5 Things To Know About Leon Thomas, Music Advocacy Day’s 2025 Artist Ambassador

Leon Thomas is meeting the moment. After decades of building a reputation as one of the music industry's most in-demand producers, the Brooklyn-born hitmaker's burgeoning solo career has reached new heights — earning his own radio hits, awards show wins and magazine covers and launching a world tour at the end of October.

However, before he takes off on that global trek, the R&B sensation will head to Washington D.C. to serve as the 2025 Artist Ambassador for The Recording Academy's 11th annual Music Advocacy Day on Sept. 25. 

"Some of the best parts of my life, all because of music. Not just making it, but also the people that I connect through [it]," the GRAMMY-winning producer, songwriter and solo artist told The Recording Academy. "On September 25th, I'm linking with other Recording Academy members to talk to lawmakers about what really matters to us as creatives."

He also expounded on a few of the goals of this year's GRAMMYs on the Hill efforts: "Here's what's on the table: AI that works with us and not against us; the NO FAKES Act keeps our voice, image and likeness; keeping the arts alive in every community. The NEA funds concerts, programs and music education that changes lives." 

Below, dive into five things you need to know about Thomas' journey and his changemaking R&B ahead of Music Advocacy Day 2025.

He Got His Start As A Child Star

Long before he was storming up the Billboard charts, Thomas was lighting up the Broadway stage — making his Broadway debut as Young Simba in "The Lion King" before originating the role of Jackie Thibodeaux in 2004's "Caroline, or Change" and playing multiple roles in the original cast of the 2005 revival of "The Color Purple."

Soon enough, Thomas made the leap to the small screen, providing the singing voice for Tyrone across two seasons of "The Backyardigans" and appearing on Nickelodeon shows like "iCarly" and "The Naked Brothers Band." His biggest role on the network came, however, when he was cast as musical prodigy Andre Harris in "Victorious," which ran from 2010 to 2013 and also helped launch the careers of his castmates like Ariana Grande, Victoria Justice, Liz Gillies and Avan Jogia. 

To this day, Thomas still takes his Nickelodeon roots seriously; the responsibility that came with child stardom provided a foundation for his path as he has matured into a grown-up R&B star. 

"I probably would have benefited from [a rebellious streak], but I knew I had kids following me," he admitted in a cover story for Billboard's annual R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue. "I made sure I was paying homage to the role model I used to be. Nickelodeon can still collaborate with me and it's not awkward."

He's A 'Rascal' Who's Crafted Hits For Ariana Grande, Drake, Post Malone & More

Following the end of Victorious, Thomas' next move was teaming up with Khristopher Riddick-Tynes to form production duo The Rascals. One of the first big breakout moments for the pair was working on Ariana Grande's 2013 debut album, Yours Truly. (Fun fact: in addition to co-writing and producing fan-favorite tracks like "Honeymoon Avenue," "Tattooed Heart" and "Lovin' It," Thomas also jumped in the booth to provide backing vocals for his pal and Victorious costar.)

Over the next decade and counting, The Rascals continued to make a name for themselves as go-to producers for stars like Zendaya ("Something New" featuring Chris Brown), Post Malone ("Yours Truly, Austin Post"), Kehlani ("Grieving" featuring James Blake) and Drake ("Gold Roses" with Rick Ross and three tracks on Certified Lover Boy). Ari even reunited with the duo in 2020 for Positions album cuts "Safety Net" featuring Ty Dolla $ign and "Nasty."

He Struck GRAMMYs Gold With SZA

Over the last few years, Thomas' work with other artists has helped earn recognition at the GRAMMYs. After earning his first nomination in the Best Rap Song category in 2020 for co-writing and producing "Gold Roses" by Drake and Rick Ross, Thomas officially took home his first golden gramophone at the 2024 ceremony thanks to SZA.

That year, SZA won Best R&B Song for her SOS-era single "Snooze," which Thomas helped cook up in the studio as a co-writer and producer. Immediately following his victory with SZA, the newly christened GRAMMY winner expressed his shock and gratitude in a backstage interview with the Recording Academy. 

"First off, I've had a GRAMMY on my lock screen on my phone for, like, a year and a half. So this has been a one-track-minded thing," he revealed with a laugh. "We absolutely knew we had something special [with 'Snooze'] and to be completely honest, it's just been a learning experience for me — I've never had a hit this big before, so it just really feels amazing."

He's Rewriting The Rules Of Modern R&B

For over a decade, Thomas has complemented his work with The Rascals with his own solo music. He first debuted as a solo artist with the aptly titled Wiz Khalifa collaboration "Hello How Are You" in 2013. Thomas then followed that song with a trio of mixtapes, the 2018 EP Genesis and a string of singles before releasing his debut studio album, Electric Dusk, in 2023 via Ty Dolla $ign's EZMNY imprint and Motown Records. 

The multi-hyphenate's first taste of solo success on the Billboard 200, however, came with his 2024 sophomore album, MUTT. The studio set's lush title track has become a slow-burning smash since it dropped last summer — reaching No. 12 on the Hot 100 nearly a year after its release. The song, which spawned remixes with Freddie Gibbs and Chris Brown, has also reigned over three different radio charts, spending a remarkable 20 weeks as top dog on the Hot R&B Songs tally.

Thomas' sheer musicality has lent itself to creating a new sound in contemporary R&B. Eschewing the hollow, minimal beats favored by so many of his male peers over the last decade, Thomas incorporates live instrumentation, innovative production and references to the R&B greats of the past.

"There was an era when you didn't have to know what you were doing; you could make a beat on FruityLoops with the most minimal sounds and as long as it banged, your song is a smash. That started to dumb people down," Ty Dolla $ign said in Thomas' recent Billboard cover story. "Leon brought us back to hits with real guitar, real bass, a string section, Rhodes piano, synthesizers, and stacked vocals."

He Already Started His Advocacy Journey With The Recording Academy

Before being named the Artist Ambassador for Music Advocacy Day 2025, Thomas took part in another major advocacy initiative with the Recording Academy: GRAMMYs on the Hill. During GRAMMYs on the Hill 2024, he met with Reps. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) to discuss crucial topics like AI safeguards and ticketing reform with hundreds of other Recording Academy members.

"I sat down with members of Congress and shared what music means to me, and I saw how their faces changed when they really understood our side of the story," he recalled of his first experience on Capitol Hill. "It reminded me that if we don't speak up, decisions will be made without us."

As Artist Ambassador for this year's Music Advocacy Day, Thomas will help lead the charge on supporting crucial legislation like the NO FAKES Act — which Recording Academy leaders and members successfully got reintroduced to Congress during this year's GRAMMYs on the Hill — as well as lobbying to keep the National Endowment for the Arts alive in the face of threats from the current administration to shutter the agency.