Le1f
Le1f | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Khalif Libasse Diouf[1] |
Born | New York City, U.S. | April 6, 1989
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2008–present |
Labels |
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Website | le1f |
Khalif Libasse Diouf, known by the stage name Kalifa (born April 6, 1989), formerly known by the stage name Le1f (/liːf/),[2] 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.[3][4][5][6] 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.[7]
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",[8] Diouf became known as a solo artist with the release of debut mixtape Dark York,[9] 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.[10][11]
In November 2012, Le1f was featured on the song "Fuckin the DJ" by
In August 2013, Le1f publicly criticised the rapper
"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."
—Diouf, on the theme of Tree House[17]
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.[18][19]
In February 2013,
In November 2015, Diouf released a full-length studio album on
Discography
Studio albums
- Terrible Records)
EPs
- Liquid(2012, Boysnoize Records) – Boody & Le1f
- Hey (2014, XL/Terrible Records)
- Blue Dream (2018, Self-released)[22][23]
Mixtapes
- Greedhead/Camp & Street)
- Fly Zone (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
- Tree House (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
Filmography
Music videos
Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"Wut" | 2012 | Sam B. Jones | [24][25] |
"Soda" (with Boody) | [25] | ||
"Spa Day" | 2013 | Jesse Miller-Gordon | [26] |
"Hush Bb" | Alex Da Corte | [27] | |
"Boom" | 2014 | Sam B. Jones | [28] |
"Sup" | Jesse Miller-Gordon | [29] | |
"Koi" | 2015 | Simon Ward | [30] |
"Umami / Water" | 2017 | Le1f | [31] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Late Show with David Letterman | Musical guest | Season 21, episode 115 |
See also
References
- ^ "AIR MAX". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "https://mobile.twitter.com/kalifa/status/1420146767958614026". Twitter. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)[dead link]|title=
- ^ a b Nichols, James Michael (August 29, 2013). "Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Natalie Hope McDonald (July 24, 2012). "America's Next Top Gay Rapper?". Philadelphia. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ Rich Juzwiak (July 23, 2012). "Rapper Le1f Is Very Good and Very Gay". Gawker. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- Artinfo. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "The Windish Agency: Le1f". Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- Spin Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "Le1f - Wut (Official Video)". YouTube. June 19, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "Download Mykki Blanco's Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss mixtape". FACT. November 9, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Miles Raymer (November 28, 2012). "Boody & LE1F Liquid EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Fly Zone - Le1f". Metacritic. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Tharrett, Matthew (August 27, 2013). "That Time Macklemore Stole "Thrift Shop" From A Queer New York Rapper". Queerty.
- ^ Higbee, Jonathan (August 27, 2013). "Queer Rapper Le1f Lashes Out At Macklemore, Claims "Thrift Shop" Is His Stolen Song". Instinct. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "NYC Rapper Le1f Wants You to Have Sex to His Next Mixtape". Fuse. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Claire Lobenfeld (September 18, 2013). "Download Le1f's Tree House Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ Tom Breihan (October 10, 2013). "Le1f - Hush Bb Video". Stereogum. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ Reggie Ugwu (July 19, 2012). "Le1f Signs to Terrible Records". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ Jacob Brown (March 7, 2014). "Le1f—New York's Hottest Underground Rapper—Gets a Record Deal and Talks to Vogue About Macklemore and Letterman". Vogue. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ^ Kristin Corry (April 20, 2018). "Le1f's Surprise New EP 'Blue Dream' Is Like a Contact High". Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ Michael Love Michael (April 20, 2018). "How Appropriate That Le1f Surprise Drops 'Blue Dream' EP on 4/20". Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Leif - Wut (Music Video)". Acclaim Magazine. July 20, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ The Huffington Post. November 20, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ "Video: Le1f, "Spa Day"". The Fader. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ "Le1f - Hush Bb - Art + Music - MOCAtv". YouTube. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
- ^ "New Video: Le1f 'Boom'". Vibe. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Bobby Z (May 14, 2014). "Le1f says "Sup"". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "Le1f Teams With Sophie for Crazy "Koi" Video". Pitchfork. August 28, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ Brian Josephs (February 17, 2017). "Video: Le1f – "Umami / Water"". Retrieved April 20, 2018.