While we know that his DJ sets and label(s) don't stick to one set sound or formula, it's always been weird when we hear about the different collaborations and producer credits that Diplo has amassed over the years. He's never been one to stay within a particular genre as a producer, but the various artists, from the biggest in the mainstream to some of the most underground random producers have knocked on Diplo's studio door for some heat. The best part about this that not only do these collaborations usually come out fresh, but they each one ends up setting the bar higher for Diplo, allowing him to get an even bigger collaboration the next time out. Take a look at Diplo's most suprising collaborations.
Viktor Vaughn - "Back End"
Year: 2004
Label: Insomniac, Inc.
Back before Mad Decent, Diplo was known for more murky underground hip-hop style productions, and one of his collaborations with producer System D-128 entitled "Blue Beards Dreams" ended up as the instrumental on MF DOOM's second Viktor Vaughn album as "Back End." It's runs the gamut of found loops, dusty breakbeats, and glitchy effects that works well for the diabolical Viktor Vaughn character.
Shakira ft. Calle 13 - "Gordita"
Year: 2010
Label: Epic / Sony Latin
Diplo adding additional production to a latin-rap track on Shakira's last album for Epic? Definitely unexpected. Without hearing it, you might assume that there would be some heavy moombahton flavor to this, but it actually just sticks to more of a laidback vibe with loads of latin influence.
Borgore ft. Diplo - "Sunsets"
Year: 2010
Label: Buygore
Borgore and Diplo working on a track during Borgore's "ruined dubstep" phase? Yes, this definitely happened. Taken from the Borgore Ruined Dubstep EP, Diplo and Borgore blended some classic rock loops that take a SHARP left turn down a crunchy, bleeped out dubstep cave. This won't be for everyone, sure, but just the fact that it happened is astonishing.
Diplo ft. Lil Jon - "U Don't Like Me"
Year: 2010
Label: Mad Decent
A few of us were around the dubstep scene long enough to help push the "thugstep" sound of refixing rap vocals with dubstep tracks, and Diplo's Lil Jon-featured "U Don't Like Me" encapsulated what a lot of those refixes were trying to accomplish. The best part of this is that, while Lil Jon isn't a talented rapper, his chants are off the chain, and he gives Diplo way more than one fly hook - he definitely constructs verses in his own hyper way. And if you don't like them, don't worry, Lil Jon doesn't like you.
Tiesto vs. Diplo ft. Busta Rhymes - "C'mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)"
Year: 2011
Label: Wall of Sound
This track actually lived as a Tiesto/Diplo collaboration entitled "C'mon" for a while, and while we're not sure who called Busta Rhymes for a verse, we're definitely on some WTF shit to this one. At least Busta knows how to chant during the build-up, but his double-time bars over this electro house can take some getting used to, especially for music that's much more focused on the sounds than the lyrics. Could you imagine a song like this going #1 in the U.S.?
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look At Me Now"
Year: 2011
Label: Jive
What's more surprising about this... the fact that Chris Brown kept up with the likes of Busta Rhymes on some double time flow? The fact that the meme of white girls covering this on YouTube was awkward and cute at the same damn time? Or the fact that Diplo made this bouncey banger with Afrojack?!
Justin Bieber - "Thought Of You"
Usher - "Climax"
Year: 2012
Label: RCA
Diplo worked on two tracks from Usher's 2012 Looking 4 Myself album, and with the rise of the 808s and trap in the scene, it made sense that the sensual sounds of "Climax" was a hit. It wasn't the obvious David Guetta EDM monster; we hate the obvious hits. It's the deception that's key; you don't want to think that dance music is permeating into all facets of the pop music realm, but it's really not hard to separate "Climax" from the other bedroom/calm cuts in the trap/downtempo realm.
Diplo & Snoop Dogg
Year: 2010, 2013
Label: EMI/Doggy Style/Priority, Berhane Sound System/Mad Decent/Vice
While the first collaboration on wax between Snoop Dogg and Diplo was the Kid Cudi-featured "That Tree" from Snoop's More Malice album in 2010, it was when Snoop wanted to embrace positivity in his music through the sounds of reggae that he called on Diplo and his Major Lazer crew to fly to Jamaica and help him get Reincarnated as Snoop Lion. Was it a success? It might not be the sound that everyone wants to hear from Snoop, but it worked much better than some random dancehall producers trying to help Snoop find his voice. Diplo's a fixer, and if you give the record a real listen through, you can feel where Snoop was coming from.
DJ Fresh vs. Diplo ft. Dominique Young Unique - "Earthquake"
Year: 2013
Label: Ministry of Sound
Diplo linking with another talented dance music producer isn't what's surprising about this credit; it's the fact that this is DJ Fresh's first foray into trap music. It makes sense that he called on the Mad Decent head, as Diplo's been one of the DJs and labelheads who helped push the sound over the last year. Adding Dominique's vocals gives his one more crossover appeal/potential, and it's a thunderous track when it gets dropped live.