How a major EDM star abandoned his identity to master the underground
In short: For fourteen years, he was the high-energy persona known as Carnage. But in 2022, Diamanté Blackmon retired the stage name, trading trap and bass for the deeper rhythms of house and techno. This wasn''t just a rebrand; it was a complete sonic evolution.
Diamanté Anthony Blackmon’s journey through the electronic music landscape is marked by a significant shift in both persona and genre. Born in Washington, D.C., to Nicaraguan parents and raised in Guatemala, Blackmon began playing small clubs in Frederick, Maryland, at age 16. He first rose to prominence as Carnage, an artist synonymous with the high-octane EDM, trap, and bass sounds that dominated festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival in the early 2010s.
His tenure as Carnage was defined by heavy-hitting collaborations and chart activity. In 2014, his single 'The Underground' reached number 4 on Beatport’s Top 100. His 2015 debut album, Papi Gordo, hit the top of the Dance/Electronic Albums chart and reached number 184 on the Billboard 200. While he achieved RIAA gold certification with 'I Like Tuh,' his 2018 follow-up, Battered Bruised & Bloody, faced critical backlash for its heavy lean into hip hop.
The year 2022 marked a definitive pivot. Blackmon retired the Carnage moniker after 14 years, re-emerging as Gordo. This transition, which began with a rebrand at Miami's Club Space, signaled a move away from the aggressive trap sounds of his past toward the more nuanced subgenres of house and techno. This new era has seen him move behind the scenes as a prolific producer, contributing to major projects like Drake’s 2022 album Honestly, Nevermind and the 2023 album For All the Dogs, including the single 'Rich Baby Daddy.'
Today, as Gordo, Blackmon continues to curate musical experiences through his 'Taraka' event series across Europe and North America, focusing on underground artists and extended sets.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gordo (DJ)
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