Ryan Leslie: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter, July 26, 2024 Ryan Leslie was in go mode as he arrived at NPR headquarters after an early morning road trip from New York. He bounced all over the space even when the cameras werent rolling. I was curious to hear how he would take his big, synthheavy sound and adapt it to the Tiny Desk, but then was quickly reminded that at his core, hes a creator. Leslie made songs like Diamond Girl, How It Was Supposed To Be and Cassies Long Way 2 Go, so to watch him recreate them here with ease shouldnt have been a surprise. After writing and producing Cassies debut album and hits for others, the singersongwriter and entrepreneur decided to focus on being a solo artist. Its not easy to go into a studio by yourself and walk out with a complete album, but R. Les is that artist. The viral video of him creating Addiction is remarkable proof. In 2013, he walked away from the traditional music industry, removing his music from streaming services and created a new platform utilizing his so