovation. Signed some artists to the label like DJ Sega, Blaqstarr, and Rye Rye...who are no longer with Mad Decent. He toured with Justice in 2007/2008 and that was it for that shyt.
Major Lazer is basically white washing dancehall Reggae and Jamaican culture for mainstream audiences.
I thought his success would lead the way to more of those artists he jacked getting recognition and more black artists being able to play shyt like EDC, Electric Zoo, Coachella, etc...it didn't.
Let's be honest...dude is a wanker. I've discussed here in NY with heads that know. He uses his white privilege to his advantage to capitalize off of black and brown music.
I've been following his career since Hollertronix in 2002. When he was just doing mash-ups of the clash and missy elliot.
As much as it pains me to admit this, yes he is the biggest culture vulture to ever walk the earth. Bigger than Elvis and Eminem COMBINED.
He made a name for himself co-opting the sounds of third world country DJs. Who were too poor to make any money off of their own material. Basically traveling to countries like Brazil, buying rare records and playing them for american audiences. Which led to his first signing, Bonde De Role.
He made poorly crafted imitations of Baile Funk in the early 00s.
At one point when he was dating MIA he was pissed because she was getting more fame than him. This was around the time Arular came out.
He latches himself onto any hot internet based movement or musical movement and claims he was on it first.
Dubstep
Moombahton
NOLA Bounce music
Carribean Rave
Kuduro
Reggaeton
Club (Baltimore/Philly/Jersey)
Vogue/Ballroom House (which is a very black and gay movement based in the tristate, mainly NYC, for further reference check out the movie "Paris is Burning")
EDM Trap
etc til infinity
Dancehall Reggae
Juke
rap
3ball
Venus X of Ghetto Gothik called him out for going to their shows here in NYC and others amd bringing a tape recorder to tape what was being played to use in his sets.
When he was doing Mad Decent parties in Baltimore in 2006/2007, he did the same thing.
He used to play shows with K-Swift (RIP) and others...when he would play all the black people would leave the room.
He made more off Baltimore club music than others did. Why?
What people don't know is that baltimore club music never really was able to leave baltimore due to the tax on records and music...so they had to sell it like incense...for $5 on receipts. Which means the artists who crafted the sound really didn't make dikk off of it other than playing live.
BAsically was able to co-opt this in house and techno sets...which showed some innovation. Signed some artists to the label like DJ Sega, Blaqstarr, and Rye Rye...who are no longer with Mad Decent. He toured with Justice in 2007/2008 and that was it for that shyt.
Major Lazer is basically white washing dancehall Reggae and Jamaican culture for mainstream audiences.
I thought his success would lead the way to more of those artists he jacked getting recognition and more black artists being able to play shyt like EDC, Electric Zoo, Coachella, etc...it didn't.
Let's be honest...dude is a wanker. I've discussed here in NY with heads that know. He uses his white privilege to his advantage to capitalize off of black and brown music.
every time i see him putting out some new world music shyt from wherever the sound du jour is hes trying to bring mainstream. he has alot of artists he works with and has put on tho, and i dont know the deep details of his shyt, but no one has really called him out on shyt.
