Sean Leon Explained

Sean Leon
Birth Name:Matthew Sean Leon
Alias:Maui Slim[1]
Birth Date:30 January 1991
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Years Active:2013–present
Label:IXXI Initiative

Matthew Sean Leon (born January 30, 1991) is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is the founder of the IXXI Initiative, formed in 2012 in Toronto. The collective helped foster the career of Daniel Caesar in tandem with producers Jordan Evans & Matthew Burnett.[2] [3] [4]

Career

In July 2013, Leon released his debut mixtape Ninelevenne, the Tragedy followed by his second project Narcissus, the Drowning of Ego on January 22, 2014.[5] [6] [7] Both projects featured production by Jordan Evans.[8] Shortly after the release of Narcissus, Leon began the year-long roll out of the compilation King Of The Wild Things. followed with I Think You've Gone Mad (Or the Sins of the Father) in 2017. On November 29, 2017, Leon released an audio-film titled "C.C.W.M.T.T". 2018 had the release of the album Sean Leon (The Death Of)[9] and in 2021 God's Algorithm which had a non-traditional album release, with no streaming service involved, and only available for purchase on a beta landing page where users interacted through visuals, audio files, NFTs, and apparel.[10] In 2023 he released the soundtrack album In Loving Memory[11] prior to the film's debut.

Following his appearance on Daniel Caesar's Pilgrim's Paradise EP, in April 2016, Leon released the self-produced "Matthew in the Middle" featuring Caesar with production from Jovi, Jordan Evans and Jack Rochon, it was featured on the soundtrack for HBO's Insecure. Leon & Caesar's collaborations continued on the GRAMMY-nominated album Freudian & the following release Case Study 01. Leon also has released several WondaGurl-produced songs as well as working with fellow Toronto artists like River Tiber and Jazz Cartier.[12] [13]

In 2019, Leon had a demo titled "The Glade" under his own artist project. While working on Daniel Caesar's Case Study 01 in Los Angeles, fellow collaborator River Tiber recommended sharing the demo with Ye at one of West's Sunday Service performances. This led to Leon writing parts of "Selah", "Jesus Is Lord", the chorus on "Use This Gospel" and contributing to the track sequencing for West's 9th studio album Jesus Is King. The Glade became "Up from the Ashes" and was released on the deluxe edition release of West's album Donda, garnering him a co-writing and production credit on the track. He also was credited on Justin Bieber's song "Peaches". Leon has also been a guest writer for the TV series Utopia Falls.

He co-wrote the opening track "Stars" from ¥$ (Ye and Ty Dolla Sign) album Vultures 1, released on 10 February 2024.

In Loving Memory was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[14]

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Mixtapes

Extended Plays

Features

2015

2017

2019

2020

Songwriting

2019

2021

2024

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sean Leon Is A Self-Professed 'Black Punk Rap Rock Motherfucker'. Vice. March 13, 2014. November 22, 2017.
  2. Web site: Sean Leon is the shapeshifting Toronto artist you need to watch.
  3. Web site: Daniel Caesar's Reign of Freedom. October 2, 2014 .
  4. Web site: From sleeping in Trinity Bellwoods to the Grammys, the rise of R&B artist Daniel Caesar. December 15, 2017.
  5. Check Out Sean Leon's Trippy New Mixtape "Narcissus, The Drowning of Ego". Complex. Complex Media. New York. February 6, 2014. Justin. Davies.
  6. Web site: Sean Leon – Ninelevenne, The Tragedy [Mixtape]]. July 26, 2013. August 24, 2017. Natasha. Paolini.
  7. Web site: Sean Leon – Tania's Song (prod. Jordan Evans & J'vell Boyce). 2dopeboyz.com. Illy. November 30, 2013. April 25, 2014.
  8. Toronto's Sean Leon Debuts "Narcissus, The Drowning of Ego". The Source. The Source. January 26, 2014. Haleema. Khan.
  9. Web site: Ceres . Celeste Daniella . Sean Leon pensively reflects on successes, failures and vices on 'Sean Leon (The Death Of)' . Earmilk . 16 December 2021 . September 14, 2018.
  10. Rouhani . Neena . Shape-Shifting Rapper Sean Leon Talks Indie Success Beyond Play Counts: 'I'd Love to Take Those Numbers Away' . Billboard . 16 December 2021 . May 27, 2021.
  11. Horvath . Zachary . Sean Leon Releases An Emotional But Beautiful Tribute Album To His Late Brother With In Loving Memory . HotNewHipHop . 1 December 2023 . December 1, 2023.
  12. Web site: Sean Leon Recruits Wondagurl and River Tiber for "This Ain't 2012" NOISEY. NOISEY. May 25, 2015 . August 24, 2017.
  13. Web site: Sean Leon And Jazz Cartier Go Dumb On The WondaGurl-Produced 'Above The Rim' . . en-GB . February 15, 2016 . August 24, 2017.
  14. https://www.cbc.ca/music/polaris-music-prize-2024-long-list-the-beaches-charlotte-cardin-allison-russell-1.7230166 "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more"