Le1f Explained

Le1f
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Birth Date:April 6, 1989
Birth Name:Khalif Libasse Diouf[1]
Years Active:2008–present

Khalif Libasse Diouf, known by the stage name Kalifa (born April 6, 1989), formerly known by the stage name Le1f,[2] is an American rapper and producer. Diouf also founded the record label Camp & Street, with Boody, DonChristian, and Chaz Requina. Diouf garnered attention for unique musical and performance styles, as well as his role as an openly gay rapper.[3] [4] [5] [6] Following a series of well-received mixtapes and EPs, Diouf's debut studio album, Riot Boi, was released in November 2015.

Biography

Born in Manhattan, Diouf studied ballet and modern dance, attended the Concord Academy with the class of 2007 and earned a degree in dance from Wesleyan University before returning to the city to become a rapper.[7]

Career

Initially known for producing tracks for Brooklyn-based alternative hip-hop group Das Racist, such as their popular debut single "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell",[8] Diouf became known as a solo artist with the release of debut mixtape Dark York,[9] released in April 2012. Its second single, the 5kinAndBone5-produced "Wut" garnered attention as the standout track from the project and manifested into a music video in June 2012.[10] [11]

In November 2012, Le1f was featured on the song "Fuckin the DJ" by Mykki Blanco (which was co-produced with Diouf collaborator, Boody) from their mixtape.[12] Later that month, Le1f released a joint EP with Boody, titled Liquid, which was followed by an accompanying video for the promotional single, "Soda".[13] Diouf's second mixtape Fly Zone was released to generally favorable reviews in January 2013 and later spawned a video for the successful "Spa Day". The mixtape featured guest appearances from artists such as Heems, DonChristian and Kitty.[14]

In August 2013, Le1f publicly criticised the rapper Macklemore for the latter's song "Thrift Shop", claiming that it borrowed its beat extensively from Le1f's own earlier song, "Wut", and proceeded to criticise Macklemore for another of his songs, "Same Love", claiming that it was not appropriate for a heterosexual to exploit an LGBT rights issue for financial gain.[3] [15] [16]

In September 2013, Diouf released a third full-length mixtape Tree House and later accompanied it with a music video for the second single "Hush Bb" directed by conceptual artist Alex Da Corte.[17] [18]

In February 2013, Terrible Records announced Diouf's record deal as well as an EP, a five-track project titled Hey, which was later released on March 11, 2014.[19] On March 13, 2014, Diouf made an appearance on national television with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman.[20]

In November 2015, Diouf released a full-length studio album on XL and Terrible Records. The album features contributions and production work from artists such as Evian Christ, Junglepussy, Balam Acab, Lunice, Boody, Sophie, Dev Hynes, and Dubbel Dutch, among others. In 2017, Le1f was part of the line up for the 17th edition of the Sonic Acts Festival in Amsterdam, which explored The Noise of Being. Diouf has also performed several times at Sonic Acts club night called Progress Bar.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Filmography

Music videos

Title!scope="col"
YearDirector(s)Ref.
"Wut"2012Sam B. Jones[23] [24]
"Soda" (with Boody)
"Spa Day"2013Jesse Miller-Gordon[25]
"Hush Bb"Alex Da Corte[26]
"Boom"2014Sam B. Jones[27]
"Sup"Jesse Miller-Gordon[28]
"Koi"2015Simon Ward[29]
"Umami / Water"2017Le1f[30]

Television

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AIR MAX . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . April 29, 2023.
  2. Web site: mobile.twitter.com/kalifa/status/1420146767958614026 . January 11, 2023 . Twitter . en.
  3. Web site: Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success . HuffPost . Nichols, James Michael . August 29, 2013 .
  4. Web site: America's Next Top Gay Rapper?. Natalie Hope McDonald. July 24, 2012. Philadelphia. March 21, 2012.
  5. Web site: Rapper Le1f Is Very Good and Very Gay . Rich Juzwiak . July 23, 2012 . . March 21, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120725182600/http://gawker.com/5928307/rapper-le1f-is-very-good-and-very-gay . July 25, 2012 .
  6. Web site: The Unflinching, Bold (and Gay) Rapper Le1f Asks "Wut". Ian S. Port. July 24, 2012. Artinfo. March 21, 2012.
  7. Web site: The Windish Agency: Le1f . March 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140627045208/http://www.windishagency.com/artists/le1f . June 27, 2014 . dead .
  8. Web site: Le1f: New York Rap Deconstructionist Boasts Tricky Skills. Brandon Soderberg. December 12, 2012. Spin. March 21, 2012.
  9. Web site: Le1f: Dark York – Album Review. Hari Ashurst. April 30, 2012. Pitchfork Media. March 21, 2012.
  10. Web site: Le1f - Wut (Official Video). YouTube . June 19, 2012. March 20, 2014.
  11. Web site: Le1f: "Wut". Larry Fitzmaurice. July 19, 2012. Pitchfork Media. March 21, 2012.
  12. Web site: Download Mykki Blanco's Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape. FACT. May 6, 2013. November 9, 2012.
  13. Web site: Boody & LE1F Liquid EP. November 28, 2012. March 20, 2014. Miles Raymer. .
  14. Web site: Fly Zone - Le1f. . March 20, 2014.
  15. Web site: That Time Macklemore Stole 'Thrift Shop' From A Queer New York Rapper . Tharrett, Matthew . August 27, 2013 . Queerty .
  16. Web site: Queer Rapper Le1f Lashes Out At Macklemore, Claims "Thrift Shop" Is His Stolen Song . Higbee, Jonathan . August 27, 2013 . Instinct . July 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131520/http://instinctmagazine.com/post/queer-rapper-le1f-lashes-out-macklemore-claims-thrift-shop-his-stolen-song . March 4, 2016 . dead .
  17. Web site: Download Le1f's Tree House Mixtape. Claire Lobenfeld. February 21, 2014. Stereogum. September 18, 2013.
  18. Web site: Le1f - Hush Bb Video. Tom Breihan. February 21, 2014. Stereogum. October 10, 2013.
  19. Le1f Signs to Terrible Records. July 19, 2012. Billboard. Reggie Ugwu. February 21, 2014.
  20. Web site: Le1f—New York's Hottest Underground Rapper—Gets a Record Deal and Talks to Vogue About Macklemore and Letterman. Jacob Brown. March 7, 2014. Vogue. March 13, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313004908/http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/le1f-gets-record-deal-talks-macklemore-and-letterman/#1. March 13, 2014.
  21. Web site: Le1f's Surprise New EP 'Blue Dream' Is Like a Contact High. Kristin Corry. April 20, 2018. April 20, 2018.
  22. Web site: How Appropriate That Le1f Surprise Drops 'Blue Dream' EP on 4/20. Michael Love Michael. April 20, 2018. April 20, 2018.
  23. Web site: Leif - Wut (Music Video). July 20, 2012. August 25, 2013. Acclaim Magazine..
  24. Web site: VFILES: Le1f and Boody, 'Soda' (Video). November 20, 2012. August 25, 2013. HuffPost..
  25. Web site: Video: Le1f, "Spa Day". August 25, 2013. The Fader..
  26. Web site: Le1f - Hush Bb - Art + Music - MOCAtv. October 10, 2013. YouTube.
  27. Web site: New Video: Le1f 'Boom'. March 20, 2014. Vibe.
  28. Web site: Le1f says "Sup". Bobby Z. May 14, 2014. May 20, 2014.
  29. Web site: Le1f Teams With Sophie for Crazy "Koi" Video. . August 28, 2015. August 28, 2015.
  30. Web site: Video: Le1f – "Umami / Water". Brian Josephs. February 17, 2017. April 20, 2018.

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