Yung Lean News

Astral People and Handsome Tours are proud to present the Australian debut of Swedish rapper turned internet icon, Yung Lean.

Yung Lean (born Jonatan Leandoer Håstad) has curated a unique identity that is unlike any other artist in his field. By the age of 15, Lean, alongside his peers and fellow ‘Sad Boys’ Yung Gud and Yung Sherman, began mixing, producing and writing music for publication via Soundcloud. Through the influence and inspiration of the likes of 50 Cent and similar rap artists, the Stockholm natives sought to contribute their quasi-satirical renditions to the existing mosaic of the genre.

Yung Lean and the Sadboys began gathering some serious hype in 2013 in response to Unknown Death 2002 and his debut EP Lavender. These releases were accompanied with a number of music videos released on Youtube and they undoubtedly established the cult following Yung Lean experiences currently. Tracks like ‘Yoshi City’ (4 million YouTube views), ‘Hurt’ (5 million YouTube views), ‘Ginseng Strip 2002’ (5.5 million YouTube views) ‘Kyoto’ (9 million YouTube views) depict Yung Leans trademark early 2000s aesthetic coupled with ironically appropriated references to themes of American hip hop.

Yung Lean’s popularity is linked with his accessibility as a young amateur rapper and his clever personal branding of Scandinavian privilege conveyed through the medium of US inspired hip hop culture. Despite his age and perceived lack of professional experience within the industry, Yung Lean launched his debut tour of Europe at the age of 17 in 2014 and will continue to take his tour to the Americas and Oceania in 2015.

Don’t miss Yung Lean’s very first Australian/NZ tour this summer. He’s making the rounds on the festival circuit and has announced a few additional sideshows this December/January!