Le1f

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Le1f

| image = Le1f by Gergely Csatari 1.jpg

| caption = Le1f in 2013

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|4|6|mf=y}}

| birth_name = Khalif Libasse Diouf{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/885048452 |title=AIR MAX |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 29, 2023}}

| origin =

| genre = {{flatlist|

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Rapper
producer

}}

| label = {{flatlist|

Camp & Street
Greedhead
Terrible
XL}}

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

| years_active = 2008–present

| website = {{URL|http://le1f.com/}}

}}

Khalif Libasse Diouf, known by the stage name Kalifa (born April 6, 1989), formerly known by the stage name Le1f ({{IPAc-en|l|iː|f}}),{{Cite web |title=mobile.twitter.com/kalifa/status/1420146767958614026 |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/kalifa/status/1420146767958614026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112084703/https://mobile.twitter.com/kalifa/status/1420146767958614026 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |via=Twitter |language=en}} is an American rapper and producer. Diouf also founded the record label Camp & Street, with Boody, DonChristian, and Chaz Requina. Diouf garnered attention for unique musical and performance styles, as well as his role as an openly gay rapper.{{cite web |title=Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success |website=HuffPost |author=Nichols, James Michael |date=August 29, 2013 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/le1f-gay-rapper-blasts-macklemore_n_3836703.html }}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.phillymag.com/gphilly/2012/07/24/gay-rapper/|title=America's Next Top Gay Rapper?|author=Natalie Hope McDonald|date=July 24, 2012|work=Philadelphia|accessdate=March 21, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5928307/rapper-le1f-is-very-good-and-very-gay |title=Rapper Le1f Is Very Good and Very Gay |author=Rich Juzwiak |date=July 23, 2012 |work=Gawker |accessdate=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725182600/http://gawker.com/5928307/rapper-le1f-is-very-good-and-very-gay |archivedate=July 25, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/815517/the-unflinching-bold-and-gay-rapper-le1f-asks-%E2%80%9Cwut%E2%80%9D|title=The Unflinching, Bold (and Gay) Rapper Le1f Asks "Wut"|author=Ian S. Port|date=July 24, 2012|work=Artinfo|accessdate=March 21, 2012}} Following a series of well-received mixtapes and EPs, Diouf's debut studio album, Riot Boi, was released in November 2015.

Biography

Born in Manhattan, Diouf studied ballet and modern dance, attended the Concord Academy with the class of 2007 and earned a degree in dance from Wesleyan University before returning to the city to become a rapper.{{Cite web |url=http://www.windishagency.com/artists/le1f |title=The Windish Agency: Le1f |access-date=March 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627045208/http://www.windishagency.com/artists/le1f |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Career

Initially known for producing tracks for Brooklyn-based alternative hip-hop group Das Racist, such as their popular debut single "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell",{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/le1f-new-york-rap-deconstructionist-boasts-tricky-skills/|title=Le1f: New York Rap Deconstructionist Boasts Tricky Skills|author=Brandon Soderberg|date=December 12, 2012|work=Spin|accessdate=March 21, 2012}} Diouf became known as a solo artist with the release of debut mixtape Dark York,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16557-le1f-dark-york/|title=Le1f: Dark York – Album Review|author=Hari Ashurst|date=April 30, 2012|work=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=March 21, 2012}} released in April 2012. Its second single, the 5kinAndBone5-produced "Wut" garnered attention as the standout track from the project and manifested into a music video in June 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrnq4SZ0luc|title=Le1f - Wut (Official Video)|via=YouTube |date=June 19, 2012|accessdate=March 20, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13904-wut/|title=Le1f: "Wut"|author=Larry Fitzmaurice|date=July 19, 2012|work=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=March 21, 2012}}

In November 2012, Le1f was featured on the song "Fuckin the DJ" by Mykki Blanco (which was co-produced with Diouf collaborator, Boody) from their Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape.{{cite web|title=Download Mykki Blanco's Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape|url=http://www.factmag.com/2012/11/09/download-mykki-blancos-cosmic-angel-the-illuminati-princess-mixtape/|work=FACT|accessdate=May 6, 2013|date=November 9, 2012}} Later that month, Le1f released a joint EP with Boody, titled Liquid, which was followed by an accompanying video for the promotional single, "Soda".{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17454-liquid-ep/|title=Boody & LE1F Liquid EP|date=November 28, 2012|accessdate=March 20, 2014|author=Miles Raymer|website=Pitchfork }} Diouf's second mixtape Fly Zone was released to generally favorable reviews in January 2013 and later spawned a video for the successful "Spa Day". The mixtape featured guest appearances from artists such as Heems, DonChristian and Kitty.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/fly-zone/le1f|title=Fly Zone - Le1f|publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 20, 2014}}

In August 2013, Le1f publicly criticised the rapper Macklemore for the latter's song "Thrift Shop", claiming that it borrowed its beat extensively from Le1f's own earlier song, "Wut", and proceeded to criticise Macklemore for another of his songs, "Same Love", claiming that it was not appropriate for a heterosexual to exploit an LGBT rights issue for financial gain.{{cite web |title=That Time Macklemore Stole 'Thrift Shop' From A Queer New York Rapper |author=Tharrett, Matthew |date=August 27, 2013 |website=Queerty |url=http://www.queerty.com/that-time-macklemore-stole-thrift-shop-from-a-queer-new-york-rapper-20130827}}{{cite web |title=Queer Rapper Le1f Lashes Out At Macklemore, Claims "Thrift Shop" Is His Stolen Song |author=Higbee, Jonathan |date=August 27, 2013 |website=Instinct |url=http://instinctmagazine.com/post/queer-rapper-le1f-lashes-out-macklemore-claims-thrift-shop-his-stolen-song |access-date=July 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131520/http://instinctmagazine.com/post/queer-rapper-le1f-lashes-out-macklemore-claims-thrift-shop-his-stolen-song |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

{{Quote box

|quote = "Tree House is all these love songs over experimental trap beats. Every song on it is about love -- I want people to have sex to it."

|source = —Diouf, on the theme of Tree House{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2013/03/le1f-tree-house-mixtape-people-have-sex-to-it|title=NYC Rapper Le1f Wants You to Have Sex to His Next Mixtape|website=Fuse |accessdate=March 20, 2014}}

|width = 25%

|align = left

}}

In September 2013, Diouf released a third full-length mixtape Tree House and later accompanied it with a music video for the second single "Hush Bb" directed by conceptual artist Alex Da Corte.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1480711/download-le1f-tree-house-mixtape/mp3s/|author=Claire Lobenfeld|title=Download Le1f's Tree House Mixtape|accessdate=February 21, 2014|work=Stereogum|date=September 18, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1516001/le1f-hush-bb-video/video/|author=Tom Breihan|title=Le1f - Hush Bb Video|accessdate=February 21, 2014|work=Stereogum|date=October 10, 2013}}

In February 2013, Terrible Records announced Diouf's record deal as well as an EP, a five-track project titled Hey, which was later released on March 11, 2014.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/entry/view/id/82510|date=July 19, 2012|magazine=Billboard|author=Reggie Ugwu|title=Le1f Signs to Terrible Records|accessdate=February 21, 2014}} On March 13, 2014, Diouf made an appearance on national television with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/le1f-gets-record-deal-talks-macklemore-and-letterman/#1|author=Jacob Brown|date=March 7, 2014|work=Vogue|title=Le1f—New York's Hottest Underground Rapper—Gets a Record Deal and Talks to Vogue About Macklemore and Letterman|accessdate=March 13, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313004908/http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/le1f-gets-record-deal-talks-macklemore-and-letterman/#1|archivedate=March 13, 2014}}

In November 2015, Diouf released a full-length studio album on XL and Terrible Records. The album features contributions and production work from artists such as Evian Christ, Junglepussy, Balam Acab, Lunice, Boody, Sophie, Dev Hynes, and Dubbel Dutch, among others. In 2017, Le1f was part of the line up for the 17th edition of the Sonic Acts Festival in Amsterdam, which explored The Noise of Being. Diouf has also performed several times at Sonic Acts club night called Progress Bar.

Discography

=Studio albums=

Riot Boi (2015, XL/Terrible Records)

=EPs=

Liquid (2012, Boysnoize Records) – Boody & Le1f
Hey (2014, XL/Terrible Records)
Blue Dream (2018, Self-released){{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/le1fs-blue-dream-surprise-ep-stream/|author=Kristin Corry|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|title=Le1f's Surprise New EP 'Blue Dream' Is Like a Contact High}}{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/le1f-blue-dream-2561839672.html|author=Michael Love Michael|date=April 20, 2018|accessdate=April 20, 2018|title=How Appropriate That Le1f Surprise Drops 'Blue Dream' EP on 4/20}}

=Mixtapes=

Dark York (2012, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
Fly Zone (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
Tree House (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)

Filmography

=Music videos=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of music videos, showing year released and director !scope="col" style="width:15em;"\| Title !scope="col"\| Year !scope="col"\| Director(s) !scope="col"\| Ref.
scope="row"\| "Wut" \|rowspan="2"\| 2012 \|rowspan="2"\| Sam B. Jones \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.acclaimmag.com/music/leif-wut-music-video/\|title=Leif - Wut (Music Video)\|date=July 20, 2012\|accessdate=August 25, 2013\|work=Acclaim Magazine.}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vfiles/le1f-boody-soda-video_b_2160648.html\|title=VFILES: Le1f and Boody, 'Soda' (Video)\|date=November 20, 2012\|accessdate=August 25, 2013\|work=HuffPost.}}
scope="row"\| "Soda" (with Boody) \|
scope="row"\| "Spa Day" \|rowspan="2"\| 2013 \| Jesse Miller-Gordon \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/05/17/video-le1f-spa-day/\|title=Video: Le1f, "Spa Day"\|accessdate=August 25, 2013\|publisher=The Fader.}}
scope="row"\| "Hush Bb" \| Alex Da Corte \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/05/17/video-le1f-spa-day/\|title=Le1f - Hush Bb - Art + Music - MOCAtv\|accessdate=October 10, 2013\|via=YouTube}}
scope="row"\| "Boom" \| rowspan="2"\|2014 \| Sam B. Jones \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/new-video-le1f-boom\|title=New Video: Le1f 'Boom'\|accessdate=March 20, 2014\|work=Vibe}}
scope="row"\| "Sup" \| Jesse Miller-Gordon \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/feed-item.aspx?id=77557\|title=Le1f says "Sup"\|author=Bobby Z\|date=May 14, 2014\|accessdate=May 20, 2014}}
scope="row"\| "Koi" \| 2015 \| Simon Ward \|{{cite web\|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60979-le1f-teams-with-sophie-for-crazy-koi-video/\|title=Le1f Teams With Sophie for Crazy "Koi" Video\|website=Pitchfork \|date=August 28, 2015\|accessdate=August 28, 2015}}
scope="row"\| "Umami / Water" \| 2017 \| Le1f \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/02/le1f-umami-water-le1f/\|author=Brian Josephs\|date=February 17, 2017\|accessdate=April 20, 2018\|title=Video: Le1f – "Umami / Water"}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of music videos, showing year released and director

!scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title

!scope="col"| Year

!scope="col"| Director(s)

!scope="col"| Ref.

scope="row"| "Wut"

|rowspan="2"| 2012

|rowspan="2"| Sam B. Jones

|{{cite web|url=http://www.acclaimmag.com/music/leif-wut-music-video/|title=Leif - Wut (Music Video)|date=July 20, 2012|accessdate=August 25, 2013|work=Acclaim Magazine.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vfiles/le1f-boody-soda-video_b_2160648.html|title=VFILES: Le1f and Boody, 'Soda' (Video)|date=November 20, 2012|accessdate=August 25, 2013|work=HuffPost.}}

scope="row"| "Soda" (with Boody)

scope="row"| "Spa Day"

|rowspan="2"| 2013

| Jesse Miller-Gordon

|{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/05/17/video-le1f-spa-day/|title=Video: Le1f, "Spa Day"|accessdate=August 25, 2013|publisher=The Fader.}}

scope="row"| "Hush Bb"

| Alex Da Corte

|{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/05/17/video-le1f-spa-day/|title=Le1f - Hush Bb - Art + Music - MOCAtv|accessdate=October 10, 2013|via=YouTube}}

scope="row"| "Boom"

| rowspan="2"|2014

| Sam B. Jones

|{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/new-video-le1f-boom|title=New Video: Le1f 'Boom'|accessdate=March 20, 2014|work=Vibe}}

scope="row"| "Sup"

| Jesse Miller-Gordon

|{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/feed-item.aspx?id=77557|title=Le1f says "Sup"|author=Bobby Z|date=May 14, 2014|accessdate=May 20, 2014}}

scope="row"| "Koi"

| 2015

| Simon Ward

|{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60979-le1f-teams-with-sophie-for-crazy-koi-video/|title=Le1f Teams With Sophie for Crazy "Koi" Video|website=Pitchfork |date=August 28, 2015|accessdate=August 28, 2015}}

scope="row"| "Umami / Water"

| 2017

| Le1f

|{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/02/le1f-umami-water-le1f/|author=Brian Josephs|date=February 17, 2017|accessdate=April 20, 2018|title=Video: Le1f – "Umami / Water"}}

=Television=

Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
2014	Late Show with David Letterman	Musical guest	Season 21, episode 115

References

External links

{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100513215642/http://le1f.com/ Official site]}}
[https://www.facebook.com/le1fny Official Facebook]
[https://twitter.com/kalifa Official Twitter]

Category:1989 births

Category:20th-century African-American musicians

Category:21st-century African-American musicians

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American musicians

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:African-American LGBTQ people

Category:African-American rappers

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:American LGBTQ singers

Category:American non-binary musicians

Category:American people of Senegalese descent