Ryan Leslie

Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
	Leslie in 2007
Background information
Also known as	Castor Troy
Born	September 25, 1978 (age 46); Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Origin	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard University (BS)
Genres	Hip hop; neo soul; pop; R&B;
Occupations	Singer; songwriter; rapper; record producer; entrepreneur;
Discography	Recording; production;
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Disruptive Multimedia; NextSelection Lifestyle Group; Casablanca; Sony RED; Universal Motown;
Member of	The Hitmen;
Formerly of	The Harvard Krokodiloes
Website	ryanleslie.com
Signature

Anthony Ryan Leslie (born September 25, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He has careers in recording, production, and songwriting for music industry acts in R&B, hip hop, pop and gospel. Leslie has been credited on albums by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Diddy, LL Cool J, Kanye West, and Usher, among others.

Leslie is credited with discovering R&B singer Cassie in 2004, who signed to his NextSelection record label in a joint-venture with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records two years later. Leslie wrote and produced her 2006 debut single "Me & U", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); he did so on the entirety of her eponymous debut studio album (2006). In his own recording career, Leslie signed with Universal Motown Records to release his self-titled debut studio album (2009), which was met with moderate critical and commercial reception. It was supported by the singles "Diamond Girl," "Addiction" (featuring Fabolous and Cassie), and "How It Was Supposed to Be," and followed by his second album Transition (2009), and his independently released third album, Les Is More (2012).

Outside of music, Leslie founded the direct text marketing service SuperPhone in 2015.^[1]