Fashawn (born Santiago Leyva) is a rapper from Fresno, California, known for his introspective storytelling and lyrical depth. He gained critical acclaim with his 2009 debut album Boy Meets World, produced entirely by Exile, which led to his inclusion in XXL’s 2010 Freshman Class. In 2014, he signed with Nas’s Mass Appeal Records and released The Ecology in 2015, featuring collaborations with Nas, Aloe Blacc, and Dom Kennedy. Fashawn has also worked with artists like The Alchemist, Murs, and Blu, and continues to be one of the most respected voices in West Coast hip-hop.