YRB Interview: Ryan Leslie

R&B singer-songwriter Ryan Leslie had always behind the scenes, penning tracks for artists like Cassie (”Me & U”) and Danity Kane (”Ooh Ahh”). But it wasn’t until he released his self-titled debut earlier this year that heads started to pay attention, with singles like “Diamond Girl” and “Addiction” putting a spin on contemporary R&B with their live instrumentation, crafty songwriting and catchy hooks. Not one to rest on his laurels, Leslie is already set to drop his sophomore album, keeping the ball rolling with the forthcoming release of his latest opus Transition. So when BET decided to honor Leslie as one of their “Rising Icons,” the title was more than well deserved, with a career that’s grown from mere songwriting credits to top billing. YRB visited the set of BET’s Rising Icon: Ryan Leslie to talk with the man of the hour, discussing how it feels to be given this honor at this point in his career.