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, also known as Kalifa and formerly Le1f (born April 6, 1989), is an American rapper and music producer. He also started his own record label called Camp & Street with friends Boody, DonChristian, and Chaz Requina.
Khalif became well-known for his unique music style and performances. He is also recognized as an openly gay rapper, which has made him an important voice in hip hop music. After releasing several popular mixtapes and EPs, his first studio album, Riot Boi, came out in November 2015.
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About Khalif Diouf
Khalif Diouf was born in Manhattan, a part of New York City. When he was younger, he studied ballet and modern dance. He went to Concord Academy and later earned a degree in dance from Wesleyan University. After finishing college, he moved back to New York City to start his career as a rapper.
Le1f's Music Journey
Khalif first gained attention for producing songs for the hip-hop group Das Racist. One of their most famous songs he produced was "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell".
Early Success
Le1f became known as a solo artist when he released his first mixtape called Dark York in April 2012. A mixtape is like a collection of songs, often released for free. The song "Wut" from this mixtape became very popular, and a music video for it was released in June 2012.
Later that month, Le1f released a joint EP with Boody, called Liquid. An EP (Extended Play) is shorter than an album but longer than a single. They also made a video for their song "Soda." Le1f's second mixtape, Fly Zone, came out in January 2013 and received good reviews. It featured other artists like Heems, DonChristian, and Kitty.
Speaking Out
In August 2013, Le1f spoke out about the rapper Macklemore. Le1f felt that Macklemore's song "Thrift Shop" sounded very similar to his own song "Wut." He also shared his thoughts on Macklemore's song "Same Love." Le1f believed it was important for people to be authentic when talking about social issues.
In September 2013, Diouf released his third mixtape, Tree House. A music video for the song "Hush Bb" was released, directed by artist Alex Da Corte.
Major Releases
In February 2013, the record label Terrible Records announced they had signed Le1f. They released a five-track EP called Hey on March 11, 2014. Just two days later, on March 13, 2014, Le1f performed on national television on the Late Show with David Letterman.
In November 2015, Le1f released his first full-length studio album, Riot Boi, through XL and Terrible Records. Many artists helped with the album, including Evian Christ, Junglepussy, Balam Acab, Lunice, Boody, Sophie, Dev Hynes, and Dubbel Dutch.
In 2017, Le1f performed at the Sonic Acts Festival in Amsterdam. He has also performed at their club night called Progress Bar many times.
Le1f's Music
Here is a list of the music Le1f has released:
Studio Albums
- Riot Boi (2015, XL/Terrible Records)
EPs
- Liquid (2012, Boysnoize Records) – with Boody
- 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)
Videos and TV Appearances
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
