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Leon Thomas makes narcotizing progressive R&B as a solo artist, and is an all-around collaborator with a Grammy to show for it. The soulful singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist got his start as a young actor on Broadway and in Hollywood. His role on Nickelodeon's Victorious gave rise to his first commercial recordings and songwriting credits on the chart-topping album debut by co-star Ariana Grande. Three mixtapes and an EP issued through Rostrum Records from 2012 through 2018 established Thomas as a solo artist while he clocked studio time with the likes of Toni Braxton and Babyface, Kehlani, and Post Malone. He earned a Grammy nomination as co-writer of Rick Ross' "Gold Roses," and subsequently won the Best R&B Song award for SZA's number two pop hit "Snooze," by the time he delivered Electric Dusk (2023) and the more carnal and rock-influenced MUTT (2024). Both albums were released by Ty Dolla $ign's EZMNY label.

The son of Black Rock Coalition members, the Brooklyn-born Thomas landed his first major role at the age of ten as Young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Three years later, he began a lengthy association with Nickelodeon. The network featured him in series such as The Backyardigans, iCarly and, most prominently, Victorious. Thomas co-wrote and performed on Victorious soundtrack releases, and in 2012 released his first mixtape, Metro Hearts, on Rostrum. He made a greater musical breakthrough in 2013 as a key collaborator on Yours Truly, the platinum debut album by fellow co-star Ariana Grande. As part of a songwriting and production duo dubbed the Rascals, Thomas contributed to four songs with R&B heavyweights Babyface and Antonio Dixon. This led to a credit on Toni Braxton and Babyface's Love, Marriage & Divorce, a Grammy-winning album that arrived just a month after Rostrum had issued Thomas' second mixtape, V1bes.

All the while, Thomas continued acting work and eventually hit studios with the likes of Zendaya, Post Malone, Kehlani. The 2016 mixtape Before the Beginning was followed by the more fleshed-out 2018 EP Genesis. Between those two projects, he landed a recurring role on Insecure. In 2021, Thomas worked as a songwriter and producer for several tracks on Drake's global chart-topper Certified Lover Boy. He signed with Ty Dolla $ign’s Motown subsidiary EZMNY Records in 2022 -- the year he co-wrote SZA's Grammy-winning ballad "Snooze" -- and offered up the Benny the Butcher-assisted single "X-Rated," followed by "Love Jones" featuring Ty. After two more singles, "Breaking Point" and "Crash and Burn," Thomas released his full-length debut, Electric Dusk, in August 2023. Contributions to albums ranging from Yussef Dayes' Black Classical Music to Kanye West and Ty's Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 preceded the September 2024 arrival of Thomas' second LP, MUTT. In addition to the slippery funk of the title song -- a remix added a verse from Freddie Gibbs -- the album contained another collaboration with Ty, as well as appearances from Baby Rose, Wale, and Masego. ~ Andy Kellman

Los Angeles-based producer and songwriter Blxst seamlessly blends rap and R&B, switching between harder rhyming and more melodic singing over smooth, intricate backing tracks. He became known for his emotive, relationship-themed songs such as 2019's "Hurt," as well as collaborations with artists like Bino Rideaux and Mozzy. A deal with Red Bull Records in 2020 first yielded No Love Lost, the deluxe edition of which featured "Chosen," a Billboard Hot 100 entry with Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga. Sixtape 2, his Def Jam-supported second release with Rideaux, landed on the Billboard 200 just after he was named to XXL magazine's 2021 Freshman Class. Blxst quickly returned to the charts in 2022 with Before You Go, his first solo full-length, then released the EPs Just for Clarity 2 and Sixtape 3 in 2023. Singles such as "Risk Taker" appeared in 2024.

Matthew Burdette began rapping and producing shortly after he finished high school, heavily influenced by Ryan Leslie as well as Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. His first song as Blxst, "Who Would've Thought," appeared in 2016, and he became more productive in 2018, with six singles appearing on his own Evgle label that year, including "Can I," a collaboration with Eric Bellinger. In 2019, he released the single "Hurt," which became his breakout solo hit, racking up millions of streams. He also produced Kalan.FrFr's "Right wit It," which caught the attention of Bino Rideaux. The two got in touch, and Blxst sent Rideaux several beats, which he used on his mixtape Sorry for tha Wait. The duo then collaborated on the EP Sixtape and performed several sold-out shows throughout the West Coast.

After signing with Red Bull Records, Blxst released the EP No Love Lost in 2020, as well as singles such as "My Emotions" and "Slip & Slide" (featuring 1TakeJay). A deluxe edition of No Love Lost contained his biggest song yet, "Chosen," which peaked at number 51 on the Hot 100. The next year brought the two-track single Just for Clarity, which featured collaborations with Drakeo the Ruler and Russ, and another album with Bino Rideaux, Sixtape 2, which was distributed by Def Jam and reached number 117 on the Billboard 200, mere weeks after he was selected for XXL's annual Freshman Class feature. Later in 2021, Blxst appeared on the song "Go to War" on Snoop Dogg Presents Algorithm.

Seizing the momentum, Blxst completed a full-length project with featured roles for Rick Ross, Zacari, and Arin Ray. He also delegated most of the production, working with ThaRealCStylez and ThaRealJFKBeatz (co-producers of "About You") and Jahaan Sweet and Sevn Thomas (on "Sometimes," another highlight), among others. Before You Go arrived in 2022 and entered the Billboard 200 at number 90. Around the same time, Blxst was featured on Kehlani's "Any Given Sunday" and Kendrick Lamar's "Die Hard." Later that year, he teamed up with fellow California rapper Larry June on the single "Keep Calling." The track appeared on Just for Clarity 2, a 2023 EP also featuring Terrace Martin, Mustard, and Roddy Ricch. Blxst was also featured on "West Coast Weekend" with Tyga and YG, and he released "child of GOD" with Remble. Sixtape 3 (with Rideaux) appeared before the end of the year. In 2024, Blxst released the singles "Heart Ain't Empty," "Rewind" (with Feid), and "Risk Taker" (with Offset). ~ Paul Simpson & Andy Kellman