Ryan Leslie

Ryan Leslie is on the ‘campaign trail,' – well not quite, the producer-turned-singer is busy balancing a promotional tour while also putting finishing touches on his debut album now set for a September release. After discovering R&B/Pop sensation Cassie and writing hits for Beyonce, Danity Kane and Britney Spears to name a few, Ryan Leslie is finally ready for that spotlight. With just a little over a month to go, the singer, who never thought about producing as a full time gig is logging up to twelve hours a day in his studio according to the New York Daily News. "I never set out to be a music producer," says Leslie who signed a publishing deal with SONY's Tommy Mottola a few years back "But I realized that was something I could capitalize on because everyone else wanted to be a star." As the release date of September 16th gets closer, Leslie says he wants to make his experience work for him. "I have a very clear creative direction for myself," he says. "I've been doing this and having an artistic perspective for a long time." Well on his way after giving a well received performance hosted by MTV Arabia in Dubai, Leslie is set to premiere the video for his second single "Addiction" on August 5th. The single which was released to radio on July 7th, debuted at #15 on Billboard's Bubbling Under R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart. ‘Ryan Leslie' – the self-titled debut, hits stores September 16th