Yung L.A.

Yung L.A.
Yung L.A. in 2023
Yung L.A. in 2023
Background information
Birth nameLeland Sandord Austin[1]
Also known asDa Boi Lay
Born (1986-03-26) March 26, 1986 (age 38)
Atlanta, Georgia
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2006–present
Labels

Leland Sanford Austin (born March 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Yung L.A. or Da Boi Lay, is an American rapper. He is perhaps best known for his debut single "Ain't I", which peaked at number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number seven on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Austin's second single, titled "Futuristic Love (Elroy)", features American singer Ricco Barrino and was released in 2009.

Music career

2008–2011: Mixtapes and Futuristic Leland

In 2008, Austin was signed to American record executive T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records, after fellow Atlanta artist Young Dro found and brought Austin to the label. On April 12, 2008, Austin released his debut mixtape Offset Shawty.[2] On November 25, 2008, Austin released his debut single, titled "Ain't I"; it features appearances from his fellow Grand Hustle label artist Young Dro and T.I., it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 47 and be certified platinum by the RIAA. On December 13, 2008, it was announced and confirmed that Austin had signed a label deal with Interscope Records and he was working on his debut album, titled Futuristic Leland.[3] On December 28, 2008, Austin released his mixtape titled The Matrix.[4]

On January 10, 2009, Austin released his first collaboration mixtape titled Black Boy Swag, White Boy Tags with Young Dro.[5] On April 7, 2009, Austin released his second single titled "Futuristic Love (Elroy)"; it features Ricco Barrino, though it did not match the success of "Ain't I" it charted on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart at number 55. On June 2, 2009, Austin released his mixtape titled Lamborghini Leland.[6][7] On November 5, 2009, Austin released his mixtape titled I Think I Can Sing.[8] On December 14, 2009, Austin released his second collaboration mixtape, titled Batman & Robin (Superhero Language), with fellow Atlanta artist J Money aka J.Futuristic.[9]

On February 24, 2010, Austin released his mixtape titled Crush Da Block.[10][11] On February 24, 2010, Austin released his mixtape titled Suntrust Leland.[12][13][14]

In early 2011 it was revealed that Austin had parted ways from Grand Hustle and was dropped from Interscope. It was also the shelving of his debut album Futuristic Leland. On September 16, 2011, Austin released his mixtape titled Crush Da Block 2.[15]

2012: Check

In a March 27, 2012, interview Austin said he was "dropped from Interscope because my [second] single didn't match the success of the first one". He also said that he wished to leave Grand Hustle Records, that the label had failed him professionally by not following up his hit "Ain't I" with the release of his album, and failed him personally by ignoring him when he was hurt and had asked for their help and by entangling him in disputes that didn't involve him and had begun before he joined the label.[16][17][18]

On November 27, 2012, Austin released his debut album titled Check; it was distributed by independent Atlanta based record label U-Digg Music Group.[19]

2014–present: name change, mixtapes and TBA album

On November 19, 2014, Austin released his third collaboration mixtape titled Batman & Robin 2 (Superhero Language) with fellow Atlanta artist J Money which is a sequel to their first collaboration mixtape Batman & Robin (Superhero Language).[20][21]

On February 5, 2015, it was revealed that Yung L.A. was working on a new mixtape titled Expensive Language.[22] On March 27, 2015, Austin released his mixtape Expensive Language.[23] Also on March 27, 2015, during an interview, Austin revealed that he had signed to record producer Zaytoven's label Zaytown USA.[24] On August 7, 2015, Austin released a collaboration mixtape with the production team 808 Mafia titled 3 Way: 80Lay Mafia,[25][26] and a second collaboration mixtape with producer's Zaytoven and Cassius Jay titled 3 Way: Dripset.[27] Also on August 7, 2015, Austin released a third mixtape titled 3 Way: Foreign Water.[28]

Controversy

In February 2011 Austin had the logo of a local record label tattooed on his face after a conversation with the label's CEO Big Bank Black.[18] Black's brother Alley Boy, the label's co-CEO, demanded that Austin remove the tattoo because he wasn't signed to the label and wasn't given permission to use the logo.[29] Austin countered that Alley Boy lacked the authority to make such a demand because Big Bank Black, not Alley Boy, was "the real CEO" of the label.[18] He did though have a Los Angeles Dodgers logo tattooed over it two weeks later.[30] Austin was set up and viciously assaulted by Alley Boy and members of his label; whether he was beaten before covering the tattoo or after wasn't known.[31]

In April 2011, Austin was arrested for criminal damage to property and released on bail.[32]

Discography

Main article: Yung L.A. discography
  • Check (2012)

Awards

BET Awards

References

  1. ^ "ASCAP search". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Yung LA – Offset Shawty – DJ Spinz. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  3. ^ T.I., Grand Hustle Team Up With Interscope To Release Yung LA's Debut Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. BallerStatus.com (December 13, 2008). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  4. ^ Yung L.A. – The Matrix – DJ Coolbreeze. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  5. ^ Young Dro & Yung LA – Black Boy Swag, White Boy Tags – DJ Infamous. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  6. ^ Yung LA – Lamborghini Leland Hosted by Drama Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived January 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Yung L.A. – Lamborghini Leland – DJ Drama. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Yung LA – I Think I Can Sang Hosted by Holiday Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived November 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  9. ^ J.Futuristic & Yung L.A. – Batman & Robin (Superhero Language) – DJ Spinz. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  10. ^ Yung LA – Crush Da Block Hosted by DJ Infamous & Don Cannon Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived January 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com (February 24, 2010). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  11. ^ Yung L.A. – Crush Da Block – DJ Infamous, DJ Don Cannon. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  12. ^ Yung LA – Suntrust Leland Hosted by Dj Smallz Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived November 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com (August 25, 2010). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  13. ^ Kerry, Steve. (August 25, 2010) Yung L.A. – Suntrust Leland (Hosted By DJ Smallz) | Download & Listen [New Mixtape]. Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  14. ^ Yung L.A. – Suntrust Leland – DJ Smallz. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  15. ^ Yung LA – Crush Da Block 2 Hosted by DJ P Exclusivez Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived November 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com (September 16, 2011). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  16. ^ Yung LA Speaks Out On Alley Boy Fight, Walking Away From Grand Hustle Because Of Beef. YouTube (March 27, 2012). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  17. ^ Yung LA Speaks Out On Alley Boy Fight, Getting Dropped From Interscope, Walking Away From Grand Hustle Because Of Beef, & More! | New Video. Worldstarhiphop.com (March 27, 2012). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  18. ^ a b c Yung LA Explains Face Tattoo – XXL. Xxlmag.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  19. ^ Check by Yung L.A.. MTV (January 29, 2013). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  20. ^ J Money & Yung LA – Batman & Robin 2 (superhero Language) Hosted by DJ E.Sudd, DJ Jay Rock & DJ Plugg Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived March 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com (November 19, 2014). Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  21. ^ J Money & Yung L.A. – Batman & Robin 2 (Superhero Language) – DJ E.Sudd, DJ Jay Rock, DJ Plugg. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  22. ^ Yung L.A. – Leland Austin – Mixtape (new). YouTube (February 5, 2015). Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  23. ^ Yung L.A. – Expensive Language – DJ P Exclusivez. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  24. ^ Da Boi Lay (Yung LA) #ExpensiveLanguage Interview. YouTube (March 27, 2015). Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  25. ^ Da Boi Lay (Yung LA) – 3 Way: 80Lay Mafia Hosted by DJ P Exclusivez Mixtape – Stream & Download Archived August 13, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  26. ^ Da Boi Lay – 3 Way (80Lay Mafia) – DJ P Exclusivez. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  27. ^ Da Boi Lay – 3 Way (Dripset) – DJ P Exclusivez. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  28. ^ Da Boi Lay – 3 Way (Foreign Water) – DJ P Exclusivez. Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  29. ^ Alley Boy Speaks on Yung LA’s Face Tattoo – XXL. Xxlmag.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  30. ^ Yung LA Covers Up Duck Tattoo, Says 'Real N****s Do Real Sh**'. BallerStatus.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2016.
  31. ^ "Yung LA Catches Beat Down At Hands Of Alley Boy". BallerStatus.com. April 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  32. ^ Yung L.A. Arrested. Hip-Hop Wired (April 25, 2011). Retrieved on 2016-02-13.
  33. ^ "Best Collaboration|Nominees".