Le1f

Le1f

Leif in 2013
Background information
Also known as Khalif Diouf
Born (1989-04-06) April 6, 1989
Manhattan, New York City
Genres Hip hop, avant-garde rap, electronic
Occupation(s) Musician, producer, rapper, performer
Years active 2008–present
Labels Camp & Street, Greedhead, Terrible, XL
Associated acts Das Racist, Spank Rock, Sophie, Junglepussy, Dai Burger, Nguzunguzu, The Drum, Boody, Shy Guy
Website le1f.com

Khalif Diouf, known by his stage name Le1f (/liːf/), is an American rapper and producer from New York City. He runs the hip hop label Camp & Street, a subsidiary of Greedhead Music. As a gay rapper he's garnered attention for his unique and subversive musical and performance styles.[1][2][3][4] Following a series of well-received mixtapes and EPs, his debut studio album Riot Boi was released in November 2015.

Biography

Born in Manhattan, New York, Diouf studied ballet and modern dance, attended the Concord Academy with the class of 2007 and earned his degree in dance from Wesleyan University before returning to the city to become a rapper.[5]

Career

Initially known for producing tracks for hip-hop group Das Racist, such as their popular debut single "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell",[6] he became known as a solo artist with the release of his debut mixtape Dark York,[7] released in April 2012. Its lead single, the 5kinAndBone5-produced "Wut" garnered attention as the standout track from the project and manifested into a music video in June 2012.[8][9]

In November 2012, Diouf was featured on the song "Fuckin the DJ" by Mykki Blanco (which he also co-produced with collaborator, Boody) from his Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape.[10] Later that month, Diouf released a joint EP with Boody, titled Liquid, which was followed by an accompanying video for the promotional single, "Soda".[11] His 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.[12]

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". Le1f, who is African-American and gay, 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.[1][13][14]

"Tree House is all these love songs over experimental trap beats. Every song on it is about love -- I want people to have sex to it."

—Diouf, on the theme of Tree House[15]

In September 2013, Diouf released his third full length mixtape Tree House and later accompanied it with a music video for the second single "Hush Bb".[16][17]

In February 2013, Terrible Records announced Diouf's record deal as well as his latest EP, a five-track project titled Hey, which was later released on March 11, 2014.[18] On March 13, 2014, Diouf made his debut appearance on national television with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman.[19] In November 2015, Diouf released his first 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, and Dev Hynes among others.

Le1f is connected to other QTPOC artists such as Junglepussy, Princess Nokia, and Dai Burger.

Discography

Studio Albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Filmography

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Wut" 2012 Sam B. Jones [20][21]
"Soda" (with Boody) [21]
"Spa Day" 2013 Jesse Miller-Gordon [22]
"Hush Bb" Alex Da Corte [23]
"Boom" 2014 Sam B. Jones [24]
"Sup" Jesse Miller-Gordon [25]
"Koi" 2015 Simon Ward [26]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Late Show with David Letterman Musical guest Season 21, Episode 115

References

  1. 1 2 Nichols, James Michael (August 29, 2013). "Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success". The Huffington Post.
  2. ↑ Natalie Hope McDonald (July 24, 2012). "America's Next Top Gay Rapper?". Philadelphia. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  3. ↑ Rich Juzwiak (July 23, 2012). "Rapper Le1f Is Very Good and Very Gay". Gawker. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  4. ↑ Ian S. Port (July 24, 2012). "The Unflinching, Bold (and Gay) Rapper Le1f Asks "Wut"". Artinfo. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Brandon Soderberg (December 12, 2012). "Le1f: New York Rap Deconstructionist Boasts Tricky Skills". Spin Magazine. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  7. ↑ Hari Ashurst (April 30, 2012). "Le1f: Dark York – Album Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  8. ↑ "Le1f - Wut (Official Video)". June 19, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ Larry Fitzmaurice (July 19, 2012). "Le1f: "Wut"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  10. ↑ "Download Mykki Blanco's Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape". FACT. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Miles Raymer (November 28, 2012). "Boody & LE1F Liquid EP". Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Fly Zone - Le1f". Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ Tharrett, Matthew (August 27, 2013). "That Time Macklemore Stole "Thrift Shop" From A Queer New York Rapper". Queerty.
  14. ↑ Higbee, Jonathan (August 27, 2013). "Queer Rapper Le1f Lashes Out At Macklemore, Claims "Thrift Shop" Is His Stolen Song". Instinct.
  15. ↑ "NYC Rapper Le1f Wants You to Have Sex to His Next Mixtape". Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  16. ↑ Claire Lobenfeld. "Download Le1f's Tree House Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ Tom Breihan. "Le1f - Hush Bb Video". Stereogum. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ Reggie Ugwu (July 19, 2012). "Le1f Signs to Terrible Records". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ Jacob Brown (March 7, 2014). "Le1f—New York’s Hottest Underground Rapper—Gets a Record Deal and Talks to Vogue About Macklemore and Letterman". Vogue. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Leif - Wut (Music Video)". Acclaim Magazine. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  21. 1 2 "VFILES: Le1f and Boody, 'Soda' (Video)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Video: Le1f, "Spa Day"". The Fader. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Le1f - Hush Bb - Art + Music - MOCAtv". YouTube. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  24. ↑ "New Video: Le1f 'Boom'". Vibe. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  25. ↑ Bobby Z (May 14, 2014). "Le1f says "Sup"". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Le1f Teams With Sophie for Crazy "Koi" Video". August 28, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
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