When Diplo and Skrillex formed Jack Ü in 2013, it was huge, with “Where Are Ü Now” featuring Justin Bieber amassing over a billion streams and winning a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. But what began as an era-defining partnership ended after a single album, leaving behind a question that still lingers: why do even the most successful collaborations fracture?
Creative Intensity
In interviews since, Diplo has hinted at the tension that fueled — and eventually fractured — Jack Ü. Behind the scenes, both artists were pushing boundaries at the peak of a genre that was itself mutating. The EDM boom of the early 2010s was reaching oversaturation. Fans demanded innovation, and both Diplo and Skrillex delivered — but at a personal cost.
Diplo has hinted over the years that the project ended because of how intense it became. Both artists were at the peak of their careers, constantly pushing new sounds and ideas.
On a recent Twitch stream with Kaysan, Diplo brought it up again, joking, “Go find Skrillex and tell him to forgive me for my sins.” It was funny on the surface, but also a rare admission that the fallout still weighs on him. Even years later, he’s clearly open to rebuilding that connection — something fans have been hoping for since Jack Ü went quiet.
The Silent Era of Skrillex
Since then, the two have gone down very different paths. Diplo stayed in constant motion, releasing everything from pop hits to country experiments and underground club records. Skrillex, on the other hand, stepped back from the spotlight. His comeback in 2023 with two albums — and collaborations with Fred again.. and Four Tet — marked a deeper, more emotional version of his sound.
It’s almost like they’re on opposite ends of the creative spectrum now: Diplo chasing momentum, Skrillex chasing meaning.
Final Thoughts…
Collaborations today aren’t always built to last — it’s about capturing a moment.