Le$ Set to Close Out Tour In Houston at Warehouse Live
Written by Waylon ODay on January 30, 2016
Do you like UGK? Curren$y? How about Jazz? Initially these three things look to be on complete different sides of the musical spectrum, but a listen through New Orleans born, Houston raised Le$’s numerous releases will make the three seem as though they’ve always been synonymous. This fusion of styles is what audiences should expect leading up to this Sunday’s (1/31) tour closing show at Warehouse Live.I’ll admit it, I’m one of those people you can find at the annual 4/20 Curren$y show in Houston every year, save for that one year I went and saw Crystal Castles (Sorry, Spitta); but I had never heard of Jet Life Recording Artist Le$ until I heard Maxo Kream’s #Maxo187, where Le$ was featured on the closing track, aptly titled “Endzone.” Because of that song, I’ve always identified him as the guy that is “high while eating alligator.” Through a little research, I quickly realized how accomplished this guy is: A chance meeting with the legendary H-Town DJ Mr. Rogers landed him on another Houston Rap Titan’s label, Slim Thug’s Boss Hogg Outlawz. He is currently signed to Curren$y’s Jet Life Records, where Spitta’s mentorship is making Le$ a regional star. His latest release Steak X Shrimp, Vol. 2 was named the second best Houston Rap release of 2015, coming behind the mythical Scarface of Geto Boys fame. It’s understandable, if not an honor, to come in second to arguably the most accomplished rapper out of the Bayou City.
Le$ has been a Houstonian for the past decade, moving to the city from New Orleans. The influences of his birthplace and his new city are evident throughout his music, which constantly evokes traits of everything from Pimp C to John Coltrane. He fills his songs with old school H-Town samples, like Fat Pat’s “Wanna Be a Balla,” “Clean Den a B*tch” borrows a bass line from the UGK classic “One Day.” He even has Bun B explaining what it is to be an Underground King on “UGK’z.” A lot of his production sounds exactly like old school Spitta and Wiz mostly because of Cardo, who produced a lot of Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y’s early releases. Even the lyricism sounds like Curren$y, humble but still boasting, smooth as butter and smoked out like Willie Nelson’s tour bus. He fuses 90’s-esque Skrewed Up, Slow’d Down sounds with the Jet Life version of G-Funk with New Orleans Jazz effortlessly, and the result is a pleasantly different sound from anything coming out of Houston. As different as it is, it still posses that same gritty charm that has become a staple of H-Tine Hip Hop, it helps when you have Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Maxo Kream, Killa Kyleon, Chamillionaire, and Bun B spitting verses on your tracks. Let’s not forget Chevy Woods, Smoke DZA, and Curren$y who are also huge in their respective cities.
With all of this being said, Sunday is set to be a great night, with Le$ himself hinting that there may or may not be some special guests at the show (Hologram Pimp C anyone?). However unlikely that may be, what is likely is this: a great show with great music, an exciting talented local act, and a lot of H’s up. I hope to see you there! Details and links to tickets are below, thanks for reading! Oh and remember #jetlifetothenextlife
January 31st, 2016: Le$ at the Studio at Warehouse Live
All Ages
Doors: 8:00 PM
Show: 8:30 PM
Warehouse Live
813 Saint Emanuel Street
Houston, TX, 77003