Mad Decent

Last updated
Mad Decent
Mad Decent Logo 2018.svg
Founded2006;18 years ago (2006)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founder Diplo
Distributor(s)AMPED Distribution [1] (US)
Because Music (France)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official website maddecent.com

Mad Decent is an American record label founded by Diplo. The label has helped introduce Brazilian baile funk and Angolan kuduro to clubs around the world. [2] Recently, it has popularized moombahton, a genre of electronic dance music created by DJ Dave Nada. [3] The genre on the label was mostly popularized by Dillon Francis after collaborating with Diplo on Francis' 2012 track "Que Que". The label is also known for its series of concerts in major cities known as the Mad Decent Block Party. [4]

Contents

History

Mad Decent was founded in 2006 by Diplo. [5] In 2010, the label moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. [6] In 2011, it announced the launch of the imprint label Jeffrees as "an outlet to curate and promote new music that errs on the side of experimental, in keeping with the label’s original mission." [7]

The label gained more attention in 2012 and 2013, with the worldwide success of Baauer's single "Harlem Shake", which went viral on YouTube. [8]

Since 2008 the label has created a multiple city Mad Decent Block Party tour throughout the United States. [9] The travelling festival began at a much smaller scale with simply a rented tent, dunk tank and barbecue on a Philadelphia street (Block of 12th St. and Spring Garden St.).[ citation needed ] The event is in line with the overall concept of the label showcasing global pop and dance music. [10] The featured artists at the events have expanded from featuring Mad Decent's roster to high-profile artists including Matt and Kim and Outkast. [11]

For Christmas 2013 the label re-released various singles from the label mixed with Christmas songs. The tracks were compiled into an eight-track EP titled A Very Decent Christmas. [12] Mad Decent has since released four Christmas albums on the label since then.

In 2015, Mad Decent released Major Lazer's "Lean On," which Spotify named the most streamed song of all time that year. [13] In 2016, Mad Decent launched a sub-label, Good Enuff. [14]

Associated artists

Source: [15] [ needs update ]

Labels

Through the label's Decent Distribution service, Mad Decent has distributed the following labels:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplo</span> American DJ and music producer (born 1978)

Thomas Wesley Pentz, known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer; a member of the supergroup LSD, with Sia and Labrinth; a member of electronic duo Jack Ü, with producer and DJ Skrillex; and a member of Silk City, with Mark Ronson. He founded the record company Mad Decent in 2006, as well as the non-profit organization Heaps Decent the following year. His 2013 extended play (EP), Revolution, debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard 200. The EP's title track was later featured in a commercial for Hyundai and is featured on the WWE 2K16 soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Lazer</span> American electronic music group

Major Lazer is a Jamaican-American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. They originate from Kingston, Jamaica, founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Its music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.

Electro house is a genre of electronic dance music and a subgenre of house music characterized by heavy bass and a tempo around 125–135 beats per minute. The term has been used to describe the music of many DJ Mag Top 100 DJs, including Benny Benassi, Skrillex, Steve Aoki, and Deadmau5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riff Raff (rapper)</span> American rapper from Texas

Horst Christian Simco, better known by his stage name Riff Raff, is an American rapper from Katy, Texas. He was originally managed by Swishahouse co-founder OG Ron C in 2011. After initially signing with rapper Soulja Boy's record label Stacks on Deck Entertainment, Simco signed with producer Diplo's Mad Decent record label to release his debut album, Neon Icon (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillon Francis</span> American DJ and record producer (born 1987)

Dillon Hart Francis, also known by his alter ego DJ Hanzel, is an American DJ and record producer. By deejaying and collaborating, Francis helped to popularize the new moombahton genre, and in 2012 he adapted it further into moombahcore and EDM trap, giving the music a harder sound, as heard on his EP Something, Something, Awesome. He expanded into EDM genres with Money Sucks, Friends Rule (2014), which hit number 2 on the Billboard dance chart, then shifted gears into Latin music with 2018's Wut Wut, a Spanish-language album honored with a Latin Grammy and a Latin American Music Award. The song "Sexo", with Residente featuring iLe, rose to number 43 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart in June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baauer</span> American record producer

Harry Bauer Rodrigues, known professionally as Baauer, is an American record producer and DJ, best known for his double platinum song "Harlem Shake".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Shake (song)</span> 2012 single by Baauer

"Harlem Shake" is a song recorded by American DJ and producer Baauer. It was released as his debut single on May 22, 2012, by Mad Decent imprint label Jeffree's. The uptempo song—variously described as trap, hip hop or bass music—incorporates a mechanical bassline, Dutch house synth riffs, a dance music drop, and samples of growling-lion sounds. It also samples Plastic Little's 2001 song "Miller Time", specifically the vocal "then do the Harlem shake", which is an allusion to the dance of the same name. Baauer added a variety of peculiar sounds to the song so that it would stand out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow Claw (DJs)</span> Dutch DJs

Yellow Claw is a Dutch DJ and record production duo from Amsterdam consisting of Jim Taihuttu, based in Bali, and Nils Rondhuis, based in Amsterdam. The duo's music is a mix of a wide range of genres and often incorporates elements from trap, hip hop, dubstep, hardstyle and moombahton.

<i>Money Sucks, Friends Rule</i> 2014 studio album by Dillon Francis

Money Sucks, Friends Rule is the debut studio album by Dillon Francis, an American electronic music producer known for being one of the pioneers of moombahton and moombahcore. The album features collaborations from artists such as Major Lazer, Martin Garrix, Mad Decent label-mate DJ Snake, rapper Twista, Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie and more. It was released on October 27, 2014, on Mad Decent in collaboration with Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Ü There</span> 2014 single by Jack Ü featuring Kiesza

"Take Ü There" is the debut collaboration single by American EDM DJ duo Skrillex and Diplo together as Jack Ü, written and performed by the duo and Canadian singer Kiesza, and produced by the duo. It serves as the lead single from Jack Ü's debut studio album Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü, and was released on October 4, 2014, through Skrillex's Owsla and Diplo's Mad Decent. It peaked at number 63 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All My Love (Major Lazer song)</span> 2014 single by Major Lazer

"All My Love" is a song by American electronic music project Major Lazer featuring vocals from American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on 13 November 2014 as the fifth song from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014). The song was written by Grande, Lorde, and MØ with production handled by Boaz van de Beatz, Jr Blender and Diplo. It is an electropop and dance-pop song with elements of dancehall. "All My Love" received positive reviews from music critics who complimented the track's production.

Boaz de Jong, better known by his stage name Boaz van de Beatz, is a Dutch record producer and DJ. He is the founder of the Nouveau Riche record label, which includes popular Dutch artists Mr. Polska and Jebroer. Van de Beatz has helped launch the careers of many artists under his label, as well as his frequent collaborator Ronnie Flex and DJ trio Yellow Claw. Since 2013, van de Beatz has transitioned from mainly producing Dutch hip hop songs to releasing electronic music as a lead artist – he has released two EPs under the American dance label Mad Decent.

Three Loco is an American comedy hip hop group composed of Andy Milonakis, Simon Rex, and Horst Simco. The trio has proclaimed themselves as the "Holy Trinity of hip-hop".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walshy Fire</span> Jamaican-American DJ

Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire, is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer. He is part of the dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer alongside fellow DJs Diplo and Ape Drums. Walshy Fire toured with the Black Chiney sound system beginning in 2004. Black Chiney is cited as a significant influence on the evolution of Major Lazer with its mashups that blend hip hop or R&B rhythms with reggae & R&B artist vocal tracks and its representation of the Jamaican sound system. The subsequent mix tapes that the Black Chiney collective of DJs, engineers and MCs would develop were the training ground for Walshy to become a remix producer.

Jasper Helderman, better known by his stage name Alvaro, is a Dutch record producer, songwriter, and DJ. His music is mostly electro house and progressive house. He is best known for his single "Welcome to the Jungle", which reached #3 on the Beatport main chart in June 2013 on Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings. He also produced "The Underground" on Spinnin' Records and more recently "Guest List" on Tiësto's label Musical Freedom, all of which ended up in the top 5 of the Beatport top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiwek</span> Musical artist

Wiwek Mahabali, better known mononymously as Wiwek, is a Dutch DJ and music producer based in Utrecht, Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valentino Khan</span> American DJ and music producer

Valentino Khan is an American DJ and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. He is best known for releasing material through Diplo, Skrillex and Steve Aoki. His singles "Deep Down Low" and "Make Some Noise" peaked at number one and fifty respectively on the "Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists" chart.

What Would Diplo Do? is an American comedy television series created by Brandon Dermer and James Van Der Beek. The series stars James Van Der Beek, Dillon Francis, Dora Madison Burge, Jamar Malachi Neighbors, Bobby Lee and H. Michael Croner. The series premiered on Viceland on August 3, 2017.

Bianca Latupapua, professionally known as Lady Bee, is a Dutch electronic musician, MC, DJ and producer. She first got involved in music as an MC at the age of 17, before becoming a DJ and producer. She has worked with a number of major Dutch musicians, including Hardwell, Laidback Luke and Sidney Samson. Many of which she featured on the vocals for.

David Villegas, better known professionally as Dave Nada, is an Ecuadorian-American DJ and producer credited with creating the fusion-genre moombahton. He is a member of the production and DJ duo Nadastrom and co-founder of Hermanito Label along with Jesse Tittsworth.

References

  1. "Labels". Archived from the original on 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  2. Poitras, Andrews (July 15, 2013). "Celebrating six raucous years of Mad Decent Block Party". Death and Taxes. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  3. Fischer, Jonathan L. (December 24, 2010). "Our Year in Moombahton". Washington City Paper . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  4. Townes, Cory (July 29, 2013). "Family Matters: The 2013 Mad Decent Block Party Tour Stop In Philadelphia Recap". Vibe . Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  5. Iandoli, Kathy (May 2, 2012). "The Mad Ascent of Mad Decent: A Look Inside a Global Powerhouse". MTV Iggy. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  6. Svetkey, Benjamin (November 17, 2014). "Why The World Is Moving To Diplo's Beat". Fast Company . Archived from the original on September 12, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  7. Aguiar, Steven (March 1, 2012). "What's Behind Mad Decent's Jeffrees Micro-Imprint?". MTV Hive. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Knopper, Steve (February 2, 2013). "How Baauer Took 'Harlem Shake' to Number One". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  9. Leatherman, Benjamin (September 10, 2014). "EDM's Reigning Clown Prince Dillon Francis Hits Phoenix with the Mad Decent Block Party". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. Patel, Puja (August 4, 2013). "For Mad Decent, fans sweat and stay in step". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  11. Ugwu, Reggie (April 7, 2014). "Outkast, Fatboy Slim, Sleigh Bells & More To Perform at 2014 Mad Decent Block Party: Exclusive". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  12. Battan, Carrie (December 5, 2013). "Stream Diplo's Mad Decent Christmas Compilation". Pitchfork Media . Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  13. Music, Guardian (November 12, 2015). "Leaning power: Spotify names its most streamed track of all time". Guardian. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  14. Brown, Lisa (April 12, 2016). "Mad Decent Launches Good Enuff Sub-Label, Shares Free Fossa Beats Track". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  15. "Artists". Mad Decent. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  16. Corish, Dave (2017-01-16). "CMC$ Releases Future-Pop Anthem for Your 2017 Summer Fling". EDM Sauce. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  17. "Mad Decent Signee Riff Raff Has a Plan". Forbes . Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-06-02.