I’m in a position where they are listening to me talk and that’s important.” Why is community and giving back so important to him? “Usher once told me that as an artist, people will listen to what you have to sing, but not necessarily to what you have to say. When he received the award, he spoke to approximately 100 students, telling them to go after their dream no matter what. The star recently received the AMBLE (Aspiring Minority Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs) from Harvard. And as his brand continues to grow, he shows no signs of slowing down.Īside from creating music that takes himself and other artists to superstar status, Leslie is thoroughly involved in his community. And more so, it’s made him appealing for national endorsements from Lexus and more recently, Adidas for their Original Neighborhoods campaign. He’s one of the few stars who’s maximized the power of new media and connects with fans regularly through his website,, his Facebook fan page and Twitter relationship with his following has also benefitted the likes of his artists Cassie and Krys Ivory. “‘Gibberish’ is just proof of how powerful music is.”Īnd he’s right, as one the most viewed videos on his YouTube channel (with 1.6 million+ views), fans can’t get enough of the unorthodox hit.Īfter releasing the video for the making of his single, “Addiction” (which received 2 million hits alone), Leslie’s new media power is realized after receiving 24 million hits on his YouTube channel. The producer is a firm believer that good music can’t go unnoticed even if you don’t say anything. One of their favorites â “Gibberish” â has fans wondering what the inspiration behind it was. Leslie’s fans are also inspired by his music.
“Right now I’m really into Janis Joplin’s version of ‘Summertime.’ I’ve heard so many versions of it, it’s just cool to hear a woman’s take on it,” Leslie explains. As he prepares for two huge shows this week â June 22 & 23 â at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, the singer/producer reflects on community, new media and his new album, Les (as in Leslie) Is More.Īfter creating the hit, “Keep Giving Your Love To Me” for Beyonce off of the Bad Boys 2 soundtrack during his 30 day internship, it’s a wonder who influences Leslie, who is such an influence in the music game himself. After an international tour with Ne-Yo, Ryan Leslie is ready to take his music to the next level with a new album and a fantastic NYC show. The Harvard grad producer has already worked with superstars like Beyonce, Diddy, The Game and more.
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