From left to right: Ape Drums, Walshy Fire, America Foster, and Diplo.
Photo by Julian Burgueño
To mark the release of Gyalgerba, Major Lazer is hosting a Miami Art Week block party on December 4 at Coyo Taco in Wynwood, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica. The event will feature a Major Lazer Soundsystem set, plus appearances from Miami staple DJ Chipman and longtime dancehall figure Silent Addy. Rather than opting for a typical release party, the group turned the moment into a fundraiser, directing ticket and merch revenue toward American Friends of Jamaica and disaster-response organization CORE.
In a recent interview with New Times, the collective celebrated the addition of a fourth member, British-Jamaican singer America Foster, who is at the forefront of the new mixtape, Gyalgerba. “Diplo came across me on social media,” she says. “He saw my energy and all the crazy stuff, but also the talent. I sent him demos, he saw my freestyles. Then I came to the studio, and we made about five tracks last year, including ‘Bruk Down.’ By February 2025, I was confirmed as the fourth member. Diplo would tell the story better, but yeah, energy and talent.”
Major Lazer’s sound — and this particular album — has strong Dancehall DNA. The influence of Caribbean culture has been one of the signature marks in the group’s sound and one of the reasons that make it so unique. When New Times talked to Walshy Fire earlier this month, he made clear the group’s love for the Caribbean island nation: “We always want to represent Jamaica to the world,” Walshy Fire says. “It’s everyone’s favorite music, whether they realize it or not. Jamaica’s strong. It’ll rebuild.”
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So it doesn’t come as a surprise that Major Lazer would take this opportunity on the world stage during Miami Art Week to leverage their influence to help Jamaica. Diplo recently visited Treasure Beach alongside volunteers from CORE and the BREDS Foundation, helping distribute food and water and witnessing the damage firsthand. “Jamaica has been at the heart of everything for me,” he said in a press release sent to New Times. “It’s shaped who I am and how I see the world. Even after so much loss, that same energy still shines. Entire communities are rebuilding from nothing, and they need our help.”
Coyo Taco Major Lazer Mixtape Release Party. With Major Lazer Soundsystem, DJ Chipman, and Silent Addy. 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, through 2 a.m. Thursday, December 5, at Coyo Taco, 2300 NW Second Ave; coyo-taco.com. General admission is free with RSVP; additional tickets are sold at the door.