*Highlights* - Ryan Leslie Artist Spotlight

Ryan Leslie - singer, producer, songwriter, video director. 

Even if you don't know the name, you probably know the music.  His tracks, including "Diamond Girl" and "Addiction," have blown up on the charts these past few years, and from 2007 onwards he's become a steady contender and contributor in the R&B, Hip Hop music scene.

His music style is very engineering-based, often with little vocal showcasing. Ryan actually produced the 2006 track "Me & U" for his artist, protege, and possible girlfriend, Cassie. As a champion of true singers, I don't usually gravitate towards over-produced artists, so in the past I haven't paid much attention to the Leslie camp.  In all honesty, I did not warm up to Ryan Leslie in the slightest until the "Addiction" release.  While "Addiction" is very much in the "Cassie vein," being purely a studio-crafted product, it has some addictive qualities and made me finally take notice of this guy's songwriting talent.

So why an artist spotlight?  Watch this:
 

This stripped down version of the two songs "Diamond Girl" and "How it was supposed to be" really showcases Ryan's musicality.  I've always known that his music is heavily 50s influenced,  and finally that inspiration is shining through his songs.  You've probably also noticed that Ryan has a coarse, soothing, and rich vocal quality which really lends itself to the old school vibe.  My recommendation is that he move away from his typically digital wall of sound in favor of the more classic feel.  

What really drew me into Ryan Leslie recently was his 2009 BET music award nomination for best Male R&B artist of the year.  I did my research and found some really interesting information about the singer.

Did you know that Ryan Leslie scored a perfect 1600 on his SATs, was accepted into Harvard at age 15, and graduated at age 19 with a degree in Government (concentration in Political Science and Macroeconomics)?  While in college, he was placed on academic probation 3 times, possibly because he started spending too much time in the studio developing what would become his career.  After graduating, Ryan persuaded his family to take out a $15,000 loan so that he could construct his own studio. Fortunately, after years of work and talent development, he is finally reaping the rewards of his family's investment. 

The more I listen to Ryan Leslie's music, the more I like it and respect him.  Give it a few more months and Ryan a few more good song releases and we all might become fans.

How enthusiastic I am about Ryan Leslie's musical evolution: