Leikeli47

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Leikeli47

| image =

| caption =

| alias = Leikeli

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| origin =

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter}}

| years_active = 2003–present

}}

Rhashida Stafford, known as Leikeli47 (or Leikeli) is an American rapper signed to RCA Records. In 2018, she released her second full-length album, Acrylic.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/acrylic/1441710639|title=Acrylic by Leikeli47|author=|date=November 15, 2018|publisher=|access-date=March 5, 2019|via=itunes.apple.com}} Until 2024, she was known for concealing her face with a bandana or balaclava at all performances and professional appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.culturedmag.com/leikeli47/|title=Leikeli47 Refashions Anonymity in Her Own Image|date=2019-06-18|website=Cultured Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-28}}

Early life

She was raised in both Virginia and New York, primarily in the Virginia and Brooklyn neighborhoods of Danville, Norfolk, Brownsville and Bedford–Stuyvesant.{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/ryzvey/leikeli47-interview-profile-2015|title=Invincible Eyes: What's Beneath Leikeli47's Mask?|last1=Kramer|first1=Kyle|website=Vice|date=April 28, 2015 |accessdate=February 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/levels/leikeli47-is-ready-to-give-hip-hop-a-new-look/|title=Leikeli47 Is Ready to Give Hip-Hop a New Look|website=Pitchfork|date=November 21, 2018|language=en|access-date=February 9, 2019}} She is of partial Trinidadian and Guyanese descent.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/3/20/18484041/it-s-been-an-interesting-musical-journey-for-incognito-rapper-leikeli47|title=It's been an 'interesting' musical journey for incognito rapper Leikeli47|website=Chicago Sun Times|date=March 20, 2019|language=en}} She described herself as having been a shy child who was interested in becoming a rapper from a young age. She cites the late Michael Jackson and N.E.R.D. as some of her favorite performers.

Career

Prior to being signed to RCA Records, Leikeli released a mixtape in 2010 titled LK-47.{{cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2018-11-15-leikeli47-interview-acrylic|title=Leikeli47 is Truth, Strength, and Love Personified|last=Chesman|first=Donna-Claire|date=November 15, 2018|website=DJBooth|access-date=March 5, 2019}} This was followed by a string of releases including the sequel mixtape LK-47 Pt. II in 2014 and a self-titled EP in 2015, Leikeli47.{{Cite web|title=Leikeli47|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3160394-Leikeli47|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Discogs|language=en}} In 2015, Leikeli's song "Fuck the Summer Up" was included on Jay-Z's inaugural Tidal self titled playlist.{{cite web|url=https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/48653a01-4968-44c3-9d0c-22d902e3e83c|title=JAY-Z: F**k the Summer Up|author=|date=|website=TIDAL Browse – High Fidelity Music Streaming|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

Leikeli's first full-length debut, Wash & Set, was released on September 8, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/leikeli47-is-ready-to-give-hip-hop-a-new-look/|title=Leikeli47 Is Ready to Give Hip-Hop a New Look|website=Pitchfork|date=November 21, 2018|language=en|access-date=February 9, 2019}} It was received positively by critics. Afropunk.com wrote, "the album showcases Leikeli47’s distinctively hard-hitting yet playful lyricism, genre-bending musicianship, and enigmatic character."{{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/2017/09/brooklyn-rapper-leikeli47-drops-breathtaking-debut-album-new-video-m-l-k/|title=Brooklyn rapper Leikeli47 drops breathtaking debut album and new video "M I L K"|date=September 11, 2017|website=AFROPUNK|language=en-US|access-date=February 10, 2019}} Darryl Robertson wrote for Vibe, "the dynamic, and featureless, effort is loaded with creativity, vigor and the power of her own feminism. It's evident that Leikeli is aiming to break rules and push boundaries hip-hop."{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/09/leikeli47-wash-set|title=Leikeli47 Brings Creativity And Vigor On Her Debut Album, 'Wash & Set'|date=September 8, 2017|website=Vibe|language=en|access-date=February 10, 2019}}

Acrylic was released on November 15, 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/10/leikeli47-release-date-new-album-and-three-new-songs/|title=Leikeli47 Shares Release Date for New Album and Three New Song|last=Coleman II|first=C. Vernon|website=XXL Mag|date=October 30, 2018 |language=en|access-date=February 9, 2019}} The title was inspired by her mixture of southern, Caribbean, and city roots. The first single on the album, "Girl Blunt", was featured on the third season of Insecure {{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/leikeli47-acrylic/|title=Leikeli47: Acrylic|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=February 9, 2019}} and on the first season of The Wilds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/the-wilds/season-1/103096|title=Tune Find Com The Wilds}} The album received positive critical reviews. Jenn Pelly wrote at Pitchfork.com: "Her flow is always gripping, her details novelistic: An aunt sells candy from a windowpane, an extension cord snakes across a hallway, and the lights flicker in an E train tunnel." Dhruva Balram wrote for NME, "At times, and especially on ‘Iron Mike’, Leikeli47 sounds like the best of M.I.A, Cardi B and Kamaiyah rolled into one."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/leikeli47-acrylic-review|title=Leikeli47 – 'Acrylic' review|last=Balram|first=Dhruva|website=NME|date=November 23, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=February 10, 2019}} Acrylic was named one of NPR's 50 Best Albums of 2018, as well as other lists including Paper Magazine,{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/top-25-albums-2018-2623655747.html|title=PAPER's Top 20 Albums of 2018|author=|date=December 17, 2018|website=PAPER|access-date=March 5, 2019}} Esquire,{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g19100722/best-rap-songs-2018/|title=The Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2018|last=Miller|first=Matt|date=November 28, 2018|website=Esquire|access-date=March 5, 2019}} and Forbes.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/garysuarez/2018/12/22/10-rap-albums-2018-you-missed/|title=10 Great Hip-Hop Albums From 2018 You May Have Missed|last=Suarez|first=Gary|date=|website=Forbes|access-date=March 5, 2019}} Acrylic is the second part of a planned music trilogy that Leikeli has developed, called the "Beauty Series".

She stated that the next installment to the "Beauty Series" will be called Shape Up. About the theme of beauty salons, she told The Fader, "They're safe havens for all of us — all women, but especially the African-American community. I wanted to create a body of work that spoke to not looking like what you actually are going through."{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/11/20/leikeli47-acrylic-interview|title=Leikeli47's love letter to black sacred spaces|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=February 10, 2019}} She has stated that she seeks to normalize Black beauty standards, such as decorated fingernails.{{Cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/gy7qz7/leikeli47-new-album-acrylic-interview|title=An Interview in a Nail Salon with Leikeli47 About Her New Album 'Acrylic'|last1=Corry|first1=Kristin|last2=Friedlander|first2=Emilie|date=November 16, 2018|website=Noisey|language=en-US|access-date=February 10, 2019|last3=Ozzi|first3=Dan}}

Leikeli performed with Pharrell during his I Am Other set at 2017's Complexcon,{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/11/pharrell-migos-2-chainz-lil-uzi-vert-complexcon|title=Watch Special Guests 2 Chainz, Lil Uzi Vert, and Migos Surprise the Pigeons & Planes Stage at ComplexCon|author=|date=|website=Complex|accessdate=March 5, 2019}} as well as Natalie Portman's Boston Calling set in 2018, held at Portman's alma mater Harvard University.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/st-vincent-zola-jesus-to-join-natalie-portman-at-boston-calling-2018/|title=St. Vincent, Zola Jesus to Join Natalie Portman at Boston Calling 2018|author=|date=May 16, 2018|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

Her first headlined tour began in March 2019.{{Cite web|title=Invincible Eyes: What's Beneath Leikeli47's Mask?|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ryzvey/leikeli47-interview-profile-2015|access-date=2020-08-02|website=www.vice.com|date=April 28, 2015 |language=en}}

Leikeli47's third album Shape Up was released on May 13, 2022 and received positive reviews. Pitchfork.com gave the album an 8.0 and wrote "The anonymous Brooklyn rapper's third album is a little bolder and a little rawer, but it's her versatility-across hip-hop, ballroom, house, and R&B-that keeps her sound fresh."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/leikeli47-shape-up/|title=St. Vincent, Zola Jesus to Join Natalie Portman at Boston Calling 2018|author=|date=May 16, 2018|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

In October 2024, Leikeili47 announced her forth album, Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only, would be following in the future months. On October 25, 2024, she released 450 as the lead single. The video was shot in black-and-white, and shows Leikeili47 removing her face covering and performing public for the first time. {{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Leikeli47 Unmasks To Announce New Album Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2285335/leikeli47-unmasks-to-announce-new-album-lei-keli-ft-47-for-promotional-use-only/music/ |website=Stereogum |date=October 25, 2024 |access-date=30 October 2024}}

Personal life

Leikeli is known for being private and has not released her legal name or performed without her face covered.{{cite journal|last1=Bacher|first1=Danielle|date=20 September 2016|title=Leikeli47 On Using Music as Survival|url=http://www.papermag.com/leikeli47-beautiful-people-2010557145.html|journal=Paper|language=en}} In June 2019, she told Cultured Magazine, "Being black, we gotta learn how to wear a mask early." When asked about the meaning to her name in an interview with Snobette, she said that "it’s special to me, but I don’t need to share the reasoning behind it."{{Cite web |date=2016-07-26 |title=Leikeli47 Opens Up About Her Name And The Reason She Wears A Mask |url=https://snobette.com/2016/07/leikeli-47-mask/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=SNOBETTE |language=en-US}}

According to an interview with Vibe, she conceals her face because "I feel like the Dark Knight, or one of those superheroes, or Superman… the mask, it represents freedom. I'm free with it on."

In 2024, with the release of 450, Leikeili47 removed her face covering. In a press release ahead of her fourth album she stated, "It feels right. It’s time. The mask served its purpose, and now we move forward.” {{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Leikeli47 Unmasks To Announce New Album Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2285335/leikeli47-unmasks-to-announce-new-album-lei-keli-ft-47-for-promotional-use-only/music/ |website=Stereogum |date=October 25, 2024 |access-date=30 October 2024}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

Wash & Set (2017)
Acrylic (2018)
Shape Up (2022){{Cite web|title=Leikeli47 {{!}} Album Discography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leikeli47-mn0003383766/discography|access-date=2020-08-02|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}
Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only (TBA) {{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Leikeli47 Unmasks To Announce New Album Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2285335/leikeli47-unmasks-to-announce-new-album-lei-keli-ft-47-for-promotional-use-only/music/ |website=Stereogum |date=October 25, 2024 |access-date=30 October 2024}}

=EPs=

Leikeli47 (2015)
Pick a Color – Acrylic (2018){{Cite web|date=2018-10-24|title=Leikeli47 Reveals 'Acrylic' Album Release Date: Stream First 3 Tracks|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/10/leikeli47-acrylic-album-announcement|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Vibe|language=en}}
Design – Acrylic (2018)