内容摘要：and McGhee believes incorporating it into storylines could help beat the stigma.

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“It’s God’s plan ... Coming from the world of acting, I’d had my fair share of fame and taste of what the high life felt like. But starting off with my debut album, really having to grind and play really small rooms and build from scratch was such a humbling experience,” said Thomas of “Electric Dusk” which dropped in 2023. “That really built me, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.”The 31-year-old, who’s produced songs for Drake, Kanye West, Toni Braxton and Babyface, spoke with The Associated Press about stepping into the spotlight, vulnerability and being protective of Ariana Grande. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

THOMAS: I prayed on this. I did the internal work to be ready for what comes with the spotlight. And, I don’t know, I’m just taking it one step at a time.I learned a lot from working behind the scenes, though. I was able to watch everybody’s climb to the top … and it was good to be a fly on the wall to a lot of my friends’ greatness before I had an opportunity to climb the mountain myself.Leon Thomas III poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton)

Leon Thomas III poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton)THOMAS: It was very organic … I played her the record and she really resonated with it, and I feel like you should write your life, and you should find ways to use your experience as the paint on the canvas. And I think both of us were going through pretty crazy breakups. So, I think it was important to lead with that song because it’s like the truest record right now on the project.

THOMAS: It’s a generation of filters. But I think some of the craziest and most viral moments are without any of the bells and whistles. And that’s the whole Catch-22. It’s like there’s lots of technological advancements, but I think things that are real, that really like celebrate the human experience, will always be celebrated.

THOMAS: It’s really hard being a Black male coming from the Nickelodeon-Viacom space because this is epic branding all over the world. I mean, this is like 80 countries … that are kind of fed that image of you. So, I think for me, the biggest thing was really taking the time to study acting.While he had many highs in the industry, Levy also recalled a big heartbreak when “Saving Private Ryan” lost the best picture trophy to “Shakespeare in Love” at the 71st Academy Awards.

“That was the toughest night of my life in terms of the business,” Levy said. But he put on a brave face at the Governor’s Ball following the ceremony.to Levy in 2018, noting that it takes, “Something of a storyteller to get an audience hooked on the story without giving away the story.”

Levy remained devoted to Spielberg, and Amblin Entertainment, up to his full retirement in 2024. For him, it never got old.“How lucky can you be? I mean it,” he said in 2018. “We work for the best filmmaker around.”