Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas is making sure the MUTT era has no leash. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer released a special NPR Tiny Desk edition of his breakout hit “MUTT” on August 9 and the stripped-down performance has taken on a life of its own — hitting #2 on YouTube’s trending list, #5 on X, and earning praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, VIBE, and Uproxx. His powerhouse vocals and nuanced musicianship shine without the heavy production, reaffirming his place as one of modern R&B’s defining voices.
It’s the latest win in a breakout year that’s seen “MUTT” stay perched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart and earn two nominations at the 2025 MTV VMAs — Best New R&B and MTV PUSH Performance of the Year. The title track has already amassed over 1.1 billion streams, gone platinum, topped multiple R&B charts in the U.S. and UK, and peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100.
Born in Brooklyn in 1993, Thomas grew up immersed in music — a vocalist mother, an opera-singer grandfather, and a stepfather who played guitar for B.B. King. By age 10, he was on Broadway as Young Simba in The Lion King, followed by roles in Caroline, or Change and The Color Purple. Soon after, he transitioned to TV, voicing Tyrone in The Backyardigans and becoming a Nickelodeon fixture as Andre Harris on Victorious. While the acting credits piled up, Thomas was quietly building a second career as half of the production duo The Rascals, co-writing and producing Ariana Grande’s debut album Yours Truly before collaborating with Drake, Babyface, Toni Braxton, Rick Ross, and SZA — the latter earning him a Grammy for Best R&B Song in 2023 with “Snooze.”
In 2023, Thomas stepped fully into the solo spotlight with Electric Dusk, followed by 2024’s MUTT — a genre-blending, soul-rock-R&B hybrid named after his rescue dog, Terry. The album was crowned #1 R&B Album of the Year by both Billboard and VIBE, with Billboard calling it “the most stunning R&B album of 2024” and Essence praising it for “pushing the boundaries of Black music.” VIBE declared it “one of the best R&B albums of the year,” while HuffPost proclaimed, “With ‘MUTT,’ Leon Thomas becomes a top dog in R&B.”
This summer brought MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, a darker, sharper continuation of the original album that Thomas says is about “baring its teeth.” New collaborations with Kehlani, Big Sean, Halle, and Freddie Gibbs push his sound into bolder territory, with themes exploring fame, connection, and vulnerability.
Up next is the sold-out Mutts Don’t Heel World Tour, produced by Live Nation, kicking off October 30 in Dallas. The North American leg — including upgraded venues in NYC, LA, Chicago, and Toronto due to overwhelming demand — will feature rising R&B standout Ambré as support. Before hitting the road, Thomas will headline Billboard’s Hip-Hop & R&B LIVE concert on September 5 at Webster Hall during Billboard’s Hip-Hop & R&B Week. In 2026, he’ll take the show overseas for dates in London, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, and a full run across Australia.
This year alone, Thomas has won Best New Artist at the 2025 BET Awards, performed “MUTT” on its mainstage, delivered a fiery “NOT FAIR” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, made his late-night debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, and presented at the 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards. He’s also been named Billboard’s Chartbreaker and MTV PUSH Artist of the Month.
As Ty Dolla $ign recently put it, Leon Thomas is “the new king of R&B.” And with a viral Tiny Desk, global tour, platinum single, and MTV VMA nominations, Thomas is proving he’s not just keeping up with R&B’s best — he’s setting the pace. Or, as he told the AP, “It’s like a 20-year-long, overnight success. I feel ready for the moment.”
Listen to the Tiny Desk version of Mutt here.
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