Leon Thomas

Leon Thomas cleans up R&B nods post-Grammy; Durand, Kehlani not far behind

Leon Thomas, fresh from his Grammy win with SZA’s “Snooze,” returns with nominations stacked across nearly every R&B category, including for his EP Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk) and its standout tracks. Durand Bernarr trails closely, collecting three for his project Bloom and songs like “Here We Are.”

Kehlani’s chart-climber “Folded” earns two nods, while Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller’s “It Depends” dominates airplay and garners dual nominations. Summer Walker, Ledisi, and Teyana Taylor reemerge with projects poised for recognition.

Ty Dolla $ign eyes “Tycoon” status—still gets schooled by his daughter

Ty Dolla $ign sits down over red rice and hummus at Casa Madera to unpack the naming of his album, Tycoon—a deliberate nod to the Japanese-rooted term for “great lord,” which he equates with “boss.”

Over lunch, he outlines his belief in reaching artistic dominance, “one of the biggest in the game,” while acknowledging the hills yet unclimbed, the goals uncrossed. He also gestures to EZMNY Records, his new label, and artist Leon Thomas, but circles back to say his daughter outshines any chart position.