Le1f facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Le1f
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Le1f in 2013
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| Birth name | Khalif Libasse Diouf |
| Born | April 6, 1989 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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Khalif Libasse Diouf (born April 6, 1989), known by his stage name Kalifa (and formerly as Le1f), is an American rapper and music producer. He is known for his one-of-a-kind musical style and performances. He is also an important gay artist in the world of hip hop.
Along with some friends, Kalifa started his own record label called Camp & Street. After releasing several popular mixtapes and EPs (short albums), he released his first full album, Riot Boi, in 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kalifa was born in Manhattan, a part of New York City. From a young age, he was interested in the arts. He studied ballet and modern dance. After high school, he went to Wesleyan University and earned a degree in dance. After college, he moved back to New York City to start his career as a rapper.
Musical Journey
Getting Started
Kalifa first became known for making the background music, or beats, for the hip-hop group Das Racist. A music producer is someone who helps create the sound of a song or album. One of the famous songs he produced for them was "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell".
He then started his solo career. In 2012, he released his first mixtape, which is like a free album, called Dark York. The song "Wut" from this mixtape became very popular, and he made a music video for it.
Gaining Popularity
In November 2012, Kalifa worked with the artist Mykki Blanco on a song. He also released a short album, called an EP, with a producer named Boody.
The next year, in 2013, he released his second mixtape, Fly Zone. It received good reviews and featured other artists like Heems and DonChristian. Later that year, he released another mixtape called Tree House.
A Disagreement in Music
In 2013, Kalifa spoke out about the song "Thrift Shop" by the rapper Macklemore. Kalifa said that the beat of the song was very similar to his own song, "Wut". He also had concerns about another one of Macklemore's songs, "Same Love". He felt it was not right for an artist to use a social issue to make money.
Major Record Deal
In 2014, Kalifa signed a record deal with Terrible Records. He released a five-song EP called Hey. That same year, he performed on a major TV program, the Late Show with David Letterman, which introduced his music to a much larger audience.
His first full studio album, Riot Boi, came out in November 2015. Many talented artists and producers helped make the album, including Sophie, Evian Christ, and Dev Hynes.
In 2017, Kalifa performed at the Sonic Acts Festival in Amsterdam. He has continued to perform and create music.
Discography
Studio albums
- Riot Boi (2015, XL/Terrible Records)
EPs
- Liquid (2012, Boysnoize Records) – Boody & Le1f
- Hey (2014, XL/Terrible Records)
- Blue Dream (2018, Self-released)
Mixtapes
- Dark York (2012, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
- Fly Zone (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
- Tree House (2013, Greedhead/Camp & Street)
Filmography
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wut" | 2012 | Sam B. Jones | |
| "Soda" (with Boody) | |||
| "Spa Day" | 2013 | Jesse Miller-Gordon | |
| "Hush Bb" | Alex Da Corte | ||
| "Boom" | 2014 | Sam B. Jones | |
| "Sup" | Jesse Miller-Gordon | ||
| "Koi" | 2015 | Simon Ward | |
| "Umami / Water" | 2017 | Le1f |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Late Show with David Letterman | Musical guest | Season 21, episode 115 |
See also
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
- NYC Pride March
