Yung Lean

If you're into rap, you've probably heard of Yung Lean, the Swedish recording artist behind the Sad Boys movement. Starting out in 2013 with his mixtape Unknown Death 2002, Lean quickly caught the attention of listeners with his cloud rap style, which was frequently categorized as "meme rap".

Despite Lean's association with the Sad Boys, his music isn't exactly depressing. Instead, his sound often takes on an atmospheric feel that can be introspective, energetic, and even autotune-heavy. And while the internet meme culture is definitely still pervasive in some of his work, Lean has also shown a more serious side throughout his career.

About Yung Lean

When Jonatan Aron Leandoer Håstad was born on July 18th, 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden, it's unlikely his parents knew that he would grow up to become one of the most well-known cloud rap artists in the world. It was in Stockholm that Lean first started making music, inspired by hip-hop artists like Lil B, Soulja Boy, and Lil Wayne.

But it wasn't until he started uploading his songs to SoundCloud in 2012 that Lean began to gain popularity. It was through SoundCloud that he met his future collaborators, including producers Yung Sherman and Yung Gud, and fellow Sad Boys member, Bladee.

Around this time, Lean released Unknown Death 2002, which showcased his unique style that blended introspective lyrics, auto-tuned vocals, and haunting beats. In the years that followed, Lean continued to release music and grow his fanbase, with his most successful track, "Kyoto", racking up over 50 million views on YouTube.

With his more recent albums, Stranger and Starz, Lean has shifted his sound to a more serious tone, abandoning some of the heavy autotune that was present in his earlier work. His music has also become more experimental, with influences from genres like punk and new wave.

Despite his diverse musical interests, Lean remains closely tied to the Sad Boys movement and his fellow members, who he frequently collaborates with. Outside of music, he's been involved in fashion, partnering with brands like Converse and Acne Studios and gaining a reputation for his distinct style.

It's clear that Yung Lean isn't a one-dimensional artist. With a unique blend of introspection and experimentalism, Lean has built a reputation as one of the most interesting voices in modern rap, and he's sure to continue pushing boundaries with his music in the years to come.