LEON

With nearly 10,000 plays on Soundcloud and over 2,000 views on YouTube, it’s safe to say that Leon (born Samuel Leon Martin) is on his way up. Although youth is sometimes wasted on the young, at just 21, Leon is the type of artist who never misses a learning opportunity, never backs down from a challenge and never says never. He attributes his passion and his unwavering ambition to two things—his first love, music, and his life growing up in the “slums” of South Memphis, for which his first single is titled. Leon inherited his gift for music from his father, an accomplished organist and composer, and his mother, a seasoned vocalist and all-around musician.

But for Leon, it all began on the drums. From there, his trek with music led to the launch of his career as a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. His disposition is relaxed and humble, but his sound is bold and pronounced, and it’s not to be taken at face value. The way he sings and raps is a component of his sound that pre-dates him, done before by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot and Andre 3000. Although Leon was born and raised in Memphis, he says his sound is heavily influenced by West Coast rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Ty Dolla $ign.

“Ty Dolla $ign’s Sign Language and Kevin Gates’ The Luca Brasi Story are two mixtapes that inspired me the first time I ever played them,” Leon said. “When I first listened to Sign Language in the summer of 2014, I felt like he had a style I could see myself doing. I didn’t want to copy either of them, but I could see myself going in the same direction.” Although Leon is often inspired, he says he is very adamant about sticking to the sound he’s created for himself—off the beaten path. “I don’t rap, I vibe,” he said. “So, if I had my own genre, if I had to create a category for my music, I would call it vibe music. Some people smoke, drink or pop pills to get away from the world around them. Music is one of the things that gets me away. When I put on a beat, I vibe. If I had a bad day, I might talk about my bad day on the track. If I had a turnt up day, I might talk about my turnt up day.”

The impression Sign Language left on Leon is undeniable, because exactly one year later, he was in the studio recording “Slum,” his very first recording, released on Soundcloud in August 2015. “Slum” is more than just Leon’s re-telling of his humble beginnings in South Memphis. Leon says his struggle also had a significant impact on his sound. “It wasn’t the best place,” Leon said about the apartment complex he grew up in. “I lived right in the front, and people would throw their trash in the trees right across the street, or even in the street. That’s where I saw my first dead body.” It’s a true testament to where he’s been and the work ethic he picked up along the way—the kind that makes the impossible, possible.

“Slum” is where Leon’s experience with music and his intuitive gift for storytelling collide. When he raps about an “ordinary day on the green box,” the images are vivid, as he has a way with details, big or small. Though the song chronicles the not-so-good times in his life, the good times make cameos of their own. Especially in the “Slum” video, released January 27 via YouTube. Since “Slum,” Leon has released several other songs via Soundcloud, including “Kush in My Lungs,” in which he both picks his poison and declares his affinity for top-notch marijuana.

At just 21, Leon is self-assured beyond his years, confident in his work and why he’s doing what he’s doing. Stardom has its perks, but it’s not what’s most important to him, neither is it his end-game. “I want to take my music career as far as I can take it,” Leon said. “But I also believe in God, and I know He has a purpose for me.” He’s more concerned with his family. In fact, he doesn’t mind running down a list of his siblings at the drop of a dime, and when he mentions his 4-year-old son, Mason, he beams. He’s never shy about crediting God, his family and the life he’s lived for his tunneled focus and his zeal for his music. “Whatever gifts God bestow upon me, I’m going to use them,” Leon said.