Diplo - Random White Dude Be Everywhere

By Rathan Paul Harshavardan

Released Friday August 22nd, 2014 - Warner Music

Few will agree with me when I say that Thomas Wesley Pentz akaDiplo's Random White Dude Be Everywhere - a collection of a few originals, collaborations and re-releases - is the best he has put out in a while. Laying a bridge between EDM and rap was hard enough for this underground DJ, rapper and producer from California to stand out from popular EDM artists and DJs, nonetheless the album is a reminder of Diplo's sustainable strength as he continues to hold the bridge that unites the EDM and rap genres.

Released as a product of Mad Decent Records, Diplo who founded the label and put out this album has got a lot of reasons to dance his way to success. The 12 songs on the album can make Diplo's sound come off as being too commonplace, but if that sound is not in your alley, then it is likely that you will find the album quite repetitive. Luckily for Diplo, rave and trap are flavours of EDM that most fans enjoy now-a-days, making his effort worth your time in the club.

Diplo's rap laced EDM album starts with Revolution feat. Imanos & Faustix & Kai, the perfect track to define Diplo to the unaware listener. Revolution feels like a Sia collab, but is a killer opening track by Kai. A collaboration of international standards, Revolution features Danish house producer Faustix, fellow LA based Mad Decent artist Imanos and the soaring vocals of Kai from Canada. Diplo outdid himself on this track, and it is not hard to see why this track was chosen to open this club banger.

A re-release following the likes of Express Yourself and Biggie Bounce, Revolution released in the past year and a half came out as the lead cut of an EP in 2013. Remixed versions of the three major releases add to the 12-song album, and they're best left out because all they do is sound like edits made to the earlier rough cuts, albeit in a good way. 6th Gear feat. Kstylis by Diplo and Alvaro, the second track on the album is a track so good, it'd be hard not to twerk to the track that is a must hear. Techno feat. Waka Flocka Flame is a collaboration that highlights the results of a match made in heaven. Waka Flocka, a living legend, if I may say so, drops his bars on this collaboration like it is nobody's business but his. What makes Techno so good is its production. The track characterised by thumping African beats meet the hard stlyed electro-rap notes produced by Dutch producers Yellow Claw and LNY TNZ. Waka has figured out the formula, making his understanding of the genre a little better than Too Turnt Up, his previous collaboration.

It is not hard to see where Diplo has found his inspiration. The rapper's work synonymous with Timbalandand Afrojack, creates a perfect middle ground for both the rap and dance genres to co-exist in 2014. Point in case, is Boy Oh Boy, a track fashioned in 2012 after Missy Elliot's samples were inteligently mixed withRihanna's 2013 European Tour Openers. The final track is a the perfect example of said middle ground, adding that extra oomph that makes Diplo different from the rest.

Biggie Bounce reduces the vocal components of the track to a concoction of zombie like sounds, layered with basslines and melodies. The track is no different from the other EDM tracks played in clubs now-a-days, but the production and looping of the word Biggie Bounce for over four minutes gives you the same impact as would a 30 second ringtone. Trap rap is the new "in" thing and Diplo silently puts his signatiure on both the originals and remixed versions of the tracks.

Known for being one of America's DJs with a difference, Diplo is poised to make some really big moves this year. As a rapper and producer, Diplo understands both facets of the recording, industry incorporating these elements in the album itself. Trap and EDM have had successful collaborations in the past and will continue to do so with Diplo proving that he is really good at it at least for the present. While he's a fantastic producer of dance records, there is no denying that switching genres is the latest trick, the Cirque du Soleil show our music industry is putting up. Bizarre happenings, but as much as I hate to admit it Diplo's RWDBE grew on me as I listened to it on repeat for the past week. Pick it up if you belong to the club scene. You do not want to be the only uncool kid on the block, when everyone else is rocking or twerking it out to Diplo's latest

3.5 / 5