Baauer

Emerging from Brooklyn’s electronic underground, producer Baauer crafts tracks rooted in trap and bass alongside future house. His mainstream breakthrough arrived with the 2012 trap anthem “Harlem Shake,” which entered the Billboard charts at number one and triggered a viral meme launched by George Miller (aka Joji/Pink Guy). While he sometimes issues full-length projects such as his debut album Aa, Baauer concentrates primarily on individual singles and joint efforts, among them the 2016 release “Temple” alongside M.I.A. and G-Dragon as well as 2018’s “18” with Kris Wu, Rich Brian, Trippie Redd, and Joji. His second studio album, Planet’s Mad, surfaced in 2020. More recently he has edged toward house music on cuts including 2024’s “All My Ladies.”

An enthusiastic bedroom producer from the age of 13, Harry Rodrigues adopted the alias Baauer to present his material, which fused crunk hip-hop rhythms, dance tempos, and inventive samples drawn from video-sharing platforms. He issued his first official release in early 2012 when the bass-heavy party cut “Dum Dum” appeared on the LuckyMe label as a one-sided, laser-etched 12". Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint subsequently signed him and put out “Harlem Shake” on its Jeffree’s sub-label that May. Initially the track circulated among EDM and electro-trap listeners, yet by early 2013 it surged into the mainstream after George Miller ignited an online meme featuring user-uploaded clips of people dancing to the song. Football squads, firefighters, college students in Power Rangers costumes, and even SeaWorld animals joined the movement, driving view counts from thousands into the millions. Baauer profited from YouTube’s newly introduced “Content ID” system, which credited the producer and label with advertising revenue whenever the track was used. Late that February, as Baauer revealed plans for his debut Mad Decent EP and a partnership with hip-hop producer Just Blaze, Billboard revised its chart methodology to incorporate YouTube streaming alongside sales and radio airplay. “Harlem Shake” reached the top spot the following week and later received Dance Song of the Year and EDM Song of the Year honors at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. “Higher,” featuring Just Blaze, arrived that August.

Baauer followed with the ß EP, a joint project with AlunaGeorge and Rae Sremmurd, in 2014 and the single “GoGo!” in 2015. The latter also featured on his 2016 debut album Aa, issued via the LuckyMe label and boasting appearances by Future, Pusha T, M.I.A., Rustie, and Novelist. In subsequent years he concentrated on standalone singles, releasing a series of tracks through 2018. He resumed long-form work in 2020 with the sophomore LP Planet’s Mad; an expanded edition titled Planet’s Mad (Globe’s Crazy) arrived later that year, adding further tracks and remixes.

“Ddokbokki” (with Omega Sapien) and the drum’n’bass cut “Fallaway” (with RL Grime) emerged in 2021. The upbeat house number “Love in the Music” also appeared, and Baauer sustained that trajectory on 2022’s “Let Me Love U” and “No Delay.” Teaming with producer Party Favor as Dylan & Harry, he released the EP DnH in 2023. Baauer additionally dropped “<3<3<3” and “Can I Say,” then “All My Ladies” in 2024.