Tony Leon 555 doesn’t care if you call him a rapper, but we understand why the Birmingham-based musician doesn’t feel the need to be categorized into one genre. Yes, we started the interview discussing freestyles and he dropped his own–but that is only one aspect of the artist. His latest release, “Full Mania”, is most accurately described as “post-hardcore” but is truthfully the latest of Leon’s streak of innovative tunes that come from a variety of influences. The four-song project is the second release in a trinity of records. “Pure Evil” was released before, and “Mass Hysteria” releasing later this year.
“I always have one rock song on every album, but this one I just had to keep it rock,” 555 shares of his latest release, going on to explain that “rock” can be broken down to thousands of subgenres and he wants his music to push the genre forward. The first song on the release is a cover titled “Seven Years”–originally by saosin, a band that influenced Tony’s latest musical direction. “He wanted metal instrumentation with Bjork-style lyrics,” Leon shares of saosin frontman Anthony Green, “I took the concept of hardcore rock with my lyrics, so I just sing about what’s relevant to me.”
The second track on the project, “Real Wild”, is the most pop, modern track and provides a fun fast-paced upbeat discussion on mania–and a catchy guitar loop to boot. The third track, “Taking”, is Tony’s personal favorite because he freestyle the song and added screams to the track–which you don’t see too often in today’s mainstream music.
“That’s a real dope song. That’s a song I see taking off–being the most popular. But funny enough it wasn’t that one, it was the last song which is ‘Alabama’ which is really just some freestyling over a horn and a guitar,” Tony shares. 555 likes the island-y sound in the song because it reminds him of living in Alabama–as being a creative in the state can often feel isolated.
The album’s name also references a time in Tony’s life when he feels like he was “shouting into the void” as an artist, which he says came from trying to gain traction without collaborating or expanding his network. “People ain’t gonna care about my music, until they care about me,” the artist shares on his change in perspective, “So you got to collab. You got to network.” Now he sees the importance of rising together, and he’s continuing to take in new lessons.
“Support everybody else,” 555 advises, “Strangers will make you rich. I repeat–strangers will make you rich. Also, repetition is the key to learning. Also, watch your thoughts because your thoughts become your actions and your actions become your habits and your habits become your destiny.” Three thoughts that have stayed on the top of his mind of late–network, keep putting out music, and invest in your craft wisely.
While he’s enjoyed going to professional studios and working with a constantly-growing list of producers and collaborators (he shouted-out recent collaborator Classified Alias during the interview), Tony Leon 555 believes a main focus should be getting music to your fans however possible. “You can literally reach your goals with your iPhone in your hand,” Leon shares, “You can make a fire number one song. You can make some shit to inspire 12 people off your phone. 1,200 people. 12,000, 120,000.” If you have a few hundred fans engaging often and invest in putting your content in front of new audiences as well (understanding you will probably get unwanted feedback), you’ll start to see your following grow organically. But, Leon says “don’t water the concrete thinking it’s the dirt”–as in choose your financial and time investments wisely.
The now 26-year-old musician has been learning the craft from an early age. “I used to take apart the CDs in the basement and put paper inside of them,” Leon recollects, saying Lil Wayne was one of his earliest inspirations to pick up the craft. The first project he recorded was off his phone in high school, an 18-track record. His first show was at UAB, and he remembers a select member in the crowd being a more vocal critic than others but using it as motivation to keep going. He’s had his music take him on paid trips to New York for music, and he’s had low moments that humbled yet inspired him. He uses every moment as an opportunity to grow.
Now Tony Leon 555 has taken these moments and lessons, and has turned it into a steady stream of high-quality releases that document his evolving style. The 555 at the end of his name also represents this higher level of the artist. The three numbers aren’t related to angels and demons, like many people associate with certain numerical patterns, but does represent “that feeling I get when I’m freestyling and I don’t know how I’m coming up with this shit, or I came up with a good-ass song in 3 minutes–I attribute that to 555. Meaning it’s something I channel basically.” A beautiful musical possession of sorts. Tony also added the 555 to differentiate from another Tony Leon musician–but loves the idea of them appearing on a song together, saying “that would be the collab of the century.”
While Tony Leon 555 is the complete artist, he has different personas when it comes to his music. For example, when you hear “Plug&B Tony” you’re listening to a softer sound. The next Tony might be playing rock, or it could be deep house. He may sound like Uzi, or he could remind you of Kendrick. “Just a whole new genre each time,” he shares, saying he wants to work his way into the realm of the pop atmospheres as well.
“It’s got to be a breath of fresh air,” Leon shares on each release, “but it’s all just pure expression, that’s what it is.” He has no plans of slowing down, saying it’s a part of who he is and if people don’t like what he’s releasing in a couple decades–he’ll start investing in the career of other artists. His philosophy of rising as a city continues, and he’s excited for the world to hear his final installment of the trilogy this year.
We can’t wait to see what currently-unknown musical mystery Tony Leon 555 explores next.
