{"id":197532,"date":"2025-10-24T00:09:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/10\/24\/leon-thomas-turns-up-the-funk-on-new-pholks-ep-stream-it-now\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T00:09:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:09:14","slug":"leon-thomas-turns-up-the-funk-on-new-pholks-ep-stream-it-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/10\/24\/leon-thomas-turns-up-the-funk-on-new-pholks-ep-stream-it-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Leon Thomas Turns Up the Funk on New \u2018PHOLKS\u2019 EP: Stream It\u00a0Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- no image --><\/p>\n<div><!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tEarlier this year at Coachella, funk forefather <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/george-clinton\/\">George Clinton<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-mutt-deluxe-heel-george-clinton-1235967737\/\">gifted<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/leon-thomas\/\">Leon Thomas<\/a> a custom hat, lauding him as one of the contemporary torchbearers of the genre. A few months later, not only is Thomas still riding high on the success of \u201cMutt,\u201d but he\u2019s also doubling down on his funk inclinations with a new seven-song EP titled <em>Pholks<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story \/\/ lrv-u-display-inline-block lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-margin-t-2 u-margin-t-26@mobile-max u-margin-b-0.875@mobile-max u-margin-b-150@tablet u-border-t-12 lrv-u-padding-t-025 u-padding-b-1.313 lrv-u-padding-b-125@mobile-max lrv-u-border-color-black\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  lrv-a-unstyle-link lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap u-font-weight-700 lrv-u-display-inline-block u-line-height-18px a-font-accent u-letter-spacing-0225 u-font-size-16 lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-article-badge-underline a-article-esp u-display-inline-flex lrv-u-margin-b-1@mobile-max u-margin-b-9@tablet\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story-wrapper lrv-u-flex lrv-u-justify-content-space-between lrv-u-padding-tb-050@desktop a-children-border-vertical a-children-border--grey a-children-border-width-050\">\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-cover-story-2025-rb-hip-hop-power-players-1236057900\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-pholks-ep-new-music-stream-mitt-rb-soul-funk-1236096570\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cover-leon-thomas-billboard-2025-bb13-austin-hargrave-6-1800.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Cover Story, Leon Thomas, R&amp;B\/Hip-Hop\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tLeon Thomas Penned Hits For Ariana Grande and SZA \u2014 Now He\u2019s R&amp;B\u2019s Hottest \u2018Rock\u00a0Star\u2019\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/awards\/2026-grammys-nominations-predictions-rb-song-leon-thomas-1236083049\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-pholks-ep-new-music-stream-mitt-rb-soul-funk-1236096570\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Leon-Thomas-cr-Raymond-Alva-press-2025-billboard-1548.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Leon Thomas\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tLeon Thomas, Kehlani &amp; Mariah the Scientist Set to Spar at 2026 Grammys in R&amp;B Categories: Our\u00a0Predictions\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-mutt-march-2025-chartbreaker-interview-1235914367\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-pholks-ep-new-music-stream-mitt-rb-soul-funk-1236096570\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/chartbreaker-leon-thomas-billboard-2025-bb4-raymond-alva-1-1260.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Leon Thomas\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tChartbreaker: How Leon Thomas Fetched a Mainstream Hit With \u2018Mutt\u2019\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFeaturing just one collaboration in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/4batz\/\">4Batz<\/a>-assisted \u201cLone Wolf,\u201d <em>Pholks<\/em> deepens and expands the now-signature blend of funk, soul and classic rock that Thomas honed across <em>Mutt<\/em>. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter teamed up with frequent collaborators D. Phelps and Freaky Rob for the new project, resulting in standouts like the brooding \u201cBaccarat,\u201d new single \u201cMy Muse\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-just-how-you-are-single-pholks-ep-stream-it-now-1236081734\/\">\u201cJust How You Are,\u201d<\/a> which arrived earlier this month alongside a gritty, cinematic Lovie Simone-starring music video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tOn Monday (Oct. 20), Thomas shared an official <em>PHOLKS<\/em> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DQCbuGrEdgt\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\" target=\"_blank\">trailer<\/a> narrated by Issa Rae, with whom he co-starred on HBO\u2019s <em>Insecure<\/em>. \u201cThis man will make your liver quiver,\u201d Rae declared in front of red stage curtains before introducing Thomas as \u201cSoul Brother No. 1.\u201d \u201cThis man will make your bladder splatter. This man will set your knees free.\u201d Rae\u2019s shimmering trailer also serves as smart transition into the next <em>PHOLKS<\/em> music video, an Arrad-helmed clip for \u201cMy Muse\u201d featuring retro homes and sunlit pools.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tArriving a few months after he turned his viral NPR Tiny Desk set <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-npr-tiny-desk-concert-ep-1236045349\/\">into an EP<\/a>, <em>PHOLKS<\/em> is the latest in a year of career-shifting moves for Thomas. Over the summer he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/awards\/2025-bet-awards-winners-1235993777\/\">won<\/a> best new artist at the BET Awards, \u201cMutt\u201d became the highest-charting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/charts\/hot-100\/\">Hot 100<\/a> song of his career (No. 11) and he earned his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/video\/ty-dolla-ign-on-leon-thomas-succes\/\">first two<\/a> MTV Video Music Awards nominations. Just last week (Oct. 17), Thomas joined Rene\u00e9 Rapp\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/renee-rapp-syd-bite-me-tour-madison-square-garden-review\/\">Bite Me Tour<\/a> for a surprise duet performance of \u201cMutt\u201d at the Kia Fourm in Inglewood, Calif. Now, thanks to <em>Mutt<\/em> and its singles, Thomas is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/awards\/2026-grammys-nominations-predictions-rb-song-leon-thomas-1236083049\/\">frontrunner<\/a> across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/best-r-and-b-album-2026-grammy-predictions-nominees\/\">R&amp;B<\/a> and general fields at the 2026 Grammys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNext week (Oct. 30), Thomas will head to Dallas\u2019 House of Blues to kick off his headlining Mutts Don\u2019t Heel Tour. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-cover-story-2025-rb-hip-hop-power-players-1236057900\/\"><em>Billboard<\/em> cover star<\/a> will play venues across the U.S., Europe and Australia, before concluding on April 19 at Perth\u2019s Metro City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tStream <em>PHOLKS<\/em> now.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: PHOLKS\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/6ph5zbGAudn0EKyw3vXbXM?si=EDa-RFGvQfiGaq60WNAO6g&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/leon-thomas-pholks-ep-new-music-stream-mitt-rb-soul-funk-1236096570\/\">Aller \u00e0 la source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Earlier this year at Coachella, funk forefather George Clinton gifted Leon Thomas a custom hat, lauding him as one of the contemporary torchbearers of the genre. A few months later, not only is Thomas still riding high on the success of \u201cMutt,\u201d but he\u2019s also doubling down on his funk inclinations with a new seven-song [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-197532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musique","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197532\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}