One of the amazing aspects of music in 2018 is that technology has broken down the old requirements of artists having to work out of major studios in major cities. Instead, the means of production have been placed into the hands of artists themselves. Now that recording artists can buy affordable yet quality equipment, learn basically any producing technique they’re looking for via YouTube, and have a plethora of streaming options to put their work on, creativity is no longer bound to huge metropolitan areas. I point this out to introduce you to an artist in the Tri-Cities area that is taking full advantage of this new age of self-sufficiency and promotion…world…meet Leebo!
Leebo – “Yuh Dig”
As you watch Leebo’s new video for “Yuh Dig” (shot by the multi-talented Washingtonian Noah Sampson), take notice of how the attention to detail turns these otherwise simple shots into eye-catching visuals. Manipulating the color composition of the backyard shot by adding red balloons, using the headlights of the car as the major source of lighting in the parking lot shot, and the aftereffects bleeding into the next scene to provide continuity, all of these are examples of low-budget techniques being executed very well, making them highly effective. This do-it-yourself attitude is what Leebo is all about and this grassroots approach is what makes his music and movement so electric.
In the fall of 2016, after his bro
ther Urban encouraged him to “put that same amount of time you use on them (video) games into making beats”, Leebo began attending the school of YouTube and really started to take producing seriously. Leaning on his musical background from high school band (clarinet, tenor saxophone, and french horn) and with the help of his “right-hand man” lil ExXon, the two aspiring musicians knocked out beat after beat, trying to improve their sound. After months of daily link up/smoke/beat sessions, the two of them were gifted a mic and Mbox by a buddy who no longer had use for them. Leebo says he never even really considered getting on his beats until then, but at that moment, his career as a charismatic vocalist was born.
Following the same strategy he used to attack beats, Leebo taught himself how to record, mix, and master as well. Every song released on his Soundcloud was engineered in house and when you start at the bottom and work your way back up to “Yuh Dig”, its really inspiring to hear the mixes get better and better over time. On the earliest track on his profile, “3am” feat Lil Exxon, you can tell Leebo is musically gifted by listening to the melodies and the cadence he chose to attack his beat. However, the vocals don’t sound normalized and the track is missing a polished feel to it. While it’s still enjoyable, Leebo obviously learned a little something each time he mixed and now we get to enjoy his music with harmonies at appropriate levels as every sound is treated to compliment the other.
Leebo – “Dutch Shawty”
Leebo and his fans really knew that his production level and overall artistry took that next step when his video for “Dutch Shawty” blew up within the community. This was the first track he linked up with Noah Sampson to do a video for and after people started sharing the visuals, Leebo began doing some numbers. “Dutch Shawty” has amassed over 50k total streams, no small feat for any up and coming artist, let alone one doing everything himself. The video got so popular in Tri-Cities that the Dutch Bros that it was shot at threatened to sue Leebo if he didn’t take it down! Luckily their threats were empty and we still get to enjoy Leebo’s first taste of viral success to this day.
While you may already be impressed by Leebo’s skillset, the Tri-Cities renaissance Man still has a couple more tricks up his sleeve to build his fanbase and stand out in this immensely saturated music scene. Considering rap and fashion go hand in hand, it should come as no shock Leebo has also managed to create his own streetwear brand, ETERNVL. Its actually pretty fire, too. To go along with the ETERNVL brand, Leebo has also created his own platform to perform, ETERNVL NIGHTS, which doubles as a party and a show (think of it like Toe Jam). He hires his own security, venue, DJ, lights, and sound guy and throws a massive function (sometimes up to 500 attendees!) in which people in his community can let loose and local recording artists get a chance to showcase their material. Leebo says he plans on getting some bigger named artists to headline in the near future and will continue ETERNVL NIGHTS with the hope that it grows to be as big as Rolling Loud one day.
Leebo is the perfect example of what hip-hop, and possibly the entire music industry is going to start looking like in the future. Artists will realize not only can they make more mula teaching themselves the other aspects of the music industry, they will also be able to elevate their art by having a hand into every facet of its production. Leebo has stayed true to his roots and is doing all of this by himself in Tri-Cities and here I am, in Seattle, writing about how awesome his movement is. In other words, he is making us come to him, signifying that big cities no longer hold a monopoly on artists. While there will always be a market for producers, engineers, promoters and so forth, Leebo deserves our eyes and ears for showing fellow artists how to level up on their own.
Before you go, we have some exclusive news to leave you with….according to the man Leebo himself….HIS DEBUT PROJECT IS DROPPING WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS! With his visuals and branding being so cohesive with the music, I am very excited to see what a whole project will look like from him. Go ahead and get familiar with him and his music and be prepared for one of the more hyped drops from the Washington music scene this year.
You can find Leebo on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Soundcloud @leebotracks!
