Leon George Thomas III (born August 1, 1993)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. After early roles in Broadway and providing the singing voice of Tyrone on the Nick Jr. animated series The Backyardigans (2006–2008), he played Andre Harris on the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013), for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination.
Leon Thomas III | |
|---|---|
 Thomas in an interview with WHTA in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leon George Thomas III[1] |
| Born | August 1, 1993 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | The Rascals |
Thomas signed to Columbia and Rostrum Records, and sought success for his songwriting, and as a member of the production duo the Rascals. He has earned writing credits on former Victorious co-star Ariana Grande's Positions, Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign's Vultures Vol. 1, and Toni Braxton and Babyface's Grammy Award-winning album Love, Marriage & Divorce (2014). Thomas earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song nomination at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, for co-writing the song "Gold Roses" by Rick Ross (featuring Drake).[3] He later won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, for his contribution to the song "Snooze" by SZA.
Life and career
Thomas was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Jayon Anthony and Leon Thomas II.[1][4] He made his Broadway debut at the age of 10[1] in 2003 as Young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King. In 2004, he appeared as Jackie Thibodeaux in the original Broadway cast of Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change. and toured with the company during its five-month run in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. Thomas also performed in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. In 2007, Thomas appeared in the film August Rush as Arthur, performing the song "La Bamba", and briefly after signed a development deal with Nickelodeon appearing as the singing voice for Tyrone in the animated series The Backyardigans. Thomas has also guest-starred on Jack's Big Music Show and Just Jordan. He also appeared as Harper in the iCarly episode "iCarly Saves TV" and was featured on The Naked Brothers Band "Christmas Special".
He played a main character on Victorious, portraying Andre Harris, which premiered on Nickelodeon on March 27, 2010. Thomas also appeared as Andre in the crossover episode between Victorious and iCarly, iParty with Victorious. He also appeared as himself in an episode of True Jackson, VP. On August 2, 2011, the soundtrack album Victorious: Music from the Hit TV Show was released, with Thomas featured in the songs "Song 2 You" and "Tell Me That You Love Me". On June 5, 2012, Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show was also released, with Thomas featured in the songs "Countdown" and "Don't You (Forget About Me)". Victorious ended production in July 2012 and the series' last episode aired on February 2, 2013.
In 2012, Thomas started to record his first mixtape called Metro Hearts;[5] it was released on August 1, 2012.[6] Songs on the mixtape include "Forever", "Bad", "Moving On", "Vibe", "Like Clay", and "Never Look Back". The mixtape also included a cover of Drake's "Take Care" with Ariana Grande.[7] Thomas co-wrote the song "Ain't No Other Me" for the British girl group Stooshe, which features as a deluxe edition track on their debut album, London with the Lights On. Thomas co-wrote four songs on his former co-star Ariana Grande's 2013 album Yours Truly. He also co-produced four songs on the album, in addition to the song "Last Christmas" from Grande's EP Christmas Kisses, as a member of production duo the Rascals.[8] His production work under the Rascals was also included on Toni Braxton and Babyface's Grammy Award-winning album Love, Marriage & Divorce, contributing to the solo "I'd Rather Be Broke", performed by Braxton.
On September 24, 2013, Thomas released a new single, "Hello How Are You" (featuring Wiz Khalifa). On January 1, 2014, Thomas released a new mixtape, V1bes, under the name Leon Thomas, via DatPiff.[9] He also announced that a music video for "Hello How Are You" was in the works. In 2016, he served as a co-producer for Post Malone's album Stoney.
In 2016, Thomas released the mixtape Before the Beginning via SoundCloud, which compiled eight songs which he had "[held on] for a long time".[10] In 2017, he appeared in the Kathryn Bigelow-directed film Detroit.
2018 saw the release of Thomas' debut EP Genesis, which featured guest appearances from Buddy and Tayla Parx. The next year, Thomas earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song nomination at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing and co-producing the song "Gold Roses" by Rick Ross (featuring Drake). Thomas would also go on to write and produce more records under the Rascals production duo, as well as a solo producer, co-writing, and co-producing two songs on Ariana Grande's Positions, and three songs on Drake's Certified Lover Boy.[11]
In May 2022, Ty Dolla Sign signed a joint venture deal with Motown for his newly launched EZMNY Records imprint, announcing Thomas to be the label's first artist.[12]
He was one of the writers and producers on the track "Burn" by ¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) from their album Vultures 1, released on February 10, 2024.[13]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Robin and Roger | Boy | "The Plan" (season 1, episode 3); nine-episode series |
| 2007 | August Rush | Arthur | [14] |
| 2010 | Rising Stars | JR | |
| 2014 | Bad Asses | Tucson | |
| 2015 | Runaway Island | Evan Holloway | |
| 2017 | Detroit | Darryl |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Just for Kicks | Ty | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | The Backyardigans | Tyrone | Main singing voice role (seasons 2–3) |
| 2007 | Just Jordan | Ronnie | Episode: "Revenge of the Riff" |
| Jack's Big Music Show | Leon | Episode: "Laurie's Big Song" | |
| 2008, 2011 | iCarly | Harper | Episode: "iCarly Saves TV" |
| Andre Harris | Crossover movie: iParty with Victorious | ||
| 2008 | The Naked Brothers Band | Leon Williams | Episode: "Christmas Special" |
| 2010 | 2010 Kids' Choice Awards | Himself | |
| 2010–13 | Victorious | Andre Harris | Main role, 57 episodes |
| 2011 | True Jackson, VP | Himself | Episode: "True Fame" |
| 2011 Kids' Choice Awards | |||
| 2012 | Figure It Out | Panelist (episodes 20, 23, 31, 38) | |
| 2014 | Satisfaction | Mateo | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| Robot and Monster | Monster's singing voice | ||
| 2015 | Fear the Walking Dead | Russell | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2017 | Insecure | Eddie | Recurring role |
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Electric Dusk |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Metro Hearts |
|
| V1bes |
|
| Before the Beginning[15] |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Genesis[16] |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Adult R&B [17] | |||
| "Hello How Are You" (featuring Wiz Khalifa)[18] | 2013 | — | Non-album single |
| "Favorite" (featuring Buddy)[19] | 2018 | 17 | Genesis |
| "Sunken Place"[20] | — | ||
| "X-Rated" (featuring Benny the Butcher) | 2022 | — | Electric Dusk |
| "Love Jones" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) | — | ||
| "Breaking Point" | — | ||
| "Crash & Burn" | 2023 | — | |
| "Breaking Point (Remix)" (featuring Victoria Monét) | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Snapchat" (Yonni featuring Leon Thomas, Eric Bellinger, A-Roc, and Rayven Justice)[21] | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Rendezvous" (Kronic featuring Leon Thomas)[22] | 2017 | |
| "Sho Enough" (Philly Swain featuring Leon Thomas and Safaree)[23] | ||
| "Aimless" (Bizzy Crook featuring Lexii Alijai and Leon Thomas)[24] | 2018 | Before I Jump[25] |
| "Too Much" (Bizzy Crook featuring Leon Thomas)[26] | 2019 | Confetti |
| "Settle" (Kosine featuring Leon Thomas)[27] | 2021 | Truth Serum[28] |
| "Lucky" (Tish Hyman featuring Larussell & Leon Thomas) | 2023 | TBA |
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Kid [29] | ||||||||||||||
| "It's You" (with Jessie Payo) | 2010 | — | Rising Stars | |||||||||||
| "Countdown"[30] (Victorious cast featuring Leon Thomas III and Victoria Justice) | 2012 | 10 | Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show | |||||||||||
| "Come Clean" (with Michelle DeShon) | 2014 | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||
| "PLW"[31] | 2018 | — | Genesis | |||||||||||
| "Until the End of Time" (with Coco Jones) | 2023 | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Kid [29] | |||
| "Song 2 You" (Victorious cast featuring Leon Thomas III and Victoria Justice) | 2011 | 8 | Victorious: Music from the Hit TV Show |
| "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Victorious cast featuring Victoria Justice and Leon Thomas III) | 11 |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Sing the Day" | 2006 | Anika Noni Rose, Harrison Chad, Marcus Carl Franklin | Bambi II |
| "La Bamba" | 2007 | None | August Rush |
| "I Like That Girl" | 2008 | iCarly: Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Show | |
| "Free to Fall" | 2010 | Kyle Riabko, Jessie Payo, Natalie Hall | Rising Stars |
| "A Better Day" | Kyle Riabko | ||
| "All I Want"[32] | 2011 | Roshon Fegan | Non-album song |
| "365 Days" | 2012 | Victorious cast | Victorious 3.0: Even More Music from the Hit TV Show |
| "Yes We Can" | 2013 | Nat & Alex Wolff, Natasha Bedingfield | Throwbacks |
| "Can We Talk" | Berner, Erk tha Jerk | Drugstore Cowboy | |
| "Show Us"[33] | 2014 | None | Non-album songs |
| "Miss You"[34] | |||
| "Nothing" | The Best of Both Offices Compilation Vol. 4[35] | ||
| "Too Long"[36] | 2015 | Non-album song | |
| "Fire" | 2016 | Finding Noyvon, J.Kelr | Believe in MPLS[37] |
| "Teacher" | Yonni | #TheGift[38] | |
| "Balance" | 2017 | RichGains, GLC, Nate Mercereau | Gains[39] |
| "Zen" | 2018 | Bizzy Crook | Before I Jump[25] |
| "Arcadia (For the Land)" | 2020 | WavelQ | Arcadia[40] |
| "Lord Knows" | 2022 | Steelo, Dej Loaf | Eldorado Excursions |
| "Patience (Remix) | Eric Bellinger | New Light: The Remixes | |
| "Cowrie Charms" | 2023 | Yussef Dayes, Barbara Hicks | Black Classical Music |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As an artist | ||||
| "All I Want" | 2011 | Roshon Fegan | Unknown | [41] |
| "Hello How Are You" | 2013 | Wiz Khalifa | [42] | |
| "Snapchat" | 2015 | Yonni, Eric Bellinger, A-Roc, Rayven Justice | [43] | |
| "Favorite" | 2018 | Buddy | [44] | |
| "PLW" | None | €¥£$ | [45] | |
| "X-Rated" | 2022 | Benny the Butcher | Cameron Dean, Leon Thomas | |
| "Love Jones" | Ty Dolla Sign | Cameron Dean | ||
| "Breaking Point" | 2023 | none | ||
| Guest appearances | ||||
| "Make It Shine" | 2010 | Victorious cast, Victoria Justice | Unknown | [46] |
| "Freak the Freak Out" | Marcus Wagner | [47] | ||
| "Beggin' on Your Knees" | 2011 | [48] | ||
| "Leave It All to Shine" | iCarly and Victorious casts, Miranda Cosgrove, Victoria Justice | Unknown | [49] | |
| "All I Want Is Everything" | Victorious cast, Victoria Justice | Lex Halaby | [50] | |
| "Make It in America" | 2012 | Anna Mastro | [51] | |
| "L.A. Boyz" | Victorious cast, Victoria Justice, Ariana Grande | Unknown | [52] | |
| "Here's 2 Us" | Victorious cast, Victoria Justice | [53] | ||
| "You Don't Know Me" | Victorious cast, Elizabeth Gillies | [54] | ||
Production and songwriting credits
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Honeymoon Avenue" | 2013 | Ariana Grande | Yours Truly | Co-writer |
| "Tattooed Heart" | ||||
| "Lovin' It" | ||||
| "You'll Never Know" | ||||
| "Love Is Everything" | Christmas Kisses | |||
| "Snow in California" | ||||
| "I'd Rather Be Broke" | 2014 | Toni Braxton | Love, Marriage & Divorce | |
| "Can I Get a Moment?" | Jessica Mauboy | Beautiful | ||
| "Kinda Miss You" | 2015 | Deborah Cox | Non-album single | |
| "Shake That" | Samantha Jade, Pitbull | Nine | ||
| "Something New" | 2016 | Zendaya, Chris Brown | Non-album single | |
| "Yours Truly, Austin Post" | Post Malone | Stoney | Co-producer and co-writer | |
| "Geek'd" | 2018 | Bhad Bhabie, Lil Baby | 15 | Co-writer |
| "Butterfly" | 2019 | Kehlani | While We Wait | |
| "Gold Roses" | Rick Ross, Drake | Port of Miami 2 | ||
| "Scary Nights" | G-Eazy | Scary Nights | ||
| "Summer Magic" | Ai | It's All Me, Vol. 1 | Co-producer and co-writer | |
| "Safety Net" | 2020 | Ariana Grande, Ty Dolla Sign | Positions | Co-writer |
| "Nasty" | Ariana Grande | |||
| "In the Bible" | 2021 | Drake, Lil Durk, Giveon | Certified Lover Boy | Co-producer and co-writer |
| "Love All" | Drake, Jay-Z | |||
| "Pipe Down" | Drake | |||
| "For Tonight" | Giveon | Give or Take | ||
| "Wicked Freestyle" | Nardo Wick | Who Is Nardo Wick? | ||
| "Rent Free" | 6lack | "Rent Free" / "By Any Means" single | ||
| "High School Crush" | 2022 | Buddy | Superghetto | |
| "Rich Shit" | Lil Gotit, Lil Keed, Ty Dolla Sign | The Cheater | ||
| "Poison" | Jack Harlow, Lil Wayne | Come Home the Kids Miss You | ||
| "Another Heartbreak" | Giveon | Give or Take | ||
| "Scarred" | ||||
| "Let Me Go" | ||||
| "Lost Me" | ||||
| "July 16th" | ||||
| "Get to You" | ||||
| "All Wolves Go to Heaven" | YoDogg, Cardo | Raised by Wolves | ||
| "Snooze" | SZA | SOS | ||
| "Wolves" | 2023 | Lauren Jauregui, Russ, Ty Dolla Sign | In Between | |
| "Gone" | Kiana Ledé, Bryson Tiller | Grudges | ||
| "Undefeated" | Mike Dimes | Texas Boy | ||
| "Burn" | 2024 | ¥$ | Vultures 1 |
Broadway appearances
Tours
- Big Time Summer Tour (joined on August 21, 2012)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance In A Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor (Fantasy or Drama) | August Rush | Won[55] |
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series) | Victorious | Nominated[56] |
| 2020 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Song | "Gold Roses" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Best R&B Song | Snooze | Won[57] |