Gordo

Diamanté Anthony Blackmon, born on January 3, 1991, in Washington, D.C., first gained recognition in the music industry under the moniker Carnage. Raised by his mother and aunt in Guatemala before returning to the United States at age 10, Blackmon began his DJ career playing in small clubs in Frederick, Maryland, at 16. His professional debut as Carnage in 2012 saw him quickly establish himself in the EDM genre, performing at major music festivals such as Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival. During this period, he collaborated with DJs including Borgore, KSHMR, Timmy Trumpet, and Headhunterz. His 2014 single, “The Underground” with Alvaro, reached the 4th spot on Beatport’s Top 100 list. He later signed with Ultra Records, releasing singles like “Bricks” (with Migos) in 2014 and “Incredible” (with Borgore) and “Toca” (with Timmy Trumpet and KSHMR) in 2015.

His debut studio album, “Papi Gordo” (2015), peaked atop the Dance/Electronic Albums chart and entered the Billboard 200. The album featured hip-hop artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, Rick Ross, and Migos, and its single “I Like Tuh” (with ILoveMakonnen) achieved RIAA gold certification. In 2017, he released “Young Martha,” a collaborative EP with Young Thug, followed by his second album, “Battered Bruised & Bloody” (2018), which explored a trap sound and included the single “I Shyne” featuring Lil Pump. In February 2021, Blackmon rebranded under the alias Gordo, transitioning his musical style from trap and bass to house and techno. His first single as Gordo, “KTM,” was released in 2021, followed by “Taraka” in September 2021. He officially retired the Carnage name in May 2022 after 14 years. As Gordo, he has expanded into production for other artists, notably contributing to Drake’s albums “Honestly, Nevermind” (2022), producing “Sticky,” “Massive,” “Currents,” and “Calling My Name,” and “For All the Dogs” (2023), producing “Rich Baby Daddy” and “Gently.” He has held an artist-in-residence position at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas and performed at events like Art of the Wild and Electric Zoo. His hosted-event series, Taraka, has been featured in various locations across Europe and North America, showcasing underground artists and extended sets.