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{{short description|American electronic music group}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{for|the FXX animated television series|Major Lazer (TV series){{!}}''Major Lazer'' (TV series)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{engvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
| name = Major Lazer
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Major loser.jpg
| caption = Major Lazer in 2009
| name = Major Lazer
| image = Diplo and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer @ Flow 2015.jpg
| background = group_or_band
| genre = <!--Please discuss the addition of any other genres on the talk page.--> {{flatlist |
| caption = Diplo and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer performing at Flow Festival in Helsinki on August 14, 2015
| genre = <!--Genres sourced below. Please discuss the addition of any other genres on the talk page. --> {{hlist|[[Electronic dance music|EDM]]|[[dancehall]]|[[reggae]]|[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]|[[moombahton]]|[[Trap music (EDM)|trap]]|[[reggae fusion]]|[[electro house]]|[[Soca music|soca]]|[[rocksteady]]|[[reggaeton]]}}
*[[Electronic music|Electronic]]
| years_active = 2008–present
*[[dancehall]]
| label = {{hlist|[[Secretly Canadian]]|[[Downtown Records|Downtown]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[Mad Decent]]}}
*[[moombahton]]
| current_members = * [[Diplo]]
*[[reggae fusion]]
* [[Walshy Fire]]
*[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
*[[soca music|soca]]
* [[Ape Drums]]
| past_members = * [[Switch (songwriter)|Switch]]
*[[baile funk]]
* [[Jillionaire]]
*[[trap (music genre)|trap]] }}
| occupation =
| years_active = 2008–present
| label = {{flatlist |
*[[Secretly Canadian]]
*[[Downtown Records|Downtown]]
*[[Mad Decent]]
*[[Interscope Records|Interscope]] }}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist |<!--PLEASE NOTE: If you are going to add to this list make sure that it is an artist who has formed a SIGNIFICANT part of their career.-->
*[[Switch (house DJ)|Switch]]
*[[Santigold]]
*[[Vybz Kartel]]
*[[Bruno Mars]]
*[[Bunji Garlin]]
*[[The Partysquad]]
*[[Tyga]]
*[[No Doubt]]
*[[Snoop Dogg|Snoop Lion]]
*[[Pharrell Williams]]
*[[Sean Paul]] }}
| current_members = {{flatlist|
*[[Diplo]]
*Jillionaire
*Walshy Fire}}
| past_members = {{flatlist|
*[[Switch (house DJ)|Switch]]
*Skerrit Bwoy}}
}}
}}


'''Major Lazer''' is an American<!-- Please do not insert Jamaican here, instead see the discussion on the Talk page. --> electronic dance music and DJ trio,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochoa |first=John |date=2018-12-01 |title=10 moments that defined Major Lazer |url=https://djmag.com/content/10-moments-defined-major-lazer |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}</ref> which includes record producer [[Diplo]], and DJs [[Walshy Fire]] and [[Ape Drums]]. They were founded in 2008 by [[Diplo]] and [[Switch (songwriter)|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.<ref name="AD"/> Their music spans numerous [[Music genre|genres]], mixing [[reggae]] with [[dancehall]], [[ReggaeEDM]], [[reggaeton]], [[Soca music|soca]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Natalie |date=April 12, 2016 |title=Listen to Major Lazer's Jillionaire Join Forces With Soca Star Bunji Garlin on 'Television' (Exclusive) |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7326599/jillionaire-bunji-garlin-television-major-lazer-dance |access-date=June 24, 2017 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> [[House music|house]] and [[moombahton]].<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002836946|label=''Peace Is the Mission''|first=David|last=Jeffries|access-date=19 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dolan|first=Jon|date=June 2, 2015|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/major-lazer-peace-is-the-mission-20150602|title=Major Lazer's New Album: Peace Is the Mission|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner|Wenner Media]]|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Ma-less |title=Diplo & Major Lazer – Meet the People Keeping Moombahton Alive – Complex CA |url=http://ca.complex.com/music/2013/09/people-keeping-moombahton-alive/diplo-major-lazer |work=Complex CA}}{{dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kocay |first=Lisa |title=In Conversation: Major Lazer And Major League Djz On 'Piano Republik,' The Biggest Hurdles They Have Faced In Life And Why Dance Music Is Spiritual For Them |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakocay/2023/03/28/in-conversation-major-lazer-and-major-league-djz-on-piano-republik-the-biggest-hurdles-they-have-faced-in-life-and-why-dance-music-is-spiritual-for-them/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
'''Major Lazer''' is an electronic music project created by [[United States of America|American]] DJ and record producer [[Diplo]]. Formerly a collaboration along with [[England|English]] DJ/producer [[Switch (house DJ)|Switch]], they parted ways in late 2011. Diplo has since enlisted producers/DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire (of [[Black Chiney]]) to help with the production and live shows. Their music spans numerous genres, usually fusing [[reggae]] and [[dancehall]] music with [[electronic dance music|dance]] genres such as [[moombahton]] and [[house music|electro house]].


Major Lazer have released two full length albums – ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]'' and ''[[Free the Universe]]'', released in 2009 and 2013 respectively. They released an EP entitled ''Apocalypse Soon'' in March 2014, which featured vocal contributions from [[Pharrell Williams]] and [[Sean Paul]]. Major Lazer also produced ''[[Reincarnated (album)|Reincarnated]]'', the debut reggae album by [[Snoop Dogg]] after his name change to [[Snoop Lion (Rastafarian)|Snoop Lion]].
Major Lazer has released four full-length albums: ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]'' in 2009, ''[[Free the Universe]]'' in 2013, ''[[Peace Is the Mission]]'' in 2015, and ''[[Music Is the Weapon]]'' in 2020. They have also released six EPs, including ''Apocalypse Soon'' in March 2014, which featured vocal contributions from [[Pharrell Williams]] and [[Sean Paul]], and ''[[Know No Better]]'' in 2017, which featured appearances from [[Camila Cabello]], [[Quavo]], [[Travis Scott]], and [[J Balvin]], among others. Major Lazer has also notably produced ''[[Reincarnated (album)|Reincarnated]]'', the debut reggae album by [[Snoop Dogg]] under his "Snoop Lion" persona.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Blistein|first1=Jon|title=Snoop Lion and Major Lazer Host Raucous Bash in Austin|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/snoop-lion-and-major-lazer-host-raucous-bash-in-austin-20130315|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 15, 2013|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> In March 2018, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' ranked Major Lazer at number five on their 2018 ''Billboard'' Dance 100 ranking of dance musicians.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8257429/billboard-dance-100-2018 |title=Billboard Dance 100 Artists of 2018: The Complete List |magazine=Billboard |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wjbdradio.com/music-news/2018/03/22/the-chainsmokers-named-top-djs-in-the-world-by-billboard |title=The Chainsmokers named top DJs in the world by Billboard |publisher=WJBD |access-date=March 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322221157/http://www.wjbdradio.com/music-news/2018/03/22/the-chainsmokers-named-top-djs-in-the-world-by-billboard |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Background==
==History==
===2009–11: Debut album===
===2009–11: ''Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do'' and ''Lazers Never Die'' EP===
[[Image:MAJOR LAZER - COACHELLA 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Skerrit Bwoy with Major Lazer at [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]], 2010.|alt=]]
Formerly made up of DJ [[Diplo]] and [[Switch (house DJ)|Switch]], the two were introduced after working with [[M.I.A. (rapper)|MIA]]. The duo's first album ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]'' was released on 16 June 2009, on [[Downtown Records]]. It was recorded in [[Jamaica]] at [[Tuff Gong]] Studios.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dacks |first=David |url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=134&csid2=4&fid1=39444 |title=Major Lazer Shoots To Thrill • Interviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=6 May 2012 |accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref> Vocalists such as [[Santigold]], [[Vybz Kartel]], [[Ward 21]], [[Busy Signal]], [[Nina Sky]], [[Amanda Blank]], [[Mr. Vegas]], [[Turbulence (Musician)|Turbulence]], [[Mapei (musician)|Mapei]], [[T.O.K]], Prince Zimboo, Leftside and others contribute guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from [[Afrojack]] and [[Crookers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/34831-major-lazer-diplo-switch-to-release-digital-reggae-lp/ |title=Major Lazer (Diplo + Switch) to Release "Digital Reggae" LP &#124; News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=13 March 2009 |accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref> This is the first release to come out of the label partnership between [[Downtown Records]] and [[Diplo (DJ)|Diplo]]'s label [[Mad Decent]].<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/diplo-takes-mad-decent-downtown-1003956901.story ]{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref>
Originally made up of DJs [[Diplo]] and [[Switch (songwriter)|Switch]], the two were introduced while working with [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.]] The duo's first album ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]'' was released on June 16, 2009, on [[Downtown Records]]. It was recorded in [[Jamaica]] at [[Tuff Gong]] Studios.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dacks |first=David |url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=134&csid2=4&fid1=39444 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714225848/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=134&csid2=4&fid1=39444 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=Major Lazer Shoots To Thrill • Interviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=May 6, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2013 }}</ref> Vocalists such as [[Santigold]], [[Vybz Kartel]], [[Ward 21]], [[Busy Signal]], [[Nina Sky]], [[Amanda Blank]], [[Mr. Vegas]], [[Turbulence (Musician)|Turbulence]], [[Mapei (musician)|Mapei]], [[T.O.K]], Prince Zimboo, Leftside, and M.I.A.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://concerty.com/artist/major-lazer-285629|title=Major Lazer Biography|website=Concerty.com}}</ref> with others contributing guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from [[Afrojack]], Nebat Drums and [[Crookers]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |date=March 13, 2009 |title=Major Lazer (Diplo + Switch) to Release "Digital Reggae" LP &#124; News |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/34831-major-lazer-diplo-switch-to-release-digital-reggae-lp/ |access-date=April 16, 2013 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> This is the first release to come out of the label partnership between Downtown Records and Diplo's label [[Mad Decent]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Zel |title=Diplo takes Mad Decent Downtown |url=http://soundbleed.com/2009/03/diplo-takes-mad-decent-downtown/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128073844/http://soundbleed.com/2009/03/diplo-takes-mad-decent-downtown/ |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=January 27, 2016 |website=SoundBleed}}</ref> Major Lazer ended a US tour summer of 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLuca |first=Dan |date=2009-06-05 |title=The songs of summer |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20090605_Malian_duo_s_music_reflects_wedded_bliss.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Philadelphia In quirer |language=en}}</ref>
Major Lazer ended a US tour last summer.<ref>Deluca, Dan [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/weekend/20090605_Malian_duo_s_music_reflects_wedded_bliss.html "The songs of summer"], ''Philadelphia Inquirer''</ref>


The album's first single was "Hold the Line", the video for which, directed by [[Ferry Gouw]], was nominated for a [[MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Award]] in the [[MTV Video Music Award - Breakthrough Video|Breakthrough Video]] category. "Hold the Line" was also featured in the video game [[FIFA 10]]. The track "Zumbie" has a music video that features comedian [[Andy Milonakis]].<ref>[http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=19087&c=6 "Major Lazer, Zumbie Video"], ''Filter'' magazine</ref> Music videos for the songs "[[Pon de Floor]]", "Keep It Going Louder", and "Bubble Butt" were directed by [[Eric Wareheim]]. In June 2009, Major Lazer were featured for the first time on the cover of the publication The FADER, in its 62nd issue.<ref>{{cite news
The album's first single was "Hold the Line", the video for which, directed by [[Eric Wareheim]], was nominated for a [[MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Award]] in the [[MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video|Breakthrough Video]] category. It was also featured in the video game ''[[FIFA 10]]''. The track "Zumbie" has a music video that features comedian [[Andy Milonakis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grisham |first=Tyler |date=2009-05-27 |title="Zumbie" [ft. Andy Milonakis] |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/13236-zumbie-ft-andy-milonakis/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> Music videos for the songs "[[Pon de Floor]]", "Keep It Going Louder", and "[[Bubble Butt]]" were directed by [[Eric Wareheim]]. In June 2009, Major Lazer were featured for the first time on the cover of the publication ''[[The Fader]]'', in its 62nd issue.<ref>{{cite magazine
| last = FADER
| first = The
| title = We Part (and Make Magazines)
| title = We Part (and Make Magazines)
| publisher = The FADER
| magazine = The Fader
| date = 16 June 2009
| date = June 16, 2009
| url = http://www.thefader.com/2009/06/16/we-party-and-make-magazines/
| url = http://www.thefader.com/2009/06/16/we-party-and-make-magazines/
| accessdate =13 November 2013}}</ref>
| access-date = November 13, 2013}}</ref>
Major Lazer performed at the Falls Music & Arts Festival (Lorne, Victoria, Australia) on 30 December 2009, the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] Music Festival in April 2010<ref>http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Tour-Tracker-Major-Lazer-King-Khan-and-Emerson-Lake-2896867.html</ref> they also performed at the [[Pitchfork Music Festival]] in July 2010 and the Sasquatch Music Festival on Monday 30 May 2011. Live visuals were created by Pomp&Clout. Major Lazer performed at the 2011 Outside Lands festival in San Francisco. From February 2013 he is with the song "Get Free" in the Vodafone Germany TV advertisement.
[[Image:MAJOR LAZER - COACHELLA 2010.jpg|thumb|left|At [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]], 2010.]]
A mixtape with La Roux entitled "Lazerproof" was made available for free download on 26 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/38907-major-lazer-la-roux-team-for-mixtape/ |title=Major Lazer, La Roux Team for Mixtape &#124; News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref> Diplo posted cover art on his Twitpic. It is the character Major Lazer in War Machine's silver suit, [[Elly Jackson]] of [[La Roux]] in the signature Iron Man suit, and Whiplash, the villain in the ''Iron Man 2'' movie. On 20 June 2010, the group released an EP titled "[[Lazers Never Die]]". It contained two new songs and three remixes, by [[Thom Yorke]] and others. Switch provided production for [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]]'s "[[Run the World (Girls)]]", which sampled "Pon de Floor".


Major Lazer performed at the Falls Music & Arts Festival (Lorne, Victoria, Australia) on December 30, 2009, and the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Music Festival]] in April 2010. They also performed at the [[Pitchfork Music Festival]] in July 2010 and the [[Sasquatch! Music Festival|Sasquatch Music Festival]] on Monday May 30, 2011 and at the 2011 [[Outside Lands (festival)|Outside Lands]] festival in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web |title=Outside Lands 2011 lineup|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/outside-lands-2-5/|website=Brooklyn Vegan |date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>
===2012–present: ''Free the Universe''===
Major Lazer's live shows previously included [[hype man]] Skerrit Bwoy<ref>{{cite news|last=Serwer|first=Jesse|title=Skerrit Bwoy|url=http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/clubs/84213/skerrit-bwoy-major-lazer-interview|accessdate=12 August 2010|newspaper=Time Out New York|date= 1–7 April 2010}}</ref> although Skerrit Bwoy left the group in 2012 to pursue religion. In 2012, Major Lazer began working with [[Snoop Dogg]] to produce some tracks that are to be included on his new reggae project. Along with the project came his new alter ego persona known as "Snoop Lion". Switch has left the collaborative effort due to "creative differences" as claimed by Diplo. He departed in late 2011 and was replaced with DJ/Producer Jillionaire and Walshy Fire.
In September 2012, Major Lazer announced that its upcoming album, ''[[Free the Universe]]'', would be released on 12 March 2013 on Mad Decent. They also announced Fall 2012 tour dates.<ref name="NYMN September 2012">{{cite web |title=UPDATE: Major Lazer’s Free The Universe Release |url=http://nymn.com/update-major-lazers-free-the-universe-release/|publisher=Nymn.com |date=11 September 2012 |accessdate=23 September 2012}}</ref>


A mixtape with [[La Roux]] titled "Lazerproof" was made available for free download on May 26.<ref>{{cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=May 24, 2010 |title=Major Lazer, La Roux Team for Mixtape |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/38907-major-lazer-la-roux-team-for-mixtape/ |access-date=April 16, 2013 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> It used the intrumental tracks from the self-titled debut album and "brazenly mashes them up with beats and rhymes that are almost wholly up-to-the-minute hip, encompassing rap, R&B, dancehall, and dubstep".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Love |first=Joshua |title=Major Lazer / La Roux: Lazerproof |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14336-lazerproof/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 20, 2010, the group released an EP titled ''[[Lazers Never Die]]''. It contained two new songs and three remixes, by [[Thom Yorke]] and others. Switch provided production for [[Beyoncé]]'s "[[Run the World (Girls)]]", which sampled "Pon de Floor". Major Lazer also features in the track, "Look at Where We Are", from the extended version of Hot Chip's album ''[[In Our Heads]]'', released June 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-16 |title=New Music: Hot Chip - "Look At Where We Are" (Major Lazer Remix) |url=https://consequence.net/2012/07/new-music-hot-chip-look-at-where-we-are-major-lazer-remix/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=July 16, 2012 |title=Listen: Hot Chip "Look At Where We Are (Major Lazer Remix)" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/andrew-martin/listen-hot-chip-look-at-where-we-are-major-lazer-remix |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.complex.com |language=en}}</ref>
Major Lazer partly produced UK singer [[Rita Ora]]'s debut album, ''[[Ora (Rita Ora album)|Ora]]''. Major Lazer worked with [[No Doubt]] for their sixth studio album, ''[[Push and Shove]]''. The album's title track features producers Major Lazer and Jamaican reggae artist [[Busy Signal]], and was released as a promotional single in August 2012.
Major Lazer launched their Fall Tour 2012 in October, with shows in Oakland, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York City, amongst others.


===2012–15: ''Free the Universe'', ''Apocalypse Soon'' EP, and ''Peace Is the Mission''===
In February 2013, Major Lazer signed with indie record label [[Secretly Canadian]]. At the same time, they announced the new release date, 16 April, for their album ''[[Free the Universe]]''. They also announced the Free the Universe 2013 World Tour, which will run all spring.
[[Image:Major Lazer 2013.jpg|thumb|Diplo and Jillionaire performing at the [[Congress Theater]], [[Chicago]], in 2013.]]
Major Lazer's live shows previously included [[hype man]] Skerrit Bwoy,<ref>{{cite web|title=Major Lazer Bio|url=http://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=16684|website=Top 40 Charts|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref> although he left the group in 2012 to pursue religion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solis |first=Steven |date=2012-12-27 |title=Interview with Premier Dancehall DJ & Former Member of Major Lazer, Skerrit Bwoy |url=https://rapzilla.com/2012-12-interview-with-skerrit-bwoy/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Rapzilla |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, Major Lazer began working with [[Snoop Dogg]] to produce some tracks that were to be included on his new reggae project. Along with the project came his new alter ego persona known as "Snoop Lion".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=2012-03-30 |title=Snoop Dogg records reggae album with Major Lazer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/30/snoop-dogg-major-lazer-reggae |access-date=2024-09-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Battan |first=Carrie |date=2012-08-06 |title=Snoop Dogg Details Reggae Album Snoop Lion Produced by Major Lazer |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/47312-snoop-dogg-details-reggae-album-snoop-lion-produced-by-major-lazer/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>


In 2012, Switch left the collaborative effort due to "creative differences" as claimed by Diplo. He departed in late 2011 and was replaced with both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire while [[Boaz van de Beatz]] and [[Jr Blender|Jr. Blender]] featured as an additional producers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pisart |first=Timo |date=2020-08-28 |title=Boaz van de Beatz vindt zijn heil in Israël: 'Succes is een lege put' |url=https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2020/augustus/-Boaz-van-de-Beatz-Israel-interview.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=3voor12 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-11-12 |title=Major Lazer's Lean On becomes most streamed track on Spotify ever |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-34796761 |access-date=2024-09-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Discography==


In September 2012, Major Lazer announced that its upcoming album, ''[[Free the Universe]]'', would be released on March 12, 2013, on Mad Decent. They also announced Fall 2012 tour dates.<ref name="NYMN September 2012">{{cite web |title=UPDATE: Major Lazer's Free The Universe Release |url=http://nymn.com/update-major-lazers-free-the-universe-release/|publisher=Nymn.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915102540/http://nymn.com/update-major-lazers-free-the-universe-release/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2012 | date=September 11, 2012 |access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="11"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name=aus>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Australian Charts|publisher=australian-charts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name=aut>{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Austrian Charts|publisher=austriancharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ultratop 50|BEL (Vl)]]<br><ref name=vl>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Belgium (Flanders) Charts|publisher=ultratop.be/nl/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ultratop 50|BEL (Vl)]]<br><ref name=wa>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Belgium (Wallonia) Charts|publisher=ultratop.be/fr/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Tracklisten|DEN]]<br><ref name=den>{{cite web|url=http://www.danishcharts/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Danish Charts|publisher=danishcharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[SNEP|FR]]<br><ref name=fr>{{cite web|url=http://www.lescharts/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Danish Charts|publisher=lescharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[MegaCharts|NL]]<br><ref name=nl>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Dutch Charts|publisher=dutchcharts.nl/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[RIANZ|NZ]]<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br><ref name=fr>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Swiss Charts|publisher=hitparade.ch/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|[[Billboard 200|US]]
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]''
|
* Released: 16 June 2009
* Label: [[Downtown Records]]
* Formats: CD, [[Music download|digital download]]
| – || – || 95 || – || – || – || – || – || – || 169 || —
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Free the Universe]]''
|
* Released: 16 April 2013 <ref name=majorlazer>{{cite web|url=http://majorlazer.com/|title=Major lazer homepage|publisher=Major lazer}}</ref>
* Label: [[Secretly Canadian]]
* Formats: CD, [[Music download|digital download]]
| 5 || 53 || 9 || 52 || 18 || 34 || 17 || 23 || 45 || 34 || 34
|}


Major Lazer co-produced UK singer [[Rita Ora]]'s debut album, ''[[Ora (Rita Ora album)|Ora]]'' and with [[No Doubt]] for their sixth studio album, ''[[Push and Shove (album)|Push and Shove]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=David |date=2015-05-01 |title=Diplo and Major Lazer: we're bigger than Rihanna right now |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/diplo-and-major-lazer-we-re-bigger-than-rihanna-right-now-10218325.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> The album's [[Push and Shove (song)|title track]] features producers Major Lazer and Jamaican reggae artist [[Busy Signal]], and was released as a promotional single in August 2012 reaching no. 22 at Alternative Song Chart Sales.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=No Doubt {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/no-doubt/chart-history/ald/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
===EPs===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="11"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[SNEP|FR]]<br><ref name=fr/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[MegaCharts|NL]]<br><ref name=nl/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[RIANZ|NZ]]<br>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Lazers Never Die]]''
|
* Released: 20 July 2010
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: CD, [[Music download|digital download]]
| – || – || –
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Original Don]]''
|
* Released: 4 November 2011
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: CD, [[Music download|digital download]]
| – || – || –
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Apocalypse Soon]]''
|
* Released: 25 February 2014
* Label: [[Secretly Canadian]] / [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: CD, [[Gramophone record|LP]], [[Music download|digital download]]
| 141 || – || 28
|}


In February 2013, Major Lazer signed with indie record label [[Secretly Canadian]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major Lazer sign to Secretly Canadian for new album |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/major-lazer-sign-to-secretly-canadian-for-new-album-119416 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref> At the same time, they announced the new release date, April 16, for their album ''[[Free the Universe]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Terich |first=Jeff |date=2013-02-27 |title=Major Lazer share new song, release date, sign to Secretly Canadian |url=https://www.treblezine.com/major-lazer-share-new-song-release-date-sign-to-secretly-canadian/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Treble |language=en-US}}</ref> They also announced the Free the Universe 2013 World Tour, which ran through the spring of 2013 with support by [[Dragonette]], [[Angel Haze]], and [[Lunice]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fact |date=2013-01-08 |title=Major Lazer announces Free The Universe world tour: Angel Haze, Lunice and more support |url=https://www.factmag.com/2013/01/08/major-lazer-announces-free-the-universe-world-tour-angel-haze-lunice-and-more-support/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Fact Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=2013-01-08 |title=Major Lazer Announce "Free the Universe" World Tour, Including Dates With Angel Haze |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49070-major-lazer-announce-free-the-universe-world-tour-including-dates-with-angel-haze/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Remixes===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:230px;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:230px;"| Album details
|-
! scope="row" | ''Lazer Strikes Back Vol. 1''
|
* Released: 25 February 2013
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: [[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''Lazer Strikes Back Vol. 2''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tapefire.com/major-lazer/lazer-strikes-back-vol-2 |title=Major Lazer – LAZER STRIKES BACK Vol. 2 |publisher=TapeFire.com |accessdate=9 March 2013}}</ref>
|
* Released: 8 March 2013
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: [[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''Lazer Strikes Back Vol. 3''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tapefire.com/major-lazer/lazer-strikes-back-vol-3
|title=Major Lazer – LAZER STRIKES BACK Vol. 3 |publisher=TapeFire.com |accessdate=22 March 2013}}</ref>
|
* Released: 22 March 2013
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: [[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''Lazer Strikes Back Vol. 4''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tapefire.com/major-lazer/lazer-strikes-back-vol-4
|title=Major Lazer – LAZER STRIKES BACK Vol. 4 |publisher=TapeFire.com |accessdate=5 April 2013}}</ref>
|
* Released: 5 April 2013
* Label: [[Mad Decent]]
* Formats: [[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
|}


[[File:Walshy Fire of Major Lazer @ Flow 2015.jpg|thumb|upright|Walshy Fire of Major Lazer performing at [[Flow Festival]] in Helsinki, Finland, August 2015]]
===Mixtapes===
In early March 2015, Diplo confirmed the release of a third Major Lazer album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rick |date=2015-03-31 |title=Diplo |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/diplo |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The first single, "[[Lean On]]", was a collaboration with French producer [[DJ Snake]] and featured vocals from Danish recording artist [[MØ]]. It was released March 2, 2015. The song was first offered to [[Rihanna]] and then [[Nicki Minaj]], who both turned it down; however Diplo later mentioned that no one could have done a better job than MØ in the recording.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34001810/diplo-wanted-rihanna-or-nicki-minaj-to-sing-on-lean-on|title=Diplo wanted Rihanna or Nicki Minaj to sing on Lean On|work=BBC News|date=August 20, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> The song reached number 4 on the [[US Billboard charts|US Billboard]]'s Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the UK charts.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bain |first=Katie |date=2019-11-21 |title=Songs That Defined the Decade: Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MO's 'Lean On' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/major-lazer-lean-on-songs-that-defined-the-decade-8544131/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> It also became Spotify's most streamed song of all time,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/6760813/major-lazer-lean-on-spotify-most-streamed-song-all-time|title=Major Lazer & DJ Snake's 'Lean On' Becomes Spotify's Most-Streamed Song of All Time|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 11, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> receiving universally positive reviews while reaching over 2 billion views on YouTube, making it the twelfth most viewed video on the site.<ref>{{cite AV media |publisher=majorlazer |title=Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On (feat. MØ) (Official Music Video) |date=March 22, 2015 |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeW9_5kURI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/YqeW9_5kURI| archive-date=November 7, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*2009: ''Major Lazer Essential Mix'' <small>(available as podcast)</small>
*2010: ''[[La Roux discography#Mixtapes|Lazerproof]]'' <small>(with [[La Roux]], available as a free download)</small><ref>{{cite web|title=Lazerproof|url=http://maddecent.com/lazerproof/|publisher=Mad Decent|accessdate=14 November 2013}}</ref>
*2010: ''Major Lazer Summer Mix'' <small>(available as podcast)</small>
*2013: ''Major Lazer Workout Mix''
*2014: ''Major Lazer's Walshy Fire Presents: Jesse Royal – Royally Speaking'' <small>(available as a [https://soundcloud.com/majorlazer/royallyspeaking free download])</small>


Four promotional singles were released; "Roll the Bass" March 23, 2015, "Night Riders", a collaboration with [[Travis Scott|Travi$ Scott]], [[2 Chainz]], [[Pusha T]] and [[Mad Cobra]], released April 20, 2015, and "Too Original", a collaboration with [[Elliphant]] and Jovi Rockwell, released on May 11, 2015. On June 2, 2015, a lyric video was released for "[[Be Together (Major Lazer song)|Be Together]]", a collaboration with [[Wild Belle]], making it the fourth promotional single.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
==Singles==


The second single from the album, titled "[[Powerful (song)|Powerful]]", featured English singer-songwriter [[Ellie Goulding]] and Jamaican singer [[Tarrus Riley]]. It was released simultaneously with the album, and was added to [[BBC Radio 1]]'s playlist on June 21, 2015. It reached the Top 10 in Australia and Poland.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
===As lead artist===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name=aus/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name=aut/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ultratop 50|BEL (Vl)]]<br><ref name=vl/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Ultratop 50|BEL (Wa)]]<br><ref name=wa/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Tracklist|DEN]]<br><ref name=den>{{cite web|url=http://danishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – Danish Charts|publisher=lescharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]<br><ref name=fra>{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – French Charts|publisher=lescharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[MegaCharts|NL]]<br><ref name=nl/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br><ref name=fr/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/major%20lazer%20featuring%20amber%20coffman/|title=Major Lazer > UK Charts|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 April 2013}}
</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name=us>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/308937/major-lazer|title=Major Lazer – Billboard|publisher=billboard.com/ Billboard}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "Hold the Line"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring Mr. Lexx and [[Santigold]])</span>
| rowspan="4"| 2009
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
| rowspan="4"| ''Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Pon de Floor]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Vybz Kartel]])</span>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 125 || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Keep It Goin' Louder"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Nina Sky]] and Ricky Blaze)</span>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Jump Up"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring Leftside and Supahype)</span>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Original Don]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[The Partysquad]])</span>
| 2011
| — || — || — || — || — || — || 98 || — || — || —
|
| ''Original Don''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Get Free (Major Lazer song)|Get Free]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Amber Coffman]])</span>
| rowspan="2"| 2012
| 39 || — || 3 || 17 || 29 || 59 || 7 || — || 56 || —
|
| rowspan="6"| ''Free the Universe''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Jah No Partial]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Flux Pavilion]])</span>
| — || — || 59 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Watch Out for This (Bumaye)]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Busy Signal]], The Flexican and FS Green)</span>
| rowspan="4"| 2013
| — || 40 || 5 || 8 || 14 || 4 || 7 || 23 || 161 || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Bubble Butt]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Bruno Mars]], [[Tyga]] and Mystic)</span>
| 39 || — || 24 || 11 || — || 67 || 65 || — || 196 || 56
|
* [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref>http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Bubble+Butt%22</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "Scare Me"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Peaches (musician)|Peaches]] and Timberlee)</span>
| — || — || 89 || 37 || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Keep Cool (Life Is What)"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]] and [[Wynter Gordon]])</span>
| — || — || 38 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Aerosol Can (song)|Aerosol Can]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Pharrell Williams]])</span>
| rowspan="2"| 2014
| 37 || — || 32 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
| rowspan="2"| ''Apocalypse Soon''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Come On to Me]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Sean Paul]])
| — || — || 10 || 36 || — || 21 || 60 || — || — || —
|
|-
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}


In an interview with ''[[inthemix]]'' on May 22, 2015, Walshy Fire announced that Major Lazer's fourth studio album would be titled ''Music Is the Weapon'' and that it would be released late 2015 or early 2016.<ref name="album">{{cite web|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/60601/Were_getting_two_Major_Lazer_albums_this_year|title=Major Lazer are "almost sure" they'll be in Australia this summer|access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> The album never arrived in 2015 or 2016, though Diplo did reveal on April 27, 2015, during an interview with Belgian radio station [[Studio Brussel]] that Major Lazer was working on a new track with Belgian singer [[Selah Sue]], and that it might appear on their next album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stubru.be/popnieuws/majorlazerneemtnummeropmetselahsue|title=Major Lazer neemt nummer op met Selah Sue|access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> Selah Sue herself had confirmed this during an earlier interview with the same radio station on May 4, 2015.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
==Other charted songs==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing album name
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]<br><ref name=fra>{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Major+Lazer|title=Major Lazer – French Charts|publisher=lescharts.com/ Hung Medien}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/major%20lazer%20featuring%20amber%20coffman/|title=Major Lazer > UK Charts|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 April 2013}}
</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "[[All My Love (Major Lazer song)|All My Love]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Ariana Grande]])</span>
| 2014
| 187 || 194
| ''[[The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|The Hunger Games:<br>Mockingjay, Part 1]]''
|-
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}


''[[Peace Is The Mission]]'' was released on June 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58726-diplos-major-lazer-announce-new-album-peace-is-the-mission-featuring-collaborations-with-pusha-t-ellie-goulding-2-chainz-ariana-grande-more/|title=Diplo's Major Lazer Announce New Album Peace Is The Mission Featuring Collaborations with Pusha T, Ellie Goulding, 2 Chainz, Ariana Grande, More |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref> It featured artists such as [[Machel Montano]], [[Wild Belle]], [[Pusha T]], [[Ellie Goulding]], and [[Ariana Grande]]. It peaked at number 12 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart and received general critical success.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
==Guest appearances==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
On November 27, 2015, Major Lazer released a re-issue of their third studio album ''Peace is the Mission'', re-titled as ''Peace is the Mission: Extended''. It featured five additional songs, including a collaboration with Dutch electro house DJ [[MOTi]] (featuring [[Ty Dolla Sign|Ty Dolla $ign]], [[Wizkid (musician)|Wizkid]], and [[Kranium]]), a remix of their previous track "Light It Up" featuring Nyla and Fuse ODG, and a cover of [[Frank Ocean]]'s "Lost" featuring previous collaborator and Danish recording artist MØ.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/62168-major-lazer-announce-expanded-edition-of-peace-is-the-mission/|title=Major Lazer Announce Expanded Edition of Peace Is the Mission|work=Pitchfork|date=November 20, 2015}}</ref>
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" style="width:22em;"| Title
On November 5, 2015, Major Lazer featured on [[Katy B]]<nowiki>'s single ''</nowiki>[[Who Am I (Katy B song)|Who Am I]]<nowiki>''</nowiki> alongside [[Craig David]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Other artist(s)
Exactly one year after ''Peace is the Mission'' was released, Major Lazer announced a new remix album titled ''Peace Is the Mission: Remixes''. It featured remixes of selected tracks from their third studio album, including "Lean On", "Powerful", "Be Together", "Night Riders", and "Roll the Bass". Major Lazer had over 27 million tags in music identification service [[Shazam (music app)|Shazam]] in 2015. This, along with [[Diplo]]'s other collaboration [[Jack Ü]], gave Diplo the greatest number of Shazams in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2015/12/diplo-shazamed-artist-2015/|title=Diplo is the most Shazamed artist of 2015|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=December 9, 2015}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Album

===2016–19: ''Know No Better'' EP, ''Essentials'' and ''Africa Is the Future'' EP===
On July 22, 2016, a new track titled "[[Cold Water (song)|Cold Water]]", featuring vocals from [[MØ]] and [[Justin Bieber]], was released by Major Lazer. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 in several other countries including on the [[The Official Chart|UK Official Charts]], making it their most popular single yet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3361144/major-lazer-justin-bieber-mo-end-drakes-uk-no-1-reign-cold-water-elvis/|title=Major Lazer, Justin Bieber & MØ Throw 'Cold Water' On Drake, Top Charts In Australia & More|date=July 31, 2016 |access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> On September 30, 2016, "[[Believer (Major Lazer and Showtek song)|Believer]]", a collaboration with Dutch production duo [[Showtek]], was released as the second single from Major Lazer's upcoming fourth album. The album's title, ''Music Is the Weapon'', had been announced in May 2015, and was set to have "a few more club songs, a few more festival songs" than ''Peace is the Mission'', but to be "in the same spectrum."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/major_lazer_name_new_album_music_is_weapon|title=Major Lazer Name New Album 'Music Is the Weapon' |language=en |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref>

On December 6, 2016, Major Lazer released a promotional single for ''Music Is the Weapon'', titled "My Number". The song is a collaboration with [[Bad Royale]] that samples "[[54-46 That's My Number]]", which Pitchfork describes as "a genre-defining classic from legendary ska/reggae group [[Toots and the Maytals]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/70266-major-lazer-sample-toots-and-the-maytals-on-new-song-my-number-listen/|title=Major Lazer Sample Toots and the Maytals on New Song "My Number": Listen - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2017}}</ref> The song contains newly recorded vocals from frontman [[Toots Hibbert]] specifically designed for Major Lazer, changing the original lyrics to incorporate the group into the song while keeping the original melody.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX5i81l2LTE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/WX5i81l2LTE| archive-date=November 7, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Major Lazer & Bad Royale - My Number|date=December 5, 2016|via=YouTube |access-date=August 12, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-number-feat.-toots-single/id1180814535?app=itunes|title="My Number - Single" by Major Lazer on iTunes|website=iTunes|access-date=August 12, 2017}}</ref>

Following the success of singles "[[Cold Water (song)|Cold Water]]" and "Believer", Major Lazer released their third single titled "[[Run Up]]" January 26, 2017. The song features Canadian musician [[PartyNextDoor]] and rapper [[Nicki Minaj]], serving as a follow-up to the tropical, laid-back sound of "Cold Water". ''Music Is the Weapon'', however, still failed to arrive, prompting rumors that Major Lazer would not be releasing an album after all. However, in 2018, Diplo stated that the album will be released in 2019 and that it will be their last.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/09/diplo-says-the-next-major-lazer-album-might-be-their-last|title=Diplo Says the Next Major Lazer Album Might Be Their Last|website=Complex}}</ref>

On June 1, 2017, Major Lazer released a six-song extended play titled [[Know No Better (EP)|''Know No Better'']], with the title track featuring [[Camila Cabello]], [[Travis Scott]], and [[Quavo]]. The EP's second single, "[[Sua Cara]]", features Brazilian musicians [[Anitta (singer)|Anitta]] and [[Pabllo Vittar]]. Several remixes of the EP's title track have since been released.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On October 19, 2018, Major Lazer released a compilation album titled ''[[Major Lazer Essentials]]'', a 10-year anniversary record that includes all of Major Lazer's greatest hits, and new songs including "[[Blow That Smoke]]", featuring [[Tove Lo]], which was released October 17, 2018.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On March 20, 2019, Major Lazer released an extended play titled ''Africa Is the Future''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

===2019–present: Jillionaire's departure and ''Music Is the Weapon''===
On May 10, 2019, Major Lazer released the song "Can't Take It from Me", featuring [[Skip Marley]], as the new lead single for their fourth studio album.<ref>{{citation|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/05/major-lazer-share-their-first-single-cant-take-it-from-me-from-final-upcoming-studio-album/|title=Major Lazer share their first single 'Can't Take It From Me' from final upcoming studio album|website=[[Dancing Astronaut]]|last=Mao|first=Jessica|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, [[Jillionaire]] left the group to focus on solo projects, and was replaced by American DJ and record producer [[Ape Drums]].<ref name="AD">{{citation|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2046237/jillionaire-ape-drums-major-lazer/news/|title=Jillionaire Quits Major Lazer, Replaced By Ape Drums|website=[[Stereogum]]|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://djmag.com/news/jillionaire-has-left-major-lazer|title=JILLIONAIRE HAS LEFT MAJOR LAZER|website=[[DJ Mag]]|last=Coney|first=Brian|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019}}</ref> The album's second single, "[[Que Calor]]", featuring [[J Balvin]] and [[El Alfa]], was released September 11, 2019. The album's fifth single, "[[Lay Your Head on Me]]", featuring [[Marcus Mumford]] of the band [[Mumford & Sons]], was released on March 26, 2020.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In a 2019 interview with ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex Magazine]]'', Diplo revealed that the album would be titled ''Lazerism'', but the name was later changed back to the original title, ''[[Music Is the Weapon]]'', and was released on October 23, 2020.<ref>{{citation|url=http://dancemusicnw.com/a-new-era-of-major-lazer-with-ape-drums/|title=Ape Drums ushers in a new era for Major Lazer|website=Dance Music Northwest|last=Lutz|first=Quinn|date=June 21, 2019|access-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ml4">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MAJORLAZER/status/1311335554236076034|title=MAJOR LAZER on Twitter: "MUSIC IS THE WEAPON. OCTOBER 23 #ML4"|publisher=Twitter|date=September 30, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Band members==
This is a list of the members of Major Lazer.<ref name="C">{{cite web |url=https://www.cultr.com/news/major-lazer-jillionaire/ |title=[Confirmed] Jillionaire left Major Lazer, and Ape Drums is in |work=Cultr |date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |author=Tryon, Oliver}}</ref>

===Current members===
*[[Diplo]] – production (2008–present)
*[[Walshy Fire]] – production (2011–present)
*[[Ape Drums]] – production (2019–present)

===Former members===
*[[Switch (songwriter)|Switch]] – production (2008–2011)
*[[Jillionaire]] – production (2011–2019)

==Discography==
{{main|Major Lazer discography}}

* ''[[Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Free the Universe]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Peace Is the Mission]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Music Is the Weapon]]'' (2020)

==Television series==
{{Main|Major Lazer (TV series)}}
A Major Lazer [[animated series]] premiered April 16, 2015, on [[FXX]]. Diplo serves as co-creator and executive producer of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/03/major-lazer-cartoon-series-to-premiere-on-fxx-next-month/|website=Consequence of Sound |title=Major Lazer cartoon series to premiere on FXX next month |date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=March 27, 2015}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Awards
!Category
!Nominee/Work
!Outcome
!Ref
|-
|-
| 2015
! scope="row" | "[[Push and Shove (song)|Push and Shove]]"
|[[Gaffa (magazine)#GAFFA Awards|''GAFFA'' Awards (Denmark)]]
| 2012
| Best Foreign Song
| [[No Doubt]], [[Busy Signal]]
| ''[[Push and Shove]]''
| "[[Lean On]]"
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=GAFFA-Prisen – og vinderne er... |url=https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/101913/gaffa-prisen-og-vinderne-er/ |website=[[Gaffa (magazine)|Gaffa]] |language=da |access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | "Pressure"
| rowspan="5" |2016
| rowspan="3" |[[NRJ Music Award]]s
| 2013
|Best Live Performance
| [[Chase & Status]]
|Major Lazer
| ''[[Brand New Machine]]''
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nrj.fr/djawards/palmares|title=Palmares NRJ DJ AWARDS 2016 - Meilleurs DJs|newspaper=NRJ.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114231946/http://www.nrj.fr/djawards/palmares|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Best Single Dance/Electro
! scope="row" | "We Make It Bounce"
|"[[Light It Up (Major Lazer song)|Light It Up]]"
| 2014
|{{nom}}
| [[Dillon Francis]], [[Stylo G]]
| ''[[Money Sucks, Friends Rule]]''
|-
|-
|Best Collaboration of the Year
|}
|Major Lazer

|{{won}}
===Remixes===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|[[Billboard Music Awards]]
! Year !! Artist !! Track
|Top Dance/Electronic Song
|Lean On
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Music Awards 2016: See the Finalists|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bbma/7326512/billboard-music-awards-2016-nominations|magazine=Billboard|date=April 11, 2016|access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[American Music Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| 2010 || [[Gyptian]] || "[[Hold You (Gyptian song)|Hold You]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music
|rowspan="2"|Major Lazer
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=AMAs 2016: See the Full List of Winners|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/amas/7581457/amas-2016-winners-list|magazine=Billboard|date=November 21, 2016|access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="9"|2017
| [[Cajmere]] || "Percolator" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|rowspan="2"|[[2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards|iHeartRadio Music Awards]]
|Dance Artist of the Year
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|title=Here's The Complete List Of #iHeartAwards Winners {{!}} iHeartRadio Music Awards {{!}} iHeartRadio|url=http://news.iheart.com/features/iheartradio-music-awards-15/articles/15/490103/heres-the-complete-list-of-iheartradio-15616268/|website=iHeartRadio|access-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306212021/http://news.iheart.com/features/iheartradio-music-awards-15/articles/15/490103/heres-the-complete-list-of-iheartradio-15616268/|archive-date=March 6, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Dance Song of the Year
| 2011 || [[Beastie Boys]] || "[[Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win]]" <small>(Major Lazer Beastie Remix Edition)</small>
|"[[Cold Water (song)|Cold Water]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|[[2017 Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]]
| rowspan="6"| 2012 || rowspan="2"| [[Hot Chip]] || "Look at Where We Are" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|Favorite DJ/EDM Artist
| rowspan="2" |Major Lazer
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Kids' Choice Awards 2017: Full Nominees and Winners List|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kids-choice-awards-2017-full-nominees-and-winners-list-w471688|website=Us Weekly|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Billboard Music Awards]]
| "Look at Where We Are" <small>(Major Lazer vs Junior Blender Mix)</small>
|Top Dance/Electronic Artist
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Drake, The Chainsmokers Lead Nominees for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bbma/7752631/billboard-music-awards-2017-nominations-full-list|magazine=Billboard|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Top Dance/Electronic Song
| [[No Doubt]] || "[[Settle Down (No Doubt song)|Settle Down]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|"[[Cold Water (song)|Cold Water]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|[[Teen Choice Awards]]
| [[The Prodigy]] || "[[Smack My Bitch Up]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|Choice Electronic/Dance Artist
|Major Lazer
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ceron|first1=Ella|title=The Pretty Little Liars Were ALL Nominated for the Same EXACT Award|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/story/teen-choice-awards-2017-nominees|website=Teen Vogue|date=June 20, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[MTV Video Music Awards]]
| [[Popcaan]] || "Party Shot (Ravin Part 2)" <small>(Major Lazer & ETC!ETC! Remix)</small>
|Best Dance Video
|rowspan="2"|"[[Cold Water (song)|Cold Water]]"
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=MTV Video Music Awards 2017 nominations|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40718088|publisher=BBC News|access-date=July 26, 2017|date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Electronic Music Awards & Foundation Show|Electronic Music Awards]]
| [[Bruno Mars]] || "[[Locked Out of Heaven]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
| Single of the Year
| {{won}}
|rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7896929/electronic-music-awards-nominees-complete-list-2017|title=The Chainsmokers, Justice, Eric Prydz & More Nominated for 2017 Electronic Music Awards|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=September 1, 2017|last=Rishty|first=David|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Remix of the Year
| rowspan="6" | 2013 || [[Bunji Garlin]] || "[[Differentology]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zCoCa6b6cU |title=Major Lazer "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" feat Busy Signal, The Flexican & FS Green [OFFICIAL |publisher=YouTube |date=12 April 2013 |accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref>
| "[[Shape of You]]" (Major Lazer Remix)
| {{nom}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2018
| [[Dada Life]] || "Boing Clash Boom" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
| [[Latin Grammy Award]]s
| Best Urban Fusion/Performance
| "[[Sua Cara]]"
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=LatinGrammy2018>{{cite web|url=https://www.latingrammy.com/files/19thlatingrammyawards.pdf|title=NOMINEES 19th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards|publisher=[[The Latin Recording Academy]]|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195924/https://www.latingrammy.com/files/19thlatingrammyawards.pdf|archive-date=September 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Gaffa (magazine)#GAFFA Awards|''GAFFA'' Awards (Denmark)]]
| [[Konshens]] || "Gal A Bubble" <small>(Major Lazer x Bro Safari x ETC!ETC! Remix)</small>
| Best Foreign Band
| Major Lazer
| {{nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=GAFFA-Prisen – og vinderne er... |url=https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/125893/gaffa-prisen-og-vinderne-er/ |website=[[Gaffa (magazine)|Gaffa]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |language=da }}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2020
| [[Jack Beats]] || "KYD" <small>(Major Lazer X Jack Beats Remix)</small>
| [[Latin Grammy Award]]
|[[Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song|Best Urban Song]]
|"Rave de Favela" (with MC Lan, [[Anitta (singer)|Anitta]], BEAM)
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hugogloss.uol.com.br/premiacoes/grammy-latino-2020-anitta-pabllo-vittar-emicida-caetano-veloso-anavitoria-e-mais-brasileiros-sao-indicados-veja-a-lista-completa/|title=Grammy Latino 2020: Anitta, Pabllo Vittar, Emicida, Caetano Veloso, Anavitória e mais brasileiros são indicados! Veja a lista completa|first=Bruna|last=Nobrega|date=September 29, 2020|website=Hugogloss.uol.com.br|access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[NRJ Music Awards]]
| [[Machel Montano]] || "The Fog" <small>(Major Lazer & Grandtheft Remix)</small>
|International Group Of The Year
|Major Lazer
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2020
| [[Macklemore]] and [[Ryan Lewis]] || "[[Can't Hold Us]]" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
| [[Grammy Awards]]
|-
|Best Dance/Electronic Album
| rowspan="3" | 2014 || [[Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike]]|| "Stampede" <small>(Major Lazer & P.A.F.F. Remix)</small>
|Music is a Major Weapon
|-
|{{nom}}
| [[Busy Signal]] || "Watch Out For This" <small>(Major Lazer Remix)</small>
|-
| [[Davido]] || "[[Skelewu]]" <small>(Major Lazer & Wiwek Remix)</small><ref>{{cite web|last=Gossett |first=Eric |url=http://blog.lessthan3.com/2014/04/major-lazer-teams-up-with-wiwek-to-remix-davidos-skelewu/ |title=Major Lazer Teams Up With Wiwek To Remix Davido's 'Skelewu' |publisher=Blog.lessthan3.com |date= |accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref>
|}
|}

==Television series==
A Major Lazer [[animated series]] is in works, it is expected to be released in 2015.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|majorlazer.com}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Facebook|majorlazer}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* [https://vk.com/majorlazerofficial Major Lazer] in VK
* {{Twitter|majorlazer}}
* {{YouTube|user=MajorLazerVEVO}}
* {{Soundcloud|majorlazer}}


{{Diplo}}
{{Major Lazer}}
{{Major Lazer}}
{{Fox Animation}}
{{Diplo}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Major Lazer| ]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in Jamaica]]
[[Category:American dance music groups]]
[[Category:American electronic dance music groups]]
[[Category:American electronic music groups]]
[[Category:American hip-hop groups]]
[[Category:American pop music groups]]
[[Category:American reggae musical groups]]
[[Category:American reggaeton musicians]]
[[Category:Because Music artists]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Dance-pop groups]]
[[Category:Dancehall groups]]
[[Category:Diplo]]
[[Category:Downtown Records artists]]
[[Category:Electro house musicians]]
[[Category:Interscope Records artists]]
[[Category:Interscope Records artists]]
[[Category:Jamaican musicians]]
[[Category:Mad Decent artists]]
[[Category:British DJs]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2008]]
[[Category:Reggae fusion artists]]
[[Category:Ragga musicians]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2009]]
[[Category:Record production trios]]
[[Category:Record production teams]]
[[Category:Rocksteady musicians]]
[[Category:Soca musicians]]
[[Category:Secretly Canadian artists]]
[[Category:Trap musicians (EDM)]]

Latest revision as of 00:52, 1 January 2025

For the FXX animated television series, see Major Lazer (TV series).

Major Lazer
Diplo and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer performing at Flow Festival in Helsinki on August 14, 2015
Diplo and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer performing at Flow Festival in Helsinki on August 14, 2015
Background information
Genres
Years active2008–present
Labels
Members
Past members

Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music and DJ trio,[1] which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. They were 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.[2] Their music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, ReggaeEDM, reggaeton, soca,[3] house and moombahton.[4][5][6][7]

Major Lazer has released four full-length albums: Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do in 2009, Free the Universe in 2013, Peace Is the Mission in 2015, and Music Is the Weapon in 2020. They have also released six EPs, including Apocalypse Soon in March 2014, which featured vocal contributions from Pharrell Williams and Sean Paul, and Know No Better in 2017, which featured appearances from Camila Cabello, Quavo, Travis Scott, and J Balvin, among others. Major Lazer has also notably produced Reincarnated, the debut reggae album by Snoop Dogg under his "Snoop Lion" persona.[8] In March 2018, Billboard ranked Major Lazer at number five on their 2018 Billboard Dance 100 ranking of dance musicians.[9][10]

History

[edit]

2009–11: Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do and Lazers Never Die EP

[edit]
Skerrit Bwoy with Major Lazer at Coachella Festival, 2010.

Originally made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced while working with M.I.A. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios.[11] Vocalists such as Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Amanda Blank, Mr. Vegas, Turbulence, Mapei, T.O.K, Prince Zimboo, Leftside, and M.I.A.,[12] with others contributing guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from Afrojack, Nebat Drums and Crookers.[13] This is the first release to come out of the label partnership between Downtown Records and Diplo's label Mad Decent.[14] Major Lazer ended a US tour summer of 2009.[15]

The album's first single was "Hold the Line", the video for which, directed by Eric Wareheim, was nominated for a MTV Video Award in the Breakthrough Video category. It was also featured in the video game FIFA 10. The track "Zumbie" has a music video that features comedian Andy Milonakis.[16] Music videos for the songs "Pon de Floor", "Keep It Going Louder", and "Bubble Butt" were directed by Eric Wareheim. In June 2009, Major Lazer were featured for the first time on the cover of the publication The Fader, in its 62nd issue.[17]

Major Lazer performed at the Falls Music & Arts Festival (Lorne, Victoria, Australia) on December 30, 2009, and the Coachella Music Festival in April 2010. They also performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July 2010 and the Sasquatch Music Festival on Monday May 30, 2011 and at the 2011 Outside Lands festival in San Francisco.[18]

A mixtape with La Roux titled "Lazerproof" was made available for free download on May 26.[19] It used the intrumental tracks from the self-titled debut album and "brazenly mashes them up with beats and rhymes that are almost wholly up-to-the-minute hip, encompassing rap, R&B, dancehall, and dubstep".[20] On June 20, 2010, the group released an EP titled Lazers Never Die. It contained two new songs and three remixes, by Thom Yorke and others. Switch provided production for Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)", which sampled "Pon de Floor". Major Lazer also features in the track, "Look at Where We Are", from the extended version of Hot Chip's album In Our Heads, released June 2011.[21][22]

2012–15: Free the Universe, Apocalypse Soon EP, and Peace Is the Mission

[edit]
Diplo and Jillionaire performing at the Congress Theater, Chicago, in 2013.

Major Lazer's live shows previously included hype man Skerrit Bwoy,[23] although he left the group in 2012 to pursue religion.[24] In 2012, Major Lazer began working with Snoop Dogg to produce some tracks that were to be included on his new reggae project. Along with the project came his new alter ego persona known as "Snoop Lion".[25][26]

In 2012, Switch left the collaborative effort due to "creative differences" as claimed by Diplo. He departed in late 2011 and was replaced with both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire while Boaz van de Beatz and Jr. Blender featured as an additional producers.[27][28]

In September 2012, Major Lazer announced that its upcoming album, Free the Universe, would be released on March 12, 2013, on Mad Decent. They also announced Fall 2012 tour dates.[29]

Major Lazer co-produced UK singer Rita Ora's debut album, Ora and with No Doubt for their sixth studio album, Push and Shove.[30] The album's title track features producers Major Lazer and Jamaican reggae artist Busy Signal, and was released as a promotional single in August 2012 reaching no. 22 at Alternative Song Chart Sales.[31]

In February 2013, Major Lazer signed with indie record label Secretly Canadian.[32] At the same time, they announced the new release date, April 16, for their album Free the Universe.[33] They also announced the Free the Universe 2013 World Tour, which ran through the spring of 2013 with support by Dragonette, Angel Haze, and Lunice.[34][35]

Walshy Fire of Major Lazer performing at Flow Festival in Helsinki, Finland, August 2015

In early March 2015, Diplo confirmed the release of a third Major Lazer album.[36] The first single, "Lean On", was a collaboration with French producer DJ Snake and featured vocals from Danish recording artist MØ. It was released March 2, 2015. The song was first offered to Rihanna and then Nicki Minaj, who both turned it down; however Diplo later mentioned that no one could have done a better job than MØ in the recording.[37] The song reached number 4 on the US Billboard's Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the UK charts.[38] It also became Spotify's most streamed song of all time,[39] receiving universally positive reviews while reaching over 2 billion views on YouTube, making it the twelfth most viewed video on the site.[40]

Four promotional singles were released; "Roll the Bass" March 23, 2015, "Night Riders", a collaboration with Travi$ Scott, 2 Chainz, Pusha T and Mad Cobra, released April 20, 2015, and "Too Original", a collaboration with Elliphant and Jovi Rockwell, released on May 11, 2015. On June 2, 2015, a lyric video was released for "Be Together", a collaboration with Wild Belle, making it the fourth promotional single.[citation needed]

The second single from the album, titled "Powerful", featured English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and Jamaican singer Tarrus Riley. It was released simultaneously with the album, and was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist on June 21, 2015. It reached the Top 10 in Australia and Poland.[citation needed]

In an interview with inthemix on May 22, 2015, Walshy Fire announced that Major Lazer's fourth studio album would be titled Music Is the Weapon and that it would be released late 2015 or early 2016.[41] The album never arrived in 2015 or 2016, though Diplo did reveal on April 27, 2015, during an interview with Belgian radio station Studio Brussel that Major Lazer was working on a new track with Belgian singer Selah Sue, and that it might appear on their next album.[42] Selah Sue herself had confirmed this during an earlier interview with the same radio station on May 4, 2015.[citation needed]

Peace Is The Mission was released on June 1, 2015.[43] It featured artists such as Machel Montano, Wild Belle, Pusha T, Ellie Goulding, and Ariana Grande. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart and received general critical success.[citation needed]

On November 27, 2015, Major Lazer released a re-issue of their third studio album Peace is the Mission, re-titled as Peace is the Mission: Extended. It featured five additional songs, including a collaboration with Dutch electro house DJ MOTi (featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Wizkid, and Kranium), a remix of their previous track "Light It Up" featuring Nyla and Fuse ODG, and a cover of Frank Ocean's "Lost" featuring previous collaborator and Danish recording artist MØ.[44]

On November 5, 2015, Major Lazer featured on Katy B's single ''Who Am I'' alongside Craig David.[citation needed]

Exactly one year after Peace is the Mission was released, Major Lazer announced a new remix album titled Peace Is the Mission: Remixes. It featured remixes of selected tracks from their third studio album, including "Lean On", "Powerful", "Be Together", "Night Riders", and "Roll the Bass". Major Lazer had over 27 million tags in music identification service Shazam in 2015. This, along with Diplo's other collaboration Jack Ü, gave Diplo the greatest number of Shazams in 2015.[45]

2016–19: Know No Better EP, Essentials and Africa Is the Future EP

[edit]

On July 22, 2016, a new track titled "Cold Water", featuring vocals from MØ and Justin Bieber, was released by Major Lazer. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 in several other countries including on the UK Official Charts, making it their most popular single yet.[46] On September 30, 2016, "Believer", a collaboration with Dutch production duo Showtek, was released as the second single from Major Lazer's upcoming fourth album. The album's title, Music Is the Weapon, had been announced in May 2015, and was set to have "a few more club songs, a few more festival songs" than Peace is the Mission, but to be "in the same spectrum."[47]

On December 6, 2016, Major Lazer released a promotional single for Music Is the Weapon, titled "My Number". The song is a collaboration with Bad Royale that samples "54-46 That's My Number", which Pitchfork describes as "a genre-defining classic from legendary ska/reggae group Toots and the Maytals."[48] The song contains newly recorded vocals from frontman Toots Hibbert specifically designed for Major Lazer, changing the original lyrics to incorporate the group into the song while keeping the original melody.[49][50]

Following the success of singles "Cold Water" and "Believer", Major Lazer released their third single titled "Run Up" January 26, 2017. The song features Canadian musician PartyNextDoor and rapper Nicki Minaj, serving as a follow-up to the tropical, laid-back sound of "Cold Water". Music Is the Weapon, however, still failed to arrive, prompting rumors that Major Lazer would not be releasing an album after all. However, in 2018, Diplo stated that the album will be released in 2019 and that it will be their last.[51]

On June 1, 2017, Major Lazer released a six-song extended play titled Know No Better, with the title track featuring Camila Cabello, Travis Scott, and Quavo. The EP's second single, "Sua Cara", features Brazilian musicians Anitta and Pabllo Vittar. Several remixes of the EP's title track have since been released.[citation needed]

On October 19, 2018, Major Lazer released a compilation album titled Major Lazer Essentials, a 10-year anniversary record that includes all of Major Lazer's greatest hits, and new songs including "Blow That Smoke", featuring Tove Lo, which was released October 17, 2018.[citation needed]

On March 20, 2019, Major Lazer released an extended play titled Africa Is the Future.[citation needed]

2019–present: Jillionaire's departure and Music Is the Weapon

[edit]

On May 10, 2019, Major Lazer released the song "Can't Take It from Me", featuring Skip Marley, as the new lead single for their fourth studio album.[52] In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group to focus on solo projects, and was replaced by American DJ and record producer Ape Drums.[2][53] The album's second single, "Que Calor", featuring J Balvin and El Alfa, was released September 11, 2019. The album's fifth single, "Lay Your Head on Me", featuring Marcus Mumford of the band Mumford & Sons, was released on March 26, 2020.[citation needed]

In a 2019 interview with Complex Magazine, Diplo revealed that the album would be titled Lazerism, but the name was later changed back to the original title, Music Is the Weapon, and was released on October 23, 2020.[54][55]

Band members

[edit]

This is a list of the members of Major Lazer.[56]

Current members

[edit]

Former members

[edit]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Major Lazer discography

Television series

[edit]
Main article: Major Lazer (TV series)

A Major Lazer animated series premiered April 16, 2015, on FXX. Diplo serves as co-creator and executive producer of the show.[57]

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Nominee/Work Outcome Ref
2015 GAFFA Awards (Denmark) Best Foreign Song "Lean On" Won [58]
2016 NRJ Music Awards Best Live Performance Major Lazer Nominated [59]
Best Single Dance/Electro "Light It Up" Nominated
Best Collaboration of the Year Major Lazer Won
Billboard Music Awards Top Dance/Electronic Song Lean On Won [60]
American Music Awards Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music Major Lazer Nominated [61]
2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards Dance Artist of the Year Nominated [62]
Dance Song of the Year "Cold Water" Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite DJ/EDM Artist Major Lazer Nominated [63]
Billboard Music Awards Top Dance/Electronic Artist Nominated [64]
Top Dance/Electronic Song "Cold Water" Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Electronic/Dance Artist Major Lazer Nominated [65]
MTV Video Music Awards Best Dance Video "Cold Water" Nominated [66]
Electronic Music Awards Single of the Year Won [67]
Remix of the Year "Shape of You" (Major Lazer Remix) Nominated
2018 Latin Grammy Awards Best Urban Fusion/Performance "Sua Cara" Nominated [68]
GAFFA Awards (Denmark) Best Foreign Band Major Lazer Nominated [69]
2020 Latin Grammy Award Best Urban Song "Rave de Favela" (with MC Lan, Anitta, BEAM) Nominated [70]
NRJ Music Awards International Group Of The Year Major Lazer Nominated
2020 Grammy Awards Best Dance/Electronic Album Music is a Major Weapon Nominated

References

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  2. ^ a b DeVille, Chris (June 3, 2019), "Jillionaire Quits Major Lazer, Replaced By Ape Drums", Stereogum, retrieved July 30, 2019
  3. ^ Weiner, Natalie (April 12, 2016). "Listen to Major Lazer's Jillionaire Join Forces With Soca Star Bunji Garlin on 'Television' (Exclusive)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  4. ^ Jeffries, David. Peace Is the Mission at AllMusic. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. ^ Dolan, Jon (June 2, 2015). "Major Lazer's New Album: Peace Is the Mission". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  6. ^ Ma-less. "Diplo & Major Lazer – Meet the People Keeping Moombahton Alive – Complex CA". Complex CA.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Kocay, Lisa. "In Conversation: Major Lazer And Major League Djz On 'Piano Republik,' The Biggest Hurdles They Have Faced In Life And Why Dance Music Is Spiritual For Them". Forbes. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Blistein, Jon (March 15, 2013). "Snoop Lion and Major Lazer Host Raucous Bash in Austin". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
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  46. ^ "Major Lazer, Justin Bieber & MØ Throw 'Cold Water' On Drake, Top Charts In Australia & More". July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
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  49. ^ "Major Lazer & Bad Royale - My Number". December 5, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via YouTube.
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  55. ^ "MAJOR LAZER on Twitter: "MUSIC IS THE WEAPON. OCTOBER 23 #ML4"". Twitter. September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
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  65. ^ Ceron, Ella (June 20, 2017). "The Pretty Little Liars Were ALL Nominated for the Same EXACT Award". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
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  67. ^ Rishty, David (August 8, 2017). "The Chainsmokers, Justice, Eric Prydz & More Nominated for 2017 Electronic Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  68. ^ "NOMINEES 19th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards" (PDF). The Latin Recording Academy. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
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  70. ^ Nobrega, Bruna (September 29, 2020). "Grammy Latino 2020: Anitta, Pabllo Vittar, Emicida, Caetano Veloso, Anavitória e mais brasileiros são indicados! Veja a lista completa". Hugogloss.uol.com.br. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
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