Sean Leon

Matthew Sean Leon (born January 30, 1991) is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is the founder of the IXXI Initiative, formed in 2012 in Toronto. The collective helped foster the career of Daniel Caesar in tandem with producers Jordan Evans & Matthew Burnett.

Career
In July 2013, Leon released his debut mixtape Ninelevenne, the Tragedy followed by his second project Narcissus, the Drowning of Ego on January 22, 2014. Both projects featured production by Jordan Evans. Shortly after the release of Narcissus, Leon began the year-long roll out of the compilation King Of The Wild Things. followed with I Think You've Gone Mad (Or the Sins of the Father) in 2017. On November 29, 2017, Leon released an audio-film titled "C.C.W.M.T.T". 2018 had the release of the album Sean Leon (The Death Of) and in 2021 God's Algorithm which had a non-traditional album release, with no streaming service involved, and only available for purchase on a beta landing page where users interacted through visuals, audio files, NFTs, and apparel. In 2023 he released the soundtrack album In Loving Memory prior to the film's debut.

Following his appearance on Daniel Caesar's Pilgrim's Paradise EP, in April 2016, Leon released the self-produced "Matthew in the Middle" featuring Caesar with production from Jovi, Jordan Evans and Jack Rochon, it was featured on the soundtrack for HBO's Insecure. Leon & Caesar's collaborations continued on the GRAMMY-nominated album Freudian & the following release Case Study 01. Leon also has released several WondaGurl-produced songs as well as working with fellow Toronto artists like River Tiber and Jazz Cartier.

In 2019, Leon had a demo titled "The Glade" under his own artist project. While working on Daniel Caesar's Case Study 01 in Los Angeles, fellow collaborator River Tiber recommended sharing the demo with Ye at one of West's Sunday Service performances. This led to Leon writing parts of "Selah", "Jesus Is Lord", the chorus on "Use This Gospel" and contributing to the track sequencing for West's 9th studio album Jesus Is King. The Glade became "Up from the Ashes" and was released on the deluxe edition release of West's album Donda, garnering him a co-writing and production credit on the track. He also was credited on Justin Bieber's song "Peaches". Leon has also been a guest writer for the TV series Utopia Falls.

He co-wrote the opening track "Stars" from ¥$ (Ye and Ty Dolla Sign) album Vultures 1, released on 10 February 2024.

In Loving Memory was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.

Discography
Studio Albums
 * I Think You've Gone Mad (Or the Sins of the Father) (2017)
 * C.C.W.M.T.T. (2017)
 * Sean Leon (The Death Of) (2018)
 * In Loving Memory (2023)

Compilation Albums
 * King of the Wild Things (2014)

Mixtapes
 * Ninelevenne, the Tragedy (2013)
 * Narcissus, The Drowning of Ego (2014)
 * God's Algorithm (2021)
 * HERD IMMUNITY (2022)

Extended Plays
 * 大切の想いで (2023)
 * KING & SUFFERIN (2023)

Features
2015
 * “Paradise” (Daniel Caesar)

2017
 * “Freudian” (Daniel Caesar)

2019
 * “Restore the Feeling” (Daniel Caesar with Jacob Collier)

2020
 * “Tommy’s Intro” (Junia-T with River Tiber)
 * “Know Better” (Junia-T with Milo Smith & Julian Thomas)

Songwriting
2019
 * "Entropy" (Daniel Caesar)
 * "Frontal Lobe Muzik" (Daniel Caesar) contains additional vocals by Sean Leon
 * "Selah" (Ye)
 * "Use This Gospel" (Ye)
 * "Jesus Is Lord" (Ye)

2021
 * "Up From The Ashes" (Ye)
 * "Peaches" (Justin Bieber)

2024
 * "Stars" (¥$–Ye and Ty Dolla Sign)