Ryan Leslie#NextSelection Lifestyle Group

Leslie was born in Richmond, Virginia, and relocated homes frequently due to his parents' jobs as Salvation Army officers. Leslie graduated from Bear Creek High School in Stockton, California in 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.recordnet.com/article/20120917/A_LIFE/209150312|title=Bear Creek grad to do free rap performance|author=Sauro, Tony|work=The Record|date=September 17, 2012|accessdate=November 23, 2017}} He attended Harvard College, graduating at the age of 19 with a degree in government, concentrating in political science and macroeconomics.{{cite web|url=http://artists.letssingit.com/ryan-leslie-f4xmz/biography |title=Artist Biography | Ryan Leslie biography |website=Artists.letssingit.com |date=September 25, 1978 |access-date=September 20, 2011}} During Harvard's undergraduate Class Day ceremonies, Leslie was selected to be the Harvard Male Orator, one of four seniors who deliver orations to the graduating senior class.{{cite web|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/1998/07/jhj.confette.html |title=John Harvard's Journal – Commencement Confetti |website=Harvardmagazine.com |date=November 5, 2007 |access-date=September 20, 2011}}

Leslie grew up around music, playing cornet as a child in the Salvation Army band. He taught himself how to play the piano, along with the ability to recite music, as well as arrange chords to create songs.{{cite web|last=Ketchum |first=William E. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.1105 |title=Ryan Leslie – Ryan Leslie | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews |website=HipHopdx.com|date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=September 20, 2011}} At Harvard, he joined the Krokodiloes, an a cappella group. Leslie suddenly saw a new future for himself when a friend played him a Stevie Wonder CD freshman year,{{cite web|last=Stevenson |first=Seth |url=https://nymag.com/news/features/24094/ |title=Ryan Leslie: Hip-Hop's Unlikely New Star-Maker – New York Magazine |website=Nymag.com |date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2013}} and began spending time at the on-campus recording studio. While still a college student, Leslie began producing tracks for local Boston artists.

After graduating college, Leslie urged his parents to allow him to go into the music industry. While living in Boston, Leslie worked community service jobs to help support himself and would spend nights in the recording studio working on his music.{{cite news | last = Anderman | first = Joan | title = The Phenom: At 15, he went to Harvard. At 19, he had a degree in government and politics. At 29, Ryan Leslie is a budding hip-hop mogul | work = The Boston Globe | date = May 31, 2008 | url = https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/05/31/the_phenom/?page=3 | access-date = October 30, 2010}} Eventually, Leslie moved back home with his parents in Phoenix where he convinced them to take out a $15,000 loan for a production studio so that he could pursue music full-time. In the summer of 2003, Ryan landed a production internship with producer Younglord. Within the first week, Leslie produced the song "Keep Giving Your Love to Me" that would later be performed by Beyoncé for the Bad Boys II soundtrack. The soundtrack was supervised by Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was impressed by Leslie's production style and offered him a management contract upon meeting him.{{Cite web|url=http://www.amentertainment.com/talent-avails/56-ryan-leslie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605051415/http://www.amentertainment.com/talent-avails/56-ryan-leslie|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 5, 2009|title=A&M Entertainment – Ryan Leslie|date=June 5, 2009|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

Under the management of Combs, Leslie worked on various Bad Boy Records projects, including releases from Loon, Cheri Dennis, B5, New Edition and Danity Kane. During that time, Leslie co-produced a record for Britney Spears. Also in 2003, Leslie was introduced by his then attorney Ed Woods to Tommy Mottola. Mottola soon became a mentor of Leslie's and offered him a publishing deal with Aspen Songs and a recording contract with Casablanca, Mottola's imprint distributed by Universal Music Group. Under the mentorship of Mottola and Combs, Leslie signed then-aspiring model Cassie Ventura to his imprint, NextSelection in 2005.

In late 2003, Leslie began recording his debut album, entitled Just Right, and released two singles: "The Way That U Move Girl" and "Used 2 Be" (with Fabolous). The album was never officially released due to creative differences between Leslie and his record label.{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/groove-music-and-spotify-faq-7f5e6c92-c662-0e14-a866-45ad8782dd91|title=Groove Music and Spotify: FAQ|website=Support.microsoft.com|access-date=January 25, 2021}}

File:Ryan Leslie - B.U.M.P. Music Festival 2010.jpg

Ryan Leslie returned to the studio in 2006 to record a new debut album. The lead single, "Diamond Girl" was released in December 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/ryan-leslie |title=Ryan Leslie: Information from |website=Answers.com |access-date=September 20, 2011}} The video for "Diamond Girl" was premiered on BET's 106 & Park, and released on Leslie's YouTube channel with a special behind-the-scenes clip. In November 2007, he released a video for a song named "I-R-I-N-A" that was produced in-house and released through his YouTube channel as well.

His second single, "Addiction" features pop singer Cassie, with a rap cameo from long-time collaborator, Fabolous. The song was officially released in August 2008.

His third single, "How It Was Supposed to Be" was released with two music videos: a rock version and a military take on the song, which was Leslie's directorial debut and was co-directed by model Tyson Beckford.{{cite web |url=http://www.ryanleslie.com/how-it-was-supposed-to-be-video-2/ |title=How It Was Supposed To Be |website=www.ryanleslie.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119211233/http://www.ryanleslie.com/how-it-was-supposed-to-be-video-2/ |archive-date=January 19, 2009}}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2022}} The single was released March 23, 2009. After many setbacks, his self-titled album, Ryan Leslie, was finally released on February 10, 2009.

Initially, Leslie had a four-album deal with Universal Motown, but he departed the label toward the end of that contract, saying "Universal was interested in reshaping my deal to more of a 360, and they actually made a counter-offer from the initial recording fund," Leslie tells Billboard.com. "At that point I saw that as a window to potentially branch off and try something that was going to be new and dynamic."{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

File:Ryan Leslie - Manifesto 8th Year 2014 Toronto, September 2014 (cropped).jpg

Ryan Leslie announced on Twitter and Facebook in January 2011, that his third album would be released July 4, 2011. His first official single from the album released was 'Glory', despite the first singles performed being 'Beautiful Lie' and 'Breathe'. However Leslie would later announce on his website and Twitter account that the album was pushed back for a Fall 2011 release. On October 11, he sent an e-mail to his fanbase saying "I promise 'Les Is More' is just a few weeks away." One year later, in October 2012, Les is More was released.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2012/09/12/ryan-leslie-les-is-more-cover-tracklist/ |title=Ryan Leslie Les Is More Cover & Tracklist |publisher=RapRadar.com |date=September 12, 2012|accessdate=2012-09-29}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/More-Ryan-Leslie/dp/B009439DPW/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1348930646&sr=1-1&keywords=RYAN+LESLIE+Les+Is+More |title=RYAN LESLIE Les Is More |website=Amazon |date=|accessdate=2012-09-23}} The album features a guest appearance from Fabolous. Another version of "Swiss Francs" (Remix) with French rapper Booba is present on the European album.{{YouTube|M-3BQbUM36w|Ryan Leslie - "Swiss Francs" (Remix) feat. Booba}}

He announced in February 2013 that his fourth studio album Black Mozart would be released April 16, 2013. The full album was ultimately released to members of Leslie's #Renegades club on August 31, 2013.{{cite web|title=Black Mozart Release Page|url=http://www.renegadesnyc.com/products/black-mozart-album|access-date=September 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903065020/http://www.renegadesnyc.com/products/black-mozart-album|archive-date=September 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}

While working as a producer, Leslie went on to create NextSelection Lifestyle Group, his music-media company he founded with online marketing partner Rasheed Richmond.{{cite web |url=http://randb.about.com/od/artistinterviews/a/RyanLeslie.htm |title=Ryan Leslie Interview |website=Randb.about.com |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020142203/http://randb.about.com/od/artistinterviews/a/RyanLeslie.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nextselection.com |title=An Interactive Design Agency |website=Nextselection.com |access-date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803192445/http://www.nextselection.com/ |archive-date=August 3, 2011 }} Ryan signed his first artist, Cassie in 2005. Under Leslie's guidance, Cassie went on to become one of the fastest rising R&B acts that year. Her 2006 breakout single "Me & U" (written and produced by Leslie) spent 20 weeks within the Billboard Hot 100's top 40, where it peaked at number three. Furthermore, it sold over a million digital units and was the 14th most successful song of 2006, according to the Billboard Year-End.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlanticrecords.com/news/article/?articleId=atlnewsarticle35400049|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205011822/http://www.atlanticrecords.com/news/article/?articleId=atlnewsarticle35400049|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2008|title=Atlantic Records :: Cassie's 'Me & U' Tops #1 As Debut Album Drops Today|date=December 5, 2008|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

After releasing Black Mozart in 2013, the album rollout strategy galvanized him to start SuperPhone, a direct text marketing service. In subsequent months, musicians such as 50 Cent, Raphael Saadiq, and Talib Kweli would use the underlying technology to launch their respective upcoming studio albums and power their own music membership clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28978/title.ryan-leslie-launches-disruptive-multimedia- |title=Ryan Leslie Launches Disruptive Multimedia Lyrics |website=HipHopDX.com |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014}} Kweli spoke about the experience in an interview, "The first thing that appeals to me is the direct contact with the fans and the fact that I receive their e-mails...The second thing is the fact that the money comes directly to me when you buy the album from me. It goes directly to my account. There is nobody taking their cut."{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.2339/title.talib-kweli-talks-growing-his-independent-business-model-with-gravitas- |title=Talib Kweli Talks Growing His Independent Business Model With "Gravitas" |website=HipHopDX.com |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014}}

Leslie's work with SuperPhone has been supported by venture capitalists such as Ben Horowitz,{{cite web|url=http://news.rapgenius.com/B-horowitz-playlist-for-fortune-magazine-annotated#note-2855424 |title=Playlist for Fortune Magazine |website=Rapgenius.com |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014}} journalists such as TechCrunch's Josh Constine,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JoshConstine/status/463450355729453056 |title=Josh Constine's Twitter |website=Twitter.com |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014}} and musicians such as Kanye West.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/kanye-west-cannes-lion-re-do-instagram-kim-kardashian |title=Kanye West wants to 'redo' Instagram |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014}} Miley Cyrus, Zayn, Silk Sonic, Ava Max, and Cardi B have employed SuperPhone direct-texting marketing methods.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/superphone.io/?hl=en | title=SuperPhone® (@superphone.io) • Instagram photos and videos }}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2022}}

Leslie has stated that Stevie Wonder is one of the biggest influences on his music.{{cite web |title=Discovery: Ryan Leslie |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-ryan-leslie |website=Interviewmagazine.com |access-date=August 10, 2018 |date=June 10, 2011}} He attributes Michael Jackson, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Quincy Jones, The Beatles, and D'Angelo as musical heroes as well.{{cite web |title=Ryan Leslie: 'I Entertain With My Music Not My Personal Life' |url=https://www.essence.com/news/ryan-leslie-i-entertain-with-my-music-no/ |website=Essence.com |access-date=August 10, 2018 |date=December 16, 2009}}

Leslie's blog, YouTube channel, MySpace page and Twitter have been the biggest contributors to his fanbase.{{cite web |url=http://maps.mybc.com/music/news_details.do?id=787149 |title=Music news |website=Maps.mybc.com |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714141927/http://maps.mybc.com/music/news_details.do?id=787149 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Leslie often documented his interaction with his audience, including giving away free iPods,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ryanleslie.com/feels-good-to-give/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305005940/http://www.ryanleslie.com/feels-good-to-give/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2010|title=Ryan Leslie – My Official Site and Video Diary » Blog Archive » Feels Good To Give|date=March 5, 2010|access-date=April 20, 2020}}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2022}} backstage passes to his concerts,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ryanleslie.com/passes-in-chicago/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108094508/http://www.ryanleslie.com/passes-in-chicago/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2010|title=Ryan Leslie – My Official Site and Video Diary » Blog Archive » Passes in Chicago|date=January 8, 2010|access-date=April 20, 2020}} and invitations to have dinner with him.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ryanleslie.com/come-to-dinner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807182126/http://www.ryanleslie.com/come-to-dinner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2010|title=Ryan Leslie – My Official Site and Video Diary » Blog Archive » Come To Dinner|date=August 7, 2010|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

Leslie has spoken about the impending rise of digital streaming replacing physical media as a means to consume music.{{cite web |url=http://randb.about.com/od/artistinterviews/a/RyanLeslie.htm |title=Ryan Leslie Interview |website=Randb.about.com |access-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020142203/http://randb.about.com/od/artistinterviews/a/RyanLeslie.htm |url-status=dead }} Prior to his 2009 MySpace Release concert, Leslie encouraged aspiring musical artists to utilize digital media while marketing themselves.{{cite web|url=http://talkoffame.com/?p=1625 |title=Ryan Leslie Encourages Artists To Go Digital | Talk of Fame |website=Talkoffame.com |access-date=September 20, 2011}}

In October 2010, Leslie's laptop was stolen from his Mercedes, while he was on tour in Cologne, Germany. Leslie would offer $20,000, raising it to $1 million reward for the return of it due to his recent productions that it contained. The laptop was returned; however, the intellectual property that Leslie was trying to recover was not present, and Leslie did not feel the reward terms had been met. Armin Augstein, who runs a garage in Pulheim, near Cologne, who returned the laptop was granted the $1 million reward in 2012 after a lawsuit. He was later also made to pay an extra $180,000 in interest for refusing to pay for those two years. Leslie is still in search of the material that was missing.{{cite news|last=Susman |first=Tina |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-singer-reward-20121129,0,5971939.story |title=Singer vowed $1 million for laptop's return; jury says he must pay |date=November 29, 2012 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2011/10/25/producer-ryan-leslie-sued-for-1-million-over-failed-laptop-reward-payment/ |title=Producer Ryan Leslie Sued For $1 Million Over Failed Laptop Reward Payment |website=AllHipHop.com |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2013/01/02/ryan-leslie-ordered-to-pay-an-extra-180k-interest-on-1-million-laptop-reward/ |title=Ryan Leslie was Ordered To Pay An Extra $180K Interest On $1 Million Laptop Reward |website=AllHipHop.com |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=April 1, 2013}}

{{Main|Ryan Leslie discography|Ryan Leslie production discography}}

• Just Right (2005){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ryan-Leslie-Just-Right/release/5519906|title=Ryan Leslie – Just Right|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 20, 2020}}
• Ryan Leslie (2009)
• Transition (2009)
• Les Is More (2012)
• Black Mozart (2013)
• MZRT (2015){{Cite web|url=https://mzrt.com/products/mzrt-album|title=MZRT Album|website=Mzrt.com|access-date=April 20, 2020}}
• You Know My Speed (2024)

• BET Awards
• 2009, Best Male R&B Artist (nominated)
• 2009, Best New Artist (nominated)
• Grammy Awards
• 2011, Best Contemporary R&B Album: Transition (nominated)
• Soul Train Music Awards
• 2009, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist (nominated)
• Academic Awards
• 2010, AMBLE Vanguard Award from Harvard University{{cite web|author=SOFIE C. BROOKS and Kia J. McLeod |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/you-tube-video/2010/4/1/conference-media-keynote-career/ |title=A. Ryan Leslie's Keynote Address | FM | The Harvard Crimson |website=Thecrimson.com |date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=September 20, 2011}}

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Category:Living people

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