Major Lazer

Major Lazer
Name	Major Lazer
Background	group_or_band
Origin	New York City, United States
Genres	Electronic dance music, reggae, dancehall, dubstep, moombahton
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Mad Decent, Downtown Records, Because Music
Associated acts	Diplo, Dillon Francis, Flux Pavilion, Ariana Grande, Coldplay

Major Lazer is an electronic music project founded in 2008 that blends electronic dance music, reggae, dancehall, dubstep, and moombahton into a globally oriented sound. The project, created by Thomas Pentz (known professionally as Diplo), developed international collaborations with artists across Jamaica, United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Africa. Major Lazer's recordings and performances have influenced contemporary pop, hip hop, and EDM festival culture while spawning cross-media projects in animation and gaming.

History

Formed in 2008, the project emerged from Diplo's work with Mad Decent and tours with acts such as M.I.A., Santigold, Gorillaz, Jack Ü, and DJ Snake. Early singles featured Jamaican vocalists and producers from Kingston, linking to scenes around Shaggy, Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, and Beenie Man. The debut album incorporated sessions with Switch (producer), leading to collaborations touching on the catalogues of Sly and Robbie and Lee "Scratch" Perry. Subsequent albums expanded partnerships to include Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Travis Scott, Sia, Nicki Minaj, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Anitta, "Lean On" collaborators such as MØ and producers like Tropkillaz and Walshy Fire. Tours and festival appearances connected the project with lineups at Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and SXSW, while licensing and sync deals placed tracks in FIFA soundtracks and Call of Duty promotions.

Musical style and influences

The sound fuses reggae and dancehall rhythms with electronic dance music production techniques from scenes in London, Los Angeles, and Miami. Influences cited include pioneers such as King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Glen Brown, and Bob Marley, alongside contemporary electronic figures like Skrillex, Calvin Harris, The Chemical Brothers, and David Guetta. Rhythmic and melodic borrowings draw from soca, afrobeats, merengue, and reggaeton traditions represented by artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, and Don Omar. Production techniques reference dub practices used by Errol Brown and mixing approaches from studios associated with Studio One and Tuff Gong. Songs often pair minimalistic beats with vocal hooks reminiscent of Machel Montano, Peter Tosh, Eek-A-Mouse, and Lady Saw while embracing pop structures exemplified by collaborations with Katy Perry, Adele, Bruno Mars, and Pharrell Williams.

Members and collaborators

The founding figure is Diplo, with long-term contributors including Walshy Fire and Jillionaire; later lineup changes involved producers such as Ape Drums and touring members who linked the project to DJ cultures. Studio collaborators span a wide range: vocalists and songwriters like MØ, Vybz Kartel, Sia, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Trinidad James, Busy Signal, Sunny B, Anitta, Mr Eazi, and J Balvin; producers and remixers including Skrillex, Dillon Francis, Diplo's peers Flosstradamus, DJ Snake, Tropkillaz, A-Trak, The Glitch Mob, Flux Pavilion, and Baauer; and label and management partners such as Mad Decent, LL Cool J-era executives, and festival promoters like Live Nation and AEG Presents. Cross-disciplinary collaborators have included animators and writers from Cartoon Network, game developers from EA Sports and Activision, and filmmakers connected to Spike Jonze-adjacent creative circles.

Discography

Major Lazer's studio albums include early releases and subsequent global hits with singles appearing on compilations and soundtracks. Key albums and releases linked to broader catalogs: debut works produced with Switch (producer); follow-ups featuring singles that charted alongside records by Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Drake, and The Weeknd; and later projects containing collaborations with J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Anitta, Becky G, Cardi B, and Skrillex. Standalone singles and EPs have been remixed by Calvin Harris, Disclosure, The Chainsmokers, "Lean On" remixers such as DJ Snake and have been included on playlists curated by services linked to Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music.

Live performances and tours

Touring history spans headline tours and festival main stages, performing alongside acts such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, Deadmau5, and Justice. Residency and club appearances connected the project to venues in New York City (including clubs near Times Square and Brooklyn), London's Fabric, Los Angeles's Staples Center events, and stadium shows promoted by Live Nation. Notable festival slots occurred at Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, Rock in Rio, Lollapalooza, and SXSW, often featuring guest performances by Rihanna, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, and Diplo's other projects like LSD (group).

Awards and recognition

The project earned nominations and wins in categories associated with Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and BRIT Awards, with chart placements on Billboard Hot 100, UK Singles Chart, and ARIA Charts. Industry recognition includes producer and engineering credits celebrated by organizations such as ASCAP and BMI, while cultural impact has been discussed in outlets tied to The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME, and The New York Times.

Category:Electronic music groups