Ryan Leslie

Ryan Leslie

Though thousands of kids are discouraged from pursuing careers in entertainment due to its volatility and instability, a small handful with relentless dedication, undying passion, and seemingly limitless creativity somehow always seem to break through, making a lasting impact on the music marketplace. Ryan Leslie is one of these young individuals.

Immediately drawing comparisons to Pharrell Williams and R. Kelly, for his ability to write, produce, and perform, Leslie’s passion for his craft has impressed label executives from Antonio “LA” Reid (Def Jam) to Tommy Mottola (Casablanca/Universal) to Sean “P-Diddy” Combs (Bad Boy/Universal) who have all solicited music from him for their top stars.

His unique production stylings have been sought after by a variety of artists in a wide spectrum of genres. From hip-hop (Loon, P. Diddy, Heavy D) to R&B (BeyoncĂ©, New Edition, Cheri Dennis), to pop (Britney Spears), to gospel (Virtue), adult contemporary (Stephanie Mills), and even dancehall (Tanto Metro & DevontĂ©), Ryan has provided his own blend of creativity, innovation, and musical tastefulness to a myriad of projects over the past year, including the highly successful, platinum-plus Bad Boys II Soundtrack, Loon’s hit single “Down For Me”, and the lead single from New Edition’s album, “Hot 2Nite”.

In his 25 years of life, he has called many cities home (Atlanta, GA – Nashville, TN – Richmond, VA – Brussels, BELGIUM – Oakland, San Francisco & Stockton, CA), but found his place in Boston, MA at Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1998.

It was at Harvard that he trotted the globe singing four-part harmony with the Krokodiloes, a jazz group, honing his vocal arrangement expertise, ditched class to produce concerts & talent competitions, and spent 30+ hours per week in the rickety 8-track studio in the basement of his dorm.

At age 19, he addressed his class as the Havard Orator the year that he graduated, urging them to do as he would do. “Follow your dreams!”, he encouraged, “because when you find your passion, the best is always demanded of you – not by the expectations of others, but by the bidding of your heart!”

Years later, he holds steadfast to this counsel, and has been a catalyst for change in the lives of many. From developing a welfare-to-work technology curriculum for the Urban League, to leading his own music production company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie is truly a people man. “I like to be a player…not a spectator,” he says, “My most rewarding work has been that of creating opportunities for others to succeed.”

Leslie’s production company is an extension of this creed. He chose not to travel the traditional path from Harvard to Wall Street in favor of forging a career in the entertainment industry, and has spent the last two years making waves as an emerging talent. NextSelection Lifestyle Group has jumpstarted the careers of a handful of aspiring musicians and entrepreneurs.

In the spring of 2000, he began producing records for a 19-year-old vocalist from Philadelphia named Corey Williams. The two met at Berklee College of Music, and they entered their first collaborative effort into a national contest sponsored by Teen People magazine. The song, “Never Met A (Girl)”, went on to win the contest and in November 2000, Williams was named “Teen People’s Magazine’s Best Unsigned Act” in the country. Williams signed a record deal with Motown Records the following spring, and released his debut set as Latif in September 2003.

In addition to his production activities, Leslie has recently signed an exclusive recording agreement with Tommy Mottola’s new Casablanca imprint. His album project is the manifestation of his passion for songwriting and producing, and is scheduled for a spring 2005 release.

Look for more from Ryan Leslie in decades to come. As the entertainment world becomes more customizable, more personal, and more accessible – trust that he will be there to provide creative, original content.

Leslie currently resides in Harlem, NY.

Hitmen info

Real Name:
Ryan Leslie
Birthdate:
September 25, 1978
Birthplace:
Boston, MA
Style:
-
Albums:
He has done tracks for B5, Loon, New Edition, Cheri Dennis and much more!
Check out:
Produced the Snoop/BIG Tribute for the MTV VMAs
Official website:
Visit

Upcoming releases

More upcoming releases (and older releases) at the releases section.