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Ryan Leslie: The Man Behind Cassie
August 9, 2006
To epitomize innovation and passion in human form, you need not look any further than producer, singer, and songwriter Ryan Leslie. The creativity and revolutionary vision of this all around multi-media mogul set him apart from others alike him in the industry, making him the new voice of music.
The musical architect that is Leslie has shown dedication since early on. When you’re accepted into Harvard at the shy age of 15 and give a graduation speech about work ethic 4 years later at age 19, there is no need to wonder where the focus and drive to make things happen come from. Leslie has obviously been far beyond his age since, say, forever, and has made it a point to master the art of both discipline and commitment.
“I locked myself into a studio in the basement of one of my dorms," confesses Leslie, "and spent like 30 hours a week and tried to learn the art and emulate all the records that were out on the radio at the time.”
With such a high caliber of work ethic and craftsmanship, it's no shock that Leslie is the man behind newcomer Cassie. He discovered her and marketed her with such intricate detail until he made her the fresh new face of Bad Boy Records, not to mention also having worked with other chart toppers such as Cheri Dennis and Donell Jones, to name a few. By working with both new and older artists, he has managed to lock both his production and writing skills into top standings on the charts. Sure, we’ll give the artists their credit, but Leslie, the man behind the scenes, is without a doubt a key factor into the equation of [repeated] success.
His production group, The Next Selection Lifestyle Group, places focus on finding the next generation of talent, creating an outlet for those who are up and coming. Leslie's plan is to "modernize" the industry and share his vision, and he definitely welcomes those who are truly hard at work and bursting with the flame of passion to walk beside him.
“Many have misconstrued that comment on my Myspace, (“…I’m looking for the next kid with 8 hits on a cd and needs a break.”) ‘cause they’re thinking that maybe just a home made demo or just something they just threw together is gonna get them that opportunity," clarifies Leslie, "The way I was discovered is that I spent 30, 40 hours a week in the studio trying to hone my craft and get it to the level where it was commercially viable…” [He defined “commercially viable” as material capable of competing with what was already on the radio.]
Leslie secures his future prospects with the perfect case study. Look what he’s done with Cassie, the hottest new artist topping the charts with her first single “Me & U”. Her album, entirely written and produced by Leslie, was due to drop in January of 2007, but due to overwhelming response on Myspace, and radio spins, it has been moved up and is due out sometime in August. Leslie describes her record as being unlike anything else on the radio and that the music has a “majestic simplicity” about it that, well, simply attracts the audience.
“I became to think as a producer I was looking for somebody who could embody my vision for what I wanted music to be and I guess it was really a multi-ethnic, non-genre specific voice of a new young generation and I think that Cassie embodies everything that I’ve just mentioned.”
In his articulate speech pattern, you can hear Leslie's unembellished passion. It might be safe to say, for a newbie in the scene, Leslie's already proved himself to the majority.
By way of his innovative and creative suggestions, it is confirmed that true believers in the art still exist. Of course the money is indefinitely an incentive for most, but he exemplifies a true lover of the music. Leslie even stated that he really wanted to find a way to use music to create influence on what was going on socially and shape ideas and opinions of young people. If that isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is.
By the looks of it, the future of music seems promising. The professionalism and pure focus that Leslie personifies makes him a major player, one to keep an eye on. He is sure to be one of the best we’ve seen in a while.
It is his attitude and self-motivation that stand out most. Simply check out part of Leslie's graduation speech, and be convinced:
“When you do the best, the best is always demanded of you...it comes from within not from the influences of anybody else and so this is what I felt my calling was and the best way that I can contribute to the world. I really pursued it relentlessly…that’s why it’s so exciting to see the fruition of everything I’ve always aimed to achieve. It’s beginning to take form right now.”
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