Leon Thomas III now holds 3 Grammy Awards after winning Best R&B Album for “Mutt” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie” at the 68th Grammy Awards in February. He is now writing his third album, working sessions with Pharrell Williams while completing close to 30 finished songs. He is also touring The Romantic Tour, which launched in Las Vegas alongside Bruno Mars.
His Grammy Wins Confirm Mutt Was No Fluke
Leon Thomas III won 2 Grammy Awards at the 68th ceremony, taking Best R&B Album for “Mutt” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie.” That night also brought 6 total nominations, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. His album streams jumped by 1,600 percent on Spotify right after the ceremony, according to Art Threat. This win adds to his first Grammy, taken in 2024 for co writing SZA’s “Snooze,” and an earlier 2019 nomination for Rick Ross’s “Gold Roses.”
He Is Already Building the Next Album
Leon Thomas III confirmed in April that he had completed close to 30 songs for his follow up to “Mutt,” with a goal of writing between 60 and 100 tracks before choosing a final list. He told Rolling Stone that major producers began reaching out after his Grammy wins, including Pharrell Williams, who he met for sessions in a Paris studio. Thomas said the collaboration worked as a meeting of equals, not a case of following someone else’s lead. He also said he keeps writing on the road, since this stretch of his career feels like a defining moment.
New Singles Are Already Rolling Out
Leon Thomas III has released a string of new singles this year, including “Deeper,” “Could Be Worse,” “Friends Again,” “All That Matters” and “Just How You Are.” He also appears on Chris Brown’s “Fallin'” and on tracks with Kehlani and other collaborators. That release pace signals he is not waiting for a full album cycle to stay in front of fans.
| Song | Type | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Deeper | Single | Later reworked with a Rudimental remix |
| Could Be Worse | Single | Part of his new album rollout |
| Friends Again | Single | Standalone release outside the Mutt era |
| All That Matters | Single | Featured on Love is the New Gangsta |
| Fallin’ | Feature | Guest verse on Chris Brown’s single |
The Romantic Tour Puts Him Next to Bruno Mars
Leon Thomas III is currently on The Romantic Tour, which launched in Las Vegas on April 10 alongside Bruno Mars. That pairing places him next to one of pop’s biggest headliners at a point when his own Grammy wins are driving new streaming attention. He also recorded a live performance for Delta Air Lines and YouTube Premium’s Overhead Originals project, filmed on a Boeing 767 and released on April 3 for in flight entertainment.
How Mutt Set Up This Run
“Mutt” became Leon Thomas III’s breakthrough sophomore album, built on tracks like “Mutt,” “Vibes Don’t Lie” and “Yes It Is.” The lead single “Mutt” reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped multiple R&B charts, while the album itself was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B Album of the year. His NPR Tiny Desk performance of the album’s songs passed 3.5 million YouTube views. Before “Mutt,” his debut album Electric Dusk, released through Ty Dolla Sign’s EZMNY Records and Motown, introduced his blend of neo soul, funk and psychedelic rock.
His Path From Broadway to R&B Stardom
Leon Thomas III made his Broadway debut at age 10 as Young Simba in The Lion King, then built a music career after starring as Andre Harris on Nickelodeon’s Victorious. He is the grandson of jazz musician and opera singer John D. Anthony. Before his solo career, he wrote and produced for SZA, Ariana Grande, Post Malone, Drake and Chris Brown, including work on Post Malone’s Stoney album and 3 songs on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. His rise sits alongside other genre bending R&B and hip hop crossovers covered on Tyler, the Creator’s latest work and Chloe Bailey’s musical breakthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
His most recent releases include the singles “Deeper,” “Could Be Worse,” “Friends Again” and “All That Matters,” plus a guest feature on Chris Brown’s “Fallin’.” He is also writing his third studio album, the follow up to “Mutt.”
Leon Thomas III has won 3 Grammy Awards. He won Best R&B Song for SZA’s “Snooze” in 2024, then Best R&B Album for “Mutt” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie” at the 68th ceremony in February.
Yes, he is currently on The Romantic Tour, which launched in Las Vegas on April 10 alongside Bruno Mars. The tour follows his earlier sold out Mutts Don’t Heel World Tour.
He is working with Pharrell Williams, among other collaborators, after completing close to 30 songs for the project. He met Williams for studio sessions in Paris following his Grammy wins.
Leon Thomas III makes progressive R&B that blends neo soul, funk, psychedelic rock and jazz influences. His sound relies on live instrumentation and analog production rather than trap heavy beats.