The Journey from Santiago Leyva to Fashawn and the Impact of ‘Boy Meets World’
The artistic trajectory of Santiago Leyva, creatively renowned as Fashawn, holds its untamed roots in Fresno, California. This American rapper’s compelling journey to fame came to prominence amid the release of his maiden studio album, ‘Boy Meets World,’ introduced in 2009. Gaining rousing acclaim, this record was a turning point in his life and profession, steering him to be featured in XXL Magazine’s Top 10 Freshmen issue of 2010. His career took a steeper ride into success when he associated with Nas’ record label, Mass Appeal Records, in 2014, paving the path towards his second studio album and significant label debut, named ‘The Ecology.’
Growing up with a Black mother and a Mexican father, Fashawn had a challenging childhood. His father was serving a penitentiary term, and his mother was battling with drug addiction. It was the age of eight when Fashawn started nursing his passion for writing, which ultimately bore the first fruits of success later in 2006 with the mixtape Grizzly City. His talent didn’t go unnoticed as he was soon invited by the fellow Fresco MC, Planet Asia, to accompany him on tour. Taking on this opportunity, Fashawn dropped out of school to focus solely on building a music career.
Fashawn’s highly anticipated ‘Boy Meets World’ came into existence on October 22, 2009. The lyrical proficiency he showcased in depicting the strife and dreams of a young man growing up in a harsh environment was met with enormous critical acclaim, especially in XXL Magazine which gave the album an ‘XL’ rating. The lyrical content was elevated by Fashawn’s association with several top-notch hip-hop acts, such as Ghostface Killah and The Grouch. The album proudly nestled on the cover of XXL’s Top 10 Freshmen issue in 2010, standing esteemed alongside contributions from artists such as Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, and Freddie Gibbs.
The ensuing years were quite eventful for Fashawn. He collaborated with underground hip-hop icon, Murs, releasing the joint album, ‘This Generation’ in 2012. This collaborative work flooded the market with increasingly diversified music styles. In the same year, he organized the Grizzly Fest 2012 in Fresno, alongside Murs, Husalah, Strong Arm Steady, and numerous local performers.
Signing his contract with Nas’s Mass Appeal Records in 2014 marked a pivotal phase in Fashawn’s career. His performance of ’Champion,’ produced by Exile at the rematch of Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley II, became an iconic moment in the world of hip-hop. He also performed a new song, ’Ladies,’ dedicated to all women enduring struggles and raising the next generation.
Revisiting ‘Boy Meets World,’ it was your quintessential hip-hop album, with the incorporation of timeless sound and profound lyrics. In recognition of the 15th anniversary, Dirty Science Records partnered with Coalmine Reissues to re-release this classic album in 2024. A Bold departure from its original look, the album’s artwork was fiercely revamped and augmented with unseen photos from the original 2009 photoshoot. Regarded as a collector’s item, this reissue quickly sold out in record time.
Although Fashawn’s journey is aplenty with immense success, he remains an underdog in the world of hip-hop. A testament to his musical prowess is his most recent work, which demonstrates growth and evolution. Yet, there is much more to anticipate from Fashawn, given his dedicated pursuit of taking his music to newer heights.
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