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Sean Leon

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Sean Leon
Photo by Hansel Alonzo
Photo by Hansel Alonzo
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Sean Leon
Also known asMaui Slim[1]
Born (1991-01-30) January 30, 1991 (age 33)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
GenresRap, Rock[2]
Occupation(s)Artist, songwriter, producer
Years active2013–present
LabelsUnsigned
Websiteblacksheepnirvana.com

Matthew Sean Leon (born January 30, 1991), better known under the stage name Sean Leon, is a Canadian recording artist and record producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is the founder of the IXXI Initiative, formed in 2012 in Toronto. In July 2013, Sean released his debut mixtape Ninelevenne, the Tragedy followed by his second project Narcissus, the Drowning of Ego on January 22, 2014.[3][4][5]

Shortly after the release of Narcissus, Sean began the year-long roll out of the compilation King Of The Wild Things. That same spring of 2014 he introduced us to and began campaigning for the highly anticipated Black Sheep Nirvana.

Music career

Sean Leon formed the IXXI Initiative based in Toronto, Ontario. His first mixtape, Ninelevenne, the Tragedy, was released on July 23, 2013. On January 22, 2014, Sean released his second piece of work, Narcissus, the Drowning of Ego. Both projects feature production by Jordan Evans, who was a part of the production team for Drake's Pound Cake featuring Jay Z on Drake's third studio album, Nothing Was the Same. [6]

On May 25, 2015, Sean returned to the spotlight with the release of the WondaGurl-produced "This Ain't 2012", featuring River Tiber. When asked about the title of the song, Sean explained "It's the year before I started taking music seriously—in truth, I can't remember life before 2013 unless I'm high or drunk or emotional."[7] A month later, Sean released "81", named after Kobe Bryant's 81 point game against the Toronto Raptors.[8] Produced by Eestbound, "81" was dubbed HipHopCanada's "Song of the Day" stating "Sean Leon (aka Maui Slim) is without a doubt one of the hottest artists coming out of Canada right now".[9]

After a 4-month hiatus, Sean continued the hype surrounding Black Sheep Nirvana with a trio of freestyles over borrowed beats from The Weeknd, Drake and CMDWN.[10] "Wriss Freestyle", "1% (Go Off) Freestyle" and "Tell Your Fri(ends) Freestyle" were all released for free via Sean's SoundCloud and Apple Music Connect pages.

In celebration of the NBA All-Star Weekend, Sean teamed up with Green Label, a Mountain Dew venture, and fellow Toronto artists Jazz Cartier and WondaGurl for "Above the Rim".[11] "We did it in one night and it was dope," Leon said of the collaboration, sharing that his verse was a freestyle. "I work with WondaGurl all the time, and she's one of the few people I know that is actually super gifted, so I love working with her".[12]

Following his appearance on Daniel Caesar's Pilgrim's Paradise EP, Leon shared a new three-title release "Europe Freestyle/I Made It/Debt & Vendettas" produced by Sean Leon and co-produced by Yogidaproducer (Yojo). The single finds Leon "floating along on a rippled beat" while he "braces for the impending change in his rap career's bright future".[13] A month later, Sean released two more WondaGurl-produced singles off Black Sheep Nirvana with "Deep End" and "Guard/God Up".[14]

In April 2016, Sean released the self-produced "Matthew in the Middle" featuring IXXI compatriot Daniel Caesar with collaborative production efforts from Jovi, Jordan Evans and Jack Rochon. "The array of talent IXXI founder Sean Leon displays on every new release is mind-blowing. You can only define him as a pure artist" Boi-1da.net remarked, calling the single a "beautiful record".[15] Complex described the record as a "reflective masterpiece" noting "it's absurd that Sean Leon was left off of Pitchfork's list of "essential" post-Drake tracks, because half of the rappers in the city are currently imitating what he was doing last summer".[16]

On April 20, 2016, Sean released the Black Sheep Nirvana single "Killin' Mind".[17] Produced by WondaGurl, MADEAT2AM, Jack Rochon and Sean Leon himself, the single was well received and featured on Apple Music's "Northern Touch", "Hot Up in the 6ix", "New Artists: Hip-Hop" and "Found Sounds: Hip-Hop" playlists created by Apple Music Hip-Hop curators. A month later, Sean released "Maui Slim II", a follow up to "Maui Slim" off Ninelevenne, The Tragedy. "Maui Slim II" had Sean sounding "as hungry as ever"[18] with production by Jordan Evans, Mike DZL, Jovi and Jack Rochon, featuring background vocals from Rachel Piscione and violin from Aaron Cheung.[19]

Following the Toronto Raptors' victory over the Miami Heat to advance to the NBA Eastern Conference finals, Leon released a nod to his hometown's winning team with "Game 7 Flow / Court Tomorrow" produced by DPAT.[20]

Discography

Albums & Mixtapes

Singles

References

  1. ^ "Sean Leon Is A Self-Professed "Black Punk Rap Rock Motherfucker"". Vice. March 13, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  2. ^ Brown, Breagh (April 1, 2014). "Watch Sean Leon Wild Out as a "Black Punk Motherfxcker"". Vice. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  3. ^ Davies, Justin (February 6, 2014). "Check Out Sean Leon's Trippy New Mixtape "Narcissus, The Drowning of Ego"". Complex. New York: Complex Media. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Paolini, Natasha (July 26, 2013). "Sean Leon – Ninelevenne, The Tragedy [Mixtape]". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. ^ "Sean Leon – Tania's Song (prod. Jordan Evans & J'vell Boyce)". 2dopeboyz.com. Illy. November 30, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  6. ^ Khan, Haleema (January 26, 2014). "Toronto's Sean Leon Debuts "Narcissus, The Drowning of Ego"". The Source. The Source. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "Sean Leon Recruits Wondagurl and River Tiber for "This Ain't 2012" | NOISEY". NOISEY. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Sean Leon - "81"". 2DOPEBOYZ. June 26, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  9. ^ "Sean Leon Of Ixxi's Kobe Bryant-influenced Single, "81" Is Our Song Of The Day". HipHopCanada.com. June 25, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  10. ^ "Sean Leon has dropped 3 new tracks..."Wriss Freestyle", "1% (Go Off) & "Tell Your Fri(ends)"". thisiswalder.com. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Sean Leon And Jazz Cartier Go Dumb On The WondaGurl-Produced 'Above The Rim'". UPROXX. February 15, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  12. ^ ""I'm At The Point Where I Would Welcome a Diss Track from Anybody." Sean Leon Is Ready to Be Rap's New King | Green Label". Green Label. February 13, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Sean Leon Shares "Europe Freestyle/I Made It/Debt & Vendettas"". The FADER. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  14. ^ "Sean Leon Hits Us With Two New WondaGurl Produced Tracks – Boi-1da.net". Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "Sean Leon Gets Reflective On "Matthew In The Middle" With Daniel Caesar – Boi-1da.net". Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  16. ^ "Northern Touch: The Best Canadian Songs Of April - Sean Leon, "Matthew In The Middle" f/ Daniel Caesar". Complex CA. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "Sean Leon – Killin' Mind | Nah Right". Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  18. ^ "Sean Leon – Maui Slim II – The6Track". the6track.com. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  19. ^ "Sean Leon 'Game 7 Flow/Court Tomorrow' / 'Maui Slim II'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  20. ^ "Sean Leon 'Game 7 Flow/Court Tomorrow' / 'Maui Slim II'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
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