Major Lazer

Major Lazer

Major Lazer is an electronic dance music group formed in 2008. It begins as a project led by Diplo and Switch, and later becomes a trio with Walshy Fire and Ape Drums among its members. The group is active from 2008 and is associated with Los Angeles and Jamaica, with Kingston, Jamaica, identified as its origin.

Line-up

The project starts with Diplo and Switch. Switch leaves in 2011, after which Jillionaire and Walshy Fire join. Jillionaire leaves in 2019 and Ape Drums takes his place. The group’s listed members also include America Foster.

Style and releases

Major Lazer works across electronic and dance-oriented styles, with music that combines reggae and dancehall with reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton. Its releases include the albums Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do, Free the Universe, Peace Is the Mission and Music Is the Weapon. The group also issues six EPs, among them Apocalypse Soon and Know No Better.

Collaborations and production

Apocalypse Soon includes vocal contributions from Pharrell Williams and Sean Paul. Know No Better features Camila Cabello, Quavo, Travis Scott and J Balvin. Major Lazer also produces Reincarnated, the debut reggae album by Snoop Dogg under the Snoop Lion name.

Recognition

In 2018, Billboard places Major Lazer at number five in its Dance 100 ranking of dance musicians.

Labels

The group releases music on Major Lazer, LLC and Secretly Canadian.