Leslie Jonathan Mampe, Jr., (born July 26, 1985), better known by his stage name Da L.E.S, is a South African and American hip hop recording artist and record producer. He achieved early success with his band, Jozi, and is most known for his solo single, "Heaven", which was released in 2013, and features fellow South African hip hop recording artists, AKA, and Maggz.
Early life and music career
Mampe was born in Washington D.C., United States, to South African parents, Leslie Jonathan Mampe, an IT specialist who worked at IBM, and his wife, Priscilla. Mampe, Sr. was a collector of music LPs and was known for hosting parties. It is through this that Mampe discovered his musical talents at a young age, while living in the United States with his parents.
In 2014, Mampe starred in a South African television series, The Real Jozi A-Listers, as a lead character alongside South African television and media personality Maps Maponyane, both playing fictionalized versions of themselves.
Personal life
Mampe and Aurea Alexander welcomed the birth of their daughter, whose godfather is South African hip hop recording artist and good friend AKA. Da L.E.S is the godfather to AKA's daughter.
Discography
Studio albums
| Album title | Album details |
|---|
| Fresh 2 Def | - Released: 2008
- Label: Ghetto Ruff
- Formats: CD, digital download
|
|---|
| Mandela Money | - Released: July 4, 2014
- Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
- Formats: CD, digital download
|
|---|
| North God | - Released: November 27, 2015
- Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
- Formats: CD, digital download
|
|---|
| Diamond in Africa | - Released: December 9, 2016
- Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
- Formats: digital download
|
|---|
| F2D Presents: Hall of Fame | - Released: March 10, 2017
- Label: Fresh 2 Def
- Formats: digital download
|
|---|
| High Level | - Released: September 29, 2017
- Label: Fresh 2 Def
- Formats: CD, digital download
|
|---|
Singles
| Year | Title | Certifications | Album |
|---|
| 2008 | "Tippy Toes" | | Fresh 2 Def |
| "We on Fire" | |
| 2013 | "Heaven" | | Mandela Money |
| "Fire" | |
| 2014 | "Dice" | |
| 2015 | "P.A.I.D" | | North God |
| "Bank Roll" | |
| "Summer Time" | |
| 2016 | "6 AM" | |
| "Real Stuff" | |
| "Up to Something" | | Diamond in Africa |
| "Lifestyle" | |
| 2017 | "Popular Demand" | | High Level |
| Year | Title | Certifications | Album |
|---|
| 2013 | "Hape Le Hape, Part 2" | | Lost in Time |
| "Bunny Jump" | | |
| "Kontrol" | | Levels |
| 2014 | "All Eyes on Me" | RiSA: Platinum |
| "Poppin'" | | |
| "Bad Chick" | | |
| "Light a Lighter" | | |
| 2015 | "Shake" | | |
| "Bank Roll" | | North God |
| "Summer Love" | | |
| "Birthday" | | |
| 2016 | "Savage" | | |
| "One For The Team" | | F2D Presents: Hall of Fame |
| 2017 | "Who Shot Ya" | |
| "4Ways" | | |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|
| "So Fresh" | 2013 | Good Look |
| "In My City" | All of Me |
| "Addicted" | 2015 | 6ix O'Clock |
| "Too Many Girls" | 2015 | |
| "Oceans" | 2016 | Injayam, Vol. 1 |
| "Freakend" | Stogie T |
Videography
| Year | Artist | Title | Album | Director | Ref |
|---|
| 2008 | Da L.E.S | Tippy Toes | Fresh 2 Def | | |
| We On Fire (featuring Bongani Fassie and Maggz) | | |
| 2013 | AKA | Kontrol | Levels | | |
| Da L.E.S | Heaven (featuring AKA and Maggz) | Mandela Money | | |
| 2014 | Fire | | |
| Dice | | |
| Khuli Chana | Hape Le Hape 2.1 (featuring Da L.E.S and Magesh) | Lost in Time | | |
| AKA | All Eyes on Me (featuring Burna Boy, JR and Da L.E.S) | Levels | | |
| DJ Speedsta | Bad Chick (featuring DotCom and Da L.E.S) | Non-album single | | |
| 2015 | Da L.E.S | P.A.I.D (featuring AKA and Burna Boy) | North God | Sesan | |
| Summer Time (featuring Riky Rick) | |
| YBK | Summer Love (featuring Burna Boy, Gemini Major and Da L.E.S) | Non-album single | | |
| 2016 | Da L.E.S | 6 A.M. (featuring Ma-E and Moozlie) | North God | | |
| Real Stuff (featuring AKA and Maggz) | | |
| Up to Something | Diamond in Africa | YeahLenzo | |
Leo
