Da L.E.S

Leslie Jonathan Mampe Jr., (born 26 July 1985), better known by his stage name Da L.E.S, is a South African-American hip hop recording artist and record producer. He achieved early success with his band, Jozi, and is most known for his solo single, "Heaven", which was released in 2013, and features AKA, and Maggz.[1]

Da L.E.S
Birth nameLeslie Jonathan Mampe Jr.
Also known as
  • North God
  • L.E.S
  • 2 Def
  • Chuchu
Born (1985-07-26) 26 July 1985
Washington, D.C., United States
OriginSouth Africa
Citizenship
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1993 - present
Labels

Early life and music career

Mampe was born in Washington D.C., United States, to South African parents, Leslie Jonathan Mampe, an IT specialist who worked at IBM, and his wife, Priscilla.[2] Mampe, Sr. was a collector of music LPs and was known for hosting parties. It is through this that Mampe discovered his musical talents at a young age, while living in the United States with his parents.[3]

Da L.E.S. ushered in a new fun era of rap characterized by his cool kid demeanor and college swag aesthetic. It stuck and quickly became the new flavor of the streets. Les was also largely responsible for the continental success of the Ama Kip Kip brand, which he helped popularize by always flaunting them in his music videos. Most South Africans during that period wore AKK and danced to Muthaland Crunk.

According to creative-hiphop Da Les is the only African rapper whose influence covered  all three major facets of hip hop – music, clothing and lifestyle. Creative-HipHop's editor in chief, Paperman named him the most influential African Rapper of all time.

In 2014, Mampe starred in a South African television series, The Real Jozi A-Listers, as a lead character alongside South African television and media personality Maps Maponyane, both playing fictionalized versions of themselves.[4]

Personal life

Mampe welcomed the birth of his daughter, whose godfather was South African hip hop recording artist and good friend AKA.[5] Da L.E.S is the godfather to AKA's daughter.

Discography

Studio albums
Album title Album details
Fresh 2 Def
Mandela Money[6]
  • Released: 4 July 2014
  • Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
  • Formats: CD, digital download
North God[7]
  • Released: 27 November 2015
  • Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Diamond in Africa
  • Released: 9 December 2016
  • Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
  • Formats: digital download
F2D Presents: Hall of Fame
High Level
Caution To The Wild • Released: 27 November 2020

• Label: Fresh 2 Def

• Formats: CD, digital download and streaming

Singles
Year Title Certifications Album
2008 "Tippy Toes" Fresh 2 Def
"We on Fire"

(featuring Bongz and Maggz)
2013 "Heaven"

(featuring AKA and Maggz)

 Mandela Money
"Fire"
2014 Dice
2015 "P.A.I.D"

(featuring AKA and Burna Boy)

 North God
"Bank Roll"

(DJ Milkshake featuring Da L.E.S and Kid X)
"Summer Time"

(featuring Riky Rick)
2016 "6 AM"

(featuring Ma-E and Moozlie)
"Real Stuff"

(featuring AKA and Maggz)
"Up to Something"[8] Diamond in Africa
"Lifestyle"

(featuring Gemini Major)
2017 "Popular Demand" High Level
List of singles as featured artist, with certifications, showing year released and album name
Year Title Certifications Album
2013 "Hape Le Hape, Part 2"

(Khuli Chana featuring Da L.E.S and Magesh)

 Lost in Time
"Bunny Jump"

(Awgust Rush featuring Ferdy Ferd and Da L.E.S)
"Kontrol"

(AKA featuring Da L.E.S)

 Levels
2014 "All Eyes on Me"

(AKA featuring JR, Da L.E.S and Burna Boy)

 RiSA: Platinum
"Poppin'"

(Pascal & Pearcefeaturing Da L.E.S)
"Bad Chick"

(DJ Speedsta featuring Da L.E.S and Dotcom)
"Light a Lighter"

(Cara featuring Da L.E.S)
2015 "Shake"

(Olivia Cloud featuring Da L.E.S)
"Bank Roll"

(DJ Milkshake featuring Da L.E.S and Kid X)

 North God
"Summer Love"

(YBK featuring Da L.E.S, Burna Boy & Gemini Major)
"Birthday"

(Burna Boy featuring AKA, Kid X and Da L.E.S)
2016 "Savage"

(DJ Milkshake featuring Da L.E.S, Maggz and Nadia Nakai)
"One For The Team"

(DJ Double D featuring Da L.E.S, Yanga and Gemini Major)

 F2D Presents: Hall of Fame
2017 "Who Shot Ya"

(Yanga featuring Da L.E.S)
"4Ways"

(DJ Switch featuring Da L.E.S and Yanga)
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"So Fresh"

(Danny K featuring Da L.E.S)

 2013 Good Look
"In My City"

(L-Tido featuring Gotti, Maggz, Da L.E.S and Riky Rick)

 All of Me
"Addicted"

(Yung6ix featuring Da L.E.S)

 2015 6ix O'Clock
"Too Many Girls"

(DJ Speedsta featuring Da L.E.S and Dotcom)

 2015
"Oceans"

(DJ Sliqe featuring Da L.E.S and Shane Eagle)

 2016 Injayam, Vol. 1
"Freakend"

(Stogie T featuring Da L.E.S)

 Stogie T

Videography
Year Artist Title Album Director Ref
2008 Da L.E.S Tippy Toes Fresh 2 Def
We On Fire (featuring Bongani Fassie and Maggz)
2013 AKA Kontrol Levels
Da L.E.S Heaven (featuring AKA and Maggz) Mandela Money
2014 Fire
Dice
Khuli Chana Hape Le Hape 2.1 (featuring Da L.E.S and Magesh) Lost in Time
AKA (rapper) All Eyes on Me (AKA song) (featuring Burna Boy, JR and Da L.E.S) Levels Young Legend Films
DJ Speedsta Bad Chick (featuring DotCom and Da L.E.S) Non-album single Studio Space Pictures
2015 Da L.E.S P.A.I.D (featuring AKA and Burna Boy) North God Sesan [9]
Summer Time (featuring Riky Rick)
YBK Summer Love (featuring Burna Boy, Gemini Major and Da L.E.S) Non-album single
2016 Da L.E.S 6 A.M. (featuring Ma-E and Moozlie) North God
Real Stuff (featuring AKA and Maggz)
Up to Something Diamond in Africa YeahLenzo

References
  1. "AKA and Da Les win Lifetime achievement award". SA Breaking News. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. "da L.E.S. - AfricasGateway.com". Africasgateway. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  3. "Da LES". Bimba. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. "TV review – The real fake Jozi A Listers". News24. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. "Da Les welcomes baby girl". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  6. "Mandela Money by Da L.E.S on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. "Da L.E.S working on A new album, North God". thebaddest.co.za. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. "DOWNLOAD VIDEO: Da L.E.S – Up To Something | 360Nobs.com". www.360nobs.com. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  9. "Da L.E.S, Burna Boy, AKA Trio put on a 'luxury' display in 'P.A.I.D' video". Pulse.com.gh. Joey Akan. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
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