Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz in 1978 in Tupelo, Mississippi, is an influential American DJ, record producer, and songwriter recognized for his innovative approach to electronic music and genre-blending productions. Rising from the Philadelphia club scene, Diplo co-founded the acclaimed party series Hollertronix before launching his own label, Mad Decent, in 2006, which became a hub for cutting-edge dance music. He is best known as the co-creator and lead member of Major Lazer, a project that fuses electronic dancehall with global influences, and has also formed supergroups such as Jack Ü (with Skrillex), LSD (with Sia and Labrinth), and Silk City (with Mark Ronson). Diplo's production credits span a wide array of major artists, including M.I.A.—whose hit "Paper Planes" he produced—Beyoncé, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Shakira, cementing his reputation as a sought-after collaborator in pop and dance music. His 2013 EP Revolution charted on the US Billboard 200, and his work has been featured in commercials, video games, and television. Beyond music, Diplo is known for his entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropy, notably founding the non-profit Heaps Decent.