Tanna Leone is a rising star in the hip hop scene, who recently signed with pgLang, the creative collective founded by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free. But is he related to the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper? The answer is not as simple as it may seem.
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Who is Tanna Leone?
Tanna Leone, born Avante Ramone Brown, is a 25-year-old rapper from Los Angeles, California. He started his musical journey as a poet, inspired by his mother who is a spoken word artist. He later joined a poetry club in high school, where he honed his lyrical skills in freestyle cyphers. He then moved to Atlanta, where he became serious about pursuing a rap career. He adopted different stage names, such as Noviiimber and Baby Santana, and released music independently
In 2022, he changed his name to Tanna Leone and contacted Dave Free, the co-founder of pgLang and Kendrick Lamar’s longtime collaborator. He sent him his EP Do or Die, which impressed Free and led to a conversation between the two. Tanna Leone then signed a joint deal with pgLang and Def Jam Recordings on March 9, 2022
His debut project with pgLang, Sleepy Soldier, was released on April 27, 2022. The project showcases his versatility and balance of melody and lyrics, as he explores different genres and moods. He describes his sound as “not following any type of rule book or guideline. It’s just something you could feel.”
How is he connected to Kendrick Lamar?
Tanna Leone is not related to Kendrick Lamar by blood, but he does share some relatives with another pgLang artist: Baby Keem. Baby Keem, born Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr., is Kendrick Lamar’s cousin and protégé. He was the first signee of pgLang and has collaborated with Kendrick on several songs, such as “Family Ties” and “Range Brothers”
Tanna Leone revealed in an interview with Complex that he “might share some relatives” with Baby Keem, but did not specify how they are related. He also said that he met Baby Keem through Dave Free, and that they have a good relationship. “He’s lke a big brother to me,” he said. “He gives me a lot of advice and guidance.”
As for Kendrick Lamar, Tanna Leone said that he has met him a few times, but they have not worked together yet. He expressed his admiration for Kendrick’s artistry and influence, saying that he is one of his top five artists of all time. He also said that he hopes to collaborate with him in the future. “I’m sure it’ll happen when the time is right,” he said
What are his plans for the future?
Tanna Leone said that he is working on new music and videos, and that he wants to expand his creative horizons beyond rap. He said that he is interested in acting, directing, producing, and writing for different mediums. He also said that he wants to use his platform to inspire others and make a positive impact on the world. “I want to be able to touch people’s lives in a way that makes them feel something,” he said. “I want to be able to spark conversations and change perspectives.”
Tanna Leone is a talented and ambitious artist who has a bright future ahead of him. He may not be related to Kendrick Lamar by blood, but he is definitely part of his musical family. And who knows? Maybe one day we will hear them on the same track.
