MUTT Deluxe: HEEL

Leon Thomas wears seemingly every hat there is: He sings, he writes songs, he acts and he produces. Despite being spread thin in a million different directions, he manages to excel in all these fields. After years of dedicating his talent to acting and writing songs for other artists, he emerged in 2023 with his solo debut, Electric Dusk, via Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY imprint. A year later, he released its follow-up, MUTT, a convincing sign that Thomas is all in on this latest endeavour. MUTT finds Thomas showcasing his vocal prowess and lyrical talent alike, telling stories of love lost and betrayal, staggering his way through empty relationships as he looks for his soulmate. On “SAFE PLACE”, he sings over screeching guitars and the persistent beat of a ride cymbal bell, admitting, “I see the glass half empty.” On “FAR FETCHED”, which features his label boss, Thomas takes issue with a love interest who is more interested in handouts than a deep relationship. “Paid for my mistakes in Benzes and diamonds,” he fumes, before adding, “250 fronted like you was my artist.” Leon Thomas has conquered everything he’s set his mind to, and yet, on MUTT, love eludes him.