Leslie Jonathan Mampe, Jr. was born on July 26, 1985, popularly known by his stage name as Da L.E.S, is a Hip Hop recording artist and record producer from South Africa and Washington DC United States of America.

His early success came from his band group known as Jozi, where he released his famous single called, “Heaven”, in 2013 which featured fellow South African hip hop recording artists, AKA, and Maggz.

Early life and music career

Da L.E.S was born in Washington dc America to the south African parents Leslie Jonathan and Priscilla Mampe. Da L.E.S father was an IT specialist who worked at IBM, his mother was a collector of music LPs and was known for hosting parties. 

This is how Mampe JR developed an interest in his musical talent at a very young age while living in the United States with his parents.

In 2014, Mampe featured in a South African television series, The Real Jozi A-Listers, as a lead character alongside other media personality Maps Maponyane, both playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

Personal life

Mampe and Aurea Alexander have a daughter together whose godfather is a South African hip hop recording artist and good friend AKA. Meanwhile, Da L.E.S is also the godfather of AKA’s daughter.

CONTROVERSIES

On Jan. 12th 2020, South African Revenue Service (SARS) charged Da Les and his record label, Fresh 2 DEF Productions, over R155 000 unpaid taxes.
SARS filed papers at the Johannesburg High Court claiming that the rapper had failed to settle a R131,000 tax bill incurred for the 2018/2019 tax period.

They alleged that Da Les’s record label owed SARS R131 822.41 in unpaid Pay As You Earn (Paye) and as a result incurred R5 881.48 in interest and a further R13 179.46 in penalties.

The court papers indicated that the rapper was served with two letters of demand by the taxman, first in May 2019 reminding him to settle the debt, and the final letter of demand was sent to him on September 16, 2019, informing him of the taxman’s decision to approach the court to claim the money owed to it.

Discography

Studio albums

Album title
In 2008, he released his album ‘’Fresh 2 Def’’ under the record label Ghetto Ruff
On July 4th Da L.E.S dropped his second album, ‘’Mandela Money’’ under a new record label, known as Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
On November 27, 2015, he released an album titled North God, which he released under the record label Label: Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
On December 9, 2016, Da L.E.S dropped his 3rd studio album titled Diamond in Africa which he released under Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
On  March 10, 2017, Mampe dropped his 4th album named F2D Presents Hall of Fame under Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa records.
On September 29, 2017, Da L.E.S released his 5th studio album named High-Level under the same label Fresh 2 Def, Sony Music Entertainment Africa records. FEATURES: Da L.E.S has featured with many superstars across the globe,  In 2008, he featured Bongz and Maggz “Tippy Toes” In 2013 he featured AKA and Maggz in “Heaven” In 2015, he featured  AKA and Burna Boy on”P.A.I.D”. Riky Rick on “Summer Time” In 2016, he featured  Ma-E and Moozlie on “6 AM”, Danny K on “So Fresh”, L-Tido, Gotti, Maggz, Riky Rick on “In My City”. In 2017 he featured Yanga on “Who Shot Ya”,  DJ Switch on “4Ways”.