Leon Thomas

Leon Thomas Biography by Andy Kellman Electric Dusk Leon Thomas makes narcotizing progressive R&B as a solo artist, and is an all-around collaborator with a Grammy to show for it. The soulful singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist got his start as a young actor on Broadway and in Hollywood. His role on Nickelodeon's Victorious gave rise to his first commercial recordings and songwriting credits on the chart-topping album debut by co-star Ariana Grande. Three mixtapes and an EP issued through Rostrum Records from 2012 through 2018 established Thomas as a solo artist while he clocked studio time with the likes of Toni Braxton and Babyface, Kehlani, and Post Malone. He earned a Grammy nomination as co-writer of Rick Ross' "Gold Roses," and subsequently won the Best R&B Song award for SZA's number two pop hit "Snooze," by the time he delivered Electric Dusk (2023) and the more carnal and rock-influenced MUTT (2024). Both albums were released by Ty Dolla $ign's EZMNY label. Yours Truly The son of Black Rock Coalition members, the Brooklyn-born Thomas landed his first major role at the age of ten as Young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Three years later, he began a lengthy association with Nickelodeon. The network featured him in series such as The Backyardigans, iCarly and, most prominently, Victorious. Thomas co-wrote and performed on Victorious soundtrack releases, and in 2012 released his first mixtape, Metro Hearts, on Rostrum. He made a greater musical breakthrough in 2013 as a key collaborator on Yours Truly, the platinum debut album by fellow co-star Ariana Grande. As part of a songwriting and production duo dubbed the Rascals, Thomas contributed to four songs with R&B heavyweights Babyface and Antonio Dixon. This led to a credit on Toni Braxton and Babyface's Love, Marriage & Divorce, a Grammy-winning album that arrived just a month after Rostrum had issued Thomas' second mixtape, V1bes. Genesis All the while, Thomas continued acting work and eventually hit studios with the likes of Zendaya, Post Malone, Kehlani. The 2016 mixtape Before the Beginning was followed by the more fleshed-out 2018 EP Genesis. Between those two projects, he landed a recurring role on Insecure. In 2021, Thomas worked as a songwriter and producer for several tracks on Drake's global chart-topper Certified Lover Boy. He signed with Ty Dolla $ign’s Motown subsidiary EZMNY Records in 2022 -- the year he co-wrote SZA's Grammy-winning ballad "Snooze" -- and offered up the Benny the Butcher-assisted single "X-Rated," followed by "Love Jones" featuring Ty. After two more singles, "Breaking Point" and "Crash and Burn," Thomas released his full-length debut, Electric Dusk, in August 2023. Contributions to albums ranging from Yussef Dayes' Black Classical Music to Kanye West and Ty's Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 preceded the September 2024 arrival of Thomas' second LP, MUTT. In addition to the slippery funk of the title song -- a remix added a verse from Freddie Gibbs -- the album contained another collaboration with Ty, as well as appearances from Baby Rose, Wale, and Masego. The album cracked the Billboard 200, and "Mutt" became Thomas' first Hot 100 single as a headliner, peaking at number 59.