Mutt (Leon Thomas album)

Last updated

Mutt
Leon Thomas - Mutt.png
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2024
Recorded2023–24
Genre
Length47:38
Label
Producer
Leon Thomas chronology
Electric Dusk
(2023)
Mutt
(2024)
Singles from Mutt
  1. "Mutt"
    Released: August 8, 2024
  2. "Far Fetched"
    Released: September 13, 2024
Mutt ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Mutt is the second studio album by American musician and actor Leon Thomas, released on September 27, 2024 by EZMNY Records and Motown. [2] Supported by the singles "Mutt" and "Far Fetched", the album features guest appearances from Masego, Wale, Ty Dolla $ign and Baby Rose.

Contents

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".

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. [3] 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". [4] [5] 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. [6] 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.” [7]

Singles and promotion

The album's title track was released as the lead single on August 9, 2024. [7] This was followed by the remix, three weeks later on August 30, which featured a verse from rapper Freddie Gibbs. The second single "Far Fetched", featuring Ty Dolla $ign was released on September 13, two weeks prior to the album's release. 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.

In June 2025, Thomas announced the Mutts Don’t Heel World Tour in support of the album. It is set to begin on October 30, 2025 in Dallas and conclude on April 19, 2026 in Perth. [8]

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." [9] The project was also recognized for being "as lyrically rich as it is sonically expansive." [9] 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." [10]

Track listing

Mutt track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."How Fast"
  • Thomas
  • Faxxonly
  • Johnson
2:55
2."Safe Place"
  • Faxxonly
  • Bam Beatz
2:39
3."Dancing With Demons"
  • Thomas
  • Alexander Prawl
  • Margaux Whitney
  • Thomas
  • Ali Prawl
  • Yuli
4:02
4."Vibes Don't Lie"
  • Thomas
  • Camejo
  • Jason Pounds
  • Cam Griffin
  • Omar Grand
  • J.LBS
  • Griffin
  • Grand
3:22
5."Lucid Dreams" (featuring Masego)
  • Thomas
  • Micah Davis
  • David Kenneth Phelps
  • Robert Gueringer
  • D. Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
  • Thomas
3:46
6."Feelings on Silent" (featuring Wale)
3:29
7."Answer Your Phone"
  • Thomas
  • Freaky Rob
  • Johnson
4:02
8."Yes It Is"
  • Thomas
  • Camejo
  • Mike Hector
  • Prawl
  • Rodney Jones Jr.
  • Jariuce Banks
  • Johnson
  • Hector
  • Prawl
  • Lil Rod
  • Jehreeus
  • Johnson
3:48
9."Far Fetched" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
  • Thomas
  • Oshi
  • Lawson
4:08
10."Sooner or Later" (featuring Axlfolie)
  • Thomas
  • Axel Morgan
  • Thomas
  • Axlfolie
1:49
11."Mutt"
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
3:13
12."I Do"
  • Thomas
  • Camejo
  • Phelps
  • Gueringer
  • Freaky Rob
  • Phelps
2:41
13."I Used To" (featuring Baby Rose)
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
  • Mamii
  • Randolph
3:28
14."Mutt" (remix; featuring Freddie Gibbs)
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
4:17
Total length:47:38
Heel deluxe edition - disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Heel"
  • Thomas
  • Nichols
  • Camejo
  • Gueringer
  • Phelps
  • Mamii
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
3:55
2."Mutt (CB Remix)" (with Chris Brown)
  • Thomas
  • Chris Brown
  • Phelps
  • Dana Portalatin
  • Gueringer
  • Mariah Martinez
  • Ryan Press
  • Bizzy Crook
  • Elliott Trent
  • Stokes
  • Johnson
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
3:19
3."Party Favors" (with Big Sean)
Hargrove2:51
4."Not Fair"
  • Phelps
  • Fauntleroy
  • Freaky Rob
  • Faxxonly
3:16
5."Prize"
  • Thomas
  • Axlfolie
  • Phelps
  • Camejo
  • Hargrove
  • Gueringer
  • Phelps
  • Hargrove
  • Freaky Rob
  • Axlfolie
2:52
6."Rather Be Alone" (with Halle)
  • Thomas
  • Phelps
  • Freaky Rob
  • Faxxonly
3:11
7."Vibes Don't Lie" (remix; featuring Big Sean)
  • Thomas
  • Anderson
  • Camejo
  • Jason Pounds
  • Cam Griffin
  • Omar Grand
  • J.LBS
  • Griffin
  • Grand
4:14
8."Dirt On My Shoes" (with Kehlani)
  • Thomas
  • Kehlani Parrish
  • Alex Goldblatt
  • Phelps
  • Joseph McCue
  • Khristopher Riddick-Tynes
  • Gueringer
  • Thomas
  • Kehlani
  • Freaky Rob
  • Phelps
  • Khristopher Riddick-Tynes
  • Alex Goldblatt
  • Jester Beats
3:39
9."Catch a Stray"
4:42
Total length:79:37

Notes

Sample credits

Charts

Chart performance for Mutt
Chart (2024–2025)Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [11] 39
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [12] 30
US Billboard 200 [13] 35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [14] 8

Release history

Release dates and formats for Mutt
RegionDateLabel(s)Format(s)Edition(s)Ref.
VariousSeptember 27, 2024
Standard [2]
November 15, 2024 LP [15]
May 30, 2025Deluxe [16]

References

  1. Kellman, Andy (November 15, 2024). "MUTT, Leon Thomas". AllMusic . Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Grammy-Winning Artist Leon Thomas Drops New Album MUTT". HipHopCanada . September 27, 2024.
  3. Cho, Regina (May 3, 2022). "Motown inks joint venture with Ty Dolla Sign's EZMNY Records". Revolt. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  4. Okon, Wongo (September 27, 2024). "Leon Thomas Embraces His Imperfections With Class On The Vulnerable 'Mutt'". Uproxx. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  5. Denis, Kyle (March 4, 2025). "Chartbreaker: How Leon Thomas Fetched a Mainstream Hit With 'Mutt'". Billboard.
  6. Samuels, Keithan (August 30, 2024). "Leon Thomas Announces Second Album 'Mutt'". Rated R&B. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "This Singer Produced Music For Drake And SZA. Now, He's Carving His Own Path". HuffPost. December 13, 2024.
  8. Samuels, Keithan (June 9, 2025). "Leon Thomas Announces 'Mutts Don't Heel World Tour' Dates". Rated R&B. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Leon Thomas III Talks Unleashing 'Mutt' And Pushing R&B Forward | GRAMMY.com". The Recording Academy.
  10. "Album Review: Leon Thomas' 'Mutt'". The Culture Crypt.
  11. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  12. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  13. "Billboard 200: Week of June 14, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  14. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of June 14, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  15. "Mutt Black Ice - Leon Thomas". Amazon . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  16. Kelly, Dylan (May 12, 2025). "Leon Thomas Announces Deluxe Edition of 'MUTT'". Hypebeast. Retrieved June 11, 2025.