Meet R&B Singer Leon Thomas: The Musical Genius Behind Your Favorite Hits

The Breakdown: This article highlights Leon Thomas' writing credits, including his work on Ariana Grande's "Safety Net," Drake's "Pipe Down," and SZA's "Snooze." His diversity across hip-hop, R&B, and pop proves he’s a talented artist, songwriter, and producer worthy of receiving his well-deserved flowers in the game.

Leon Thomas is trending all over social media and in the music industry, but he is far from an overnight success. Many of us know Leon from his role on Victorious on Nickelodeon back in the day. Today, he’s making waves with his second debut album, Mutt. As if this man weren’t talented enough, Leon Thomas’ writing credits are also something to talk about.

He has written for various genres, including hip-hop, R&B, pop, and more. Here’s a list of some of your favorite bangers written by Leon that you probably didn’t know about!

Leon Thomas may be known for his sultry voice and guitar skills, but he is no stranger to hip-hop and trap. Back in 2018, Leon collaborated on and wrote “This Forever” for Kodak Black’s Dying to Live album.

In the track, Kodak lets his listeners know that he isn’t your average rapper — he’s cut from a different cloth. From his culture to his swag and hustle, Kodak emphasizes his uniqueness.

He goes on to state that people are waiting for his downfall, but it’s not coming anytime soon. Despite the challenges he faced growing up, he will rise to the occasion. The song itself is true to Kodak’s style, delivering a trap vibe native to Florida. To date, “This Forever” has been streamed over 14 million times on Spotify.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good love song? “Safety Net” from Ariana Grande’s Positions album explores the ups and downs that come with love. Ariana Grande delivers strong vocals, while Ty Dolla $ign compliments her voice perfectly in this duet. You can also hear Leon Thomas in the background vocals, doing his thing. Released in 2020, “Safety Net” has over 200 million streams on Spotify and reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Pipe Down” was a single on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album, released in 2021. This song delivers soul and R&B vibes all the way. With Leon Thomas’ writing credits, it’s hard to pin down his sound, but you can always expect a banger.

In this single, Drake finds himself in a love triangle with a woman — classic Drake style. Leon consistently does a great job of adapting his skills to match the artist's sound.

“Pipe Down” ranked No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2021. Since its release, the song has been streamed over 30 million times on Spotify.

“Snooze” is a single from SZA’s SOS album. We know SZA loves a raunchy, lovesick anthem; in this track, she lets everyone know she’s ready to lay it all on the line for love. The song samples Beyoncé’s 2003 single, “Me, Myself, and I.”

The combination of the sample and heartfelt lyrics made it an instant hit. As of February 2025, the single has over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify and spent over 70 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Ciao” is a single from Bryson Tiller’s self-titled album, released in 2024. The song is rooted in R&B but definitely delivers an upbeat vibe with a hint of loverboy energy. Bryson shares his perspective by letting the ladies know they have a two-day trial before he gives them the boot.

Essentially, he’s saying he knows his worth and isn’t playing around — so if you are, the exit is nearby. As of February 2025, the single has surpassed 37 million streams on Spotify and counting.

The music, the lyrics, and the numbers speak for themselves — Leon Thomas’ writing credits are not to be taken lightly. He has made a name for himself through various mediums and styles of music. It’s great to see Leon finally receiving his well-deserved flowers as he continues to grow as an artist, songwriter, and producer.