| Artist | Leon Thomas |
|---|---|
| Cover | Leon Thomas - Mutt.png |
| Released | September 27, 2024 |
| Recorded | 2023–24 |
| Genre | |
| Label |
|
| Producer |
|
| Chronology | Leon Thomas |
| Prev year | 2023 |
| Next year | 2025 |
Mutt is the second studio album by American musician and actor Leon Thomas, released on September 27, 2024, by EZMNY Records and Motown.[1] Supported by the singles "Mutt" and "Far Fetched", the album features guest appearances from Masego, Wale, Ty Dolla $ign and Baby Rose.
An expanded deluxe edition of the album, subtitled Heel, was released on May 30, 2025; supported by the singles "Mutt (CB Remix)" and "Rather Be Alone". At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, Mutt was nominated for Album of the Year and Best R&B Album and won the award for the latter.
Background
In May 2022, Leon Thomas was announced as the first artist to be signed to Ty Dolla $ign's newly launched EZMNY Records imprint, which was a joint venture deal with Motown.[2] His debut album, Electric Dusk, was released over a year later on August 25, 2023. Shortly after its release, Thomas began to start work on his second album, understanding that his deal with Motown would expect two albums in his "first cycle with them".[3][4] Conceptually, the album was inspired by a breakup Thomas experienced at the time, as well as observing the similarities in behaviours between himself and his dog, a German Shepherd and Husky mix named Terry.[5] In an interview on HuffPost, he described his dog as “a good guy, but he’s definitely mischievous... I was inspired by how he has great intentions but sometimes may do the wrong thing.”[6]
Singles and promotion
The album's title track was released as the lead single on August 9, 2024.[6] This was followed by the remix, three weeks later on August 30, which featured a verse from rapper Freddie Gibbs. A Chris Brown remix of the title track was later released on March 21, 2025, as the lead single for the album's deluxe edition Heel. The second single "Far Fetched", featuring Ty Dolla $ign was released on September 13, two weeks prior to the album's release.
In June 2025, Thomas announced the Mutts Don’t Heel World Tour in support of the album. It began on October 30, 2025, in Dallas and will conclude on April 19, 2026, in Perth.[7]
Critical reception
The album was met with a positive reception. The Recording Academy gave special attention to album cuts "Vibes Don’t Lie" and "Yes It Is", lauding them a "baptism in neo-soul vocals, evoking innovators such as D’Angelo, Musiq Soulchild, and Maxwell."[8] The project was also recognized for being "as lyrically rich as it is sonically expansive."[8] In another positive review from publication The Culture Crypt, writer Valentina Reynolds applauded the project as "brave and bold... draw[ing] from the classic soul playbook and the modern rules of social media engagement in relationships to create something that feels timely yet not confined to 2024. His ability to effortlessly transition between slow, emotionally driven refrains and high-energy tracks highlights his musical versatility. With MUTT, Thomas has undeniably established himself as one of the leading voices in contemporary R&B."[9]
Track listing
Notes
- All tracks are stylised in all caps.
Sample credits
- "Safe Place" contains a sample from "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", written and performed by Donny Hathaway.
- "Feelings on Silent" contains a sample from "The Hands of Time", written by Darvid Thor, Henry Jenkins and Hudson Whitlock, as performed by Frollen Music Library.
- "Mutt" contains a sample from "Silly Love Song", written by Michael Stokes and Emanuel Johnson, as performed by Enchantment.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2024–2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[10] | 21 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] | 39 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 35 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] | 8 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2025) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[14] | 167 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] | 52 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 27, 2024 | EZMNY · Motown | Digital download · streaming | Standard | [1] |
| November 15, 2024 | LP | [16] | |||
| May 30, 2025 | Deluxe | [17] |
References
- ^ "Grammy-Winning Artist Leon Thomas Drops New Album MUTT". HipHopCanada. 27 September 2024.
- ^ Cho, Regina (2022-05-03). "Motown inks joint venture with Ty Dolla Sign's EZMNY Records". Revolt. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Okon, Wongo (27 September 2024). "Leon Thomas Embraces His Imperfections With Class On The Vulnerable 'Mutt'". Uproxx. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Denis, Kyle (March 4, 2025). "Chartbreaker: How Leon Thomas Fetched a Mainstream Hit With 'Mutt'". Billboard
- ^ Samuels, Keithan (30 August 2024). "Leon Thomas Announces Second Album 'Mutt'". Rated R&B. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "This Singer Produced Music For Drake And SZA. Now, He's Carving His Own Path.". HuffPost. December 13, 2024.
- ^ Samuels, Keithan (2025-06-09). "Leon Thomas Announces 'Mutts Don't Heel World Tour' Dates". Rated R&B. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ "Leon Thomas III Talks Unleashing 'Mutt' And Pushing R&B Forward | GRAMMY.com". The Recording Academy
- ^ "Album Review: Leon Thomas' 'Mutt'". The Culture Crypt
- ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of June 14, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of June 14, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2025". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2025". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "Mutt Black Ice - Leon Thomas". Amazon. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Dylan (2025-05-12). "Leon Thomas Announces Deluxe Edition of 'MUTT'". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2025-06-11.