Bhut Malumz Publications

Lady Frere born Liyema Gosa who is known through his stage name, Leo Brown has been making waves since his debut project, Save Me to the recent, B L U E M O O N.

Brown who is known for his conscious rap, sense of storytelling, soulful thoughts and bar lifter in his music has been consistent ever since. Brown has been on a journey of curating a safe space in his music to confront family issues, self reflection, current affairs, love, and hip hop culture. From Save Me where he was displaying his vulnerability and standing up against the demons he was facing as the world grew on him as years progressed, he found a piece of gold in his then ghost. Save Me 2 became a space where he found feet to save others which reflects a lot about the demons he had to kill in Save Me. After Save Me 2’s success, Save Me 3 was upcoming which has a concept that hasn’t been unfolded yet. While Brown’s fans where highly anticipating Save Me 3, he gave them what you can a “warm-up”. B L U E M O O N EP is that warm up that has fans at ease with external acts being Khanya who is featured on Stanley Park and has been working with Leo ever since Save Me 2, Loyiso and Kwanda who are featured on B L U E M O O N song. Loyiso being a female vocalist from Dordrecht who sent Leo a direct message via Instagram following a promo video he dropped to work with him. Kwanda being known as one of the Komani’s most loved male vocalists whose singing skills were popularised by his covers from famous Afro-soul existing songs. Brown said that he’d been meaning to work with Kwanda for a long time but they always had bad timing.

Brown has been blessed with a supportive girlfriend and friends, Alive Sifuba, Sibonelo Mbungwana and Siyamamkela Mbesi. A girlfriend and best friends who are always there to make his personal life and artistry a less hassle.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t trade those individuals for anything. They play such a huge role in shaping me as Liyema aside from Leo Brown. Alive was by my side when Leo Brown was just an idea and was always genuine about it. She believed and still believes in my dream. Sibonelo and Siya push me to be my best. I don’t think I’d be who I am if they weren’t in my corner.”

It is not only his girlfriend and best friends who have been in his corner but his older sister too. In the past few weeks, his sister shared Brown’s freestyle video and vented how proud is she of him. And continued to plead Brown fans to let him focus on his academics since he’s doing matric although Leo excel in both, academics and music. Brown commented on his sister’s recent remarks by saying that his sister is also his close friend and took his sister’s words like any younger sibling. This is followed by Brown announcing post B L U E M O O N EP release that the first and favourite song of his being B L U E M O O N which pays tribute to his brother, Xolani who was killed during lockdown last year.

Following the success of Save Me 2, Brown weirdly parted ways with his past manager. His past manager was Blvck045 Clothing owner, Ayabulela Fatuse and said that he wishes that he could tell why they went different ways but as much as they just drifted apart, the love is still there. Brown knows that whenever his days are dark that he can count on Fatuse and Fatuse consumes the same energy too towards Brown. Brown’s current manager is Mthetheleli Stafans who plays a huge role on how he goes about the business side of music. Stafans taught Brown a lot he didn’t know about the industry before Stafans’s insight into things.

Brown have undoubtedly had the best half of 2021 by far and Stanley Park which features Khanya is written in black and white to go down in history books of Brown’s career. His status is obviously not the same after the single receives multiple plays on the country’s popular radio station, Umhlobo Wenene FM, made it to Madibaz Radio, achieved Spotify 1,000 streams, and gained DJ Citi Lyts on his contacts. It is a thing to text DJ Citi Lyts for recognition but another thing to be video called by Washa hitmaker. Brown was comfortable and crusty in his home when a video call from Instagram pooped on his screen but he declined it with no hesitation since he didn’t look part. A WhatsApp video call popped right after and thought that anyone who video calls him personally knows him. A shock of his life, got star struck and Lyts was all hyped on the other side of the screen. They talked and Brown doesn’t want to reveal anything yet since it’s still too early. With that too much stance in the industry R500-R1000 for a feature is what you can classify as affordable. For beneficial features, he does those for free. Brown has been lately a proud product of Lady Frere and his freestyles, Stanley Park and B L U E M O O N has been evident.

“My wish for Lady Frere youth is quite simple, I don’t want them to idolise me and put me on a high pedestal or anything like that because the moment they do that the dynamics of the relationship change. I don’t want that because I don’t to be that guy that unreachable. I view myself as a bridge of Lady Frere because there’s lot of talent in Lady Frere. Some kids are excelling academically but can’t further their studies, so I wish to become that bridge that makes all possible for them. That’s how I intend in building a better society in Lady Frere, however I don’t have the resources now but I am a big dreamer and all will be possible.”

Brown has been working on the visuals he might drop anytime from now.

Listen to Leo Brown’s B L U E M O O N EP here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/leobrown1/b-l-u-e-m-o-o-n-2