Leyone Tracks

Leyone Tracks is a hip-hop artist multi-disciplined in the arts of rapping, music production and audio engineering. Leyone began producing music at the young age of 12 after his cousin gave him a copy of Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) beat making software. Leyone is the product of an artistically adept household consisting of a thespian father and younger brother, a mother who works in the television industry, and his older brother who both animates and raps. Gradually, as he learned more about music production, Leyone began to record vocals for himself and his brother which would become the base of his audio engineering experience. By 15 years old, Leyone began to hone his craft and seek the attention of collaborators. Since he lived in a suburb outside of Chicago with an inconsequential music scene, he knew the internet would be a pivotal tool in grasping the attention and aid of the music industry at large. Leyone made his first internet debut on MySpace and Soundclick contacting prospective collaborators to write to his beats and seeking guidance from other producers around the world. His first major collaborator and ally he reached out to was Freestyle (of the Arsonists). Leyone had grown interested in working with him after hearing his music in the hit video game Jet Set Radio Future and reached out to him. Five years later their collaborations manifested to the public. The first to be released with Leyone Tracks’ production was a song called “I’m Runnin’”, which was recorded with popular Greek rapper Logos Apeilh and released on their collaboration album “I Am Hip Hop”. Afterwards, Freestyle released their second collaboration “Crystal Ball” which was featured in the documentary film “The Rising Sun”. The song existed to the public only in the movie trailer and in the film itself until the music video was premiered in 2013 at the finals of the Battle of the Year breakdance competition in Braunschweig, Germany. While collaborating with Freestyle, Leyone had also reached out to the Bostonian emcee and CEO O’Mega Red for an opportunity to produce for him. As Leyone produced more songs and remixes for O’Mega that garnered verses and vocals from the likes of Big Shug (of Gangstarr Foundation), Detail, and O’Mega Red himself, Leyone was signed to Stay Grindin’ Inc as an in-house producer. Through Stay Grindin’ Leyone was offered a publishing deal through BeatClock Productions that landed his music on popular television shows including Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out, and Guy Code. Leyone Tracks’ production was also used for Kid Ink’s Backroom Freestyle on BET’s 106 & Park. Leyone studied at Columbia College Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management. While in college, Leyone joined the Chicago based hip hop collective, The Terra Godz. With The Terra Godz, they have opened up for acts such as Nappy Roots, Astronautalis, Bop Alloy, and Netherfriends. In 2012, Leyone won 2nd place in Marcus D and Funky DL’s Don’t Hold Ya Breath remix competition. That same year, he also dropped his first EP, Part One as a rapper on April 2, 2012. Leyone has also done voiceover work and radio spot production for PBS shows Music on the Mayne Stage and Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots earlier this year. Quote: “Music is the backdrop of experiences. To me, it serves as an identifying factor of different periods of my life.” Influences: J Dilla, Black Milk, Pharell, Madlib, Just Blaze, and Nujabes WWW.SOUNDCLOUD.COM/LEYONETRACKS (Credits: VH1, BET, Kid Ink, Detail, PH, O'Mega Red, Freestyle). Contact LeyoneMGT@Gmail.com for beats!