# Mutt (Leon Thomas song)
"MUTT" is a 2024 song by the American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Leon Thomas, released as the title track of his second album, *MUTT*. Written by Thomas with Bizzy Crook and produced by D. Phelps and Freaky Rob (Rob Gueringer), it became a sleeper hit that reached the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard's Radio Songs and [Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs](https://www.edgepedia.org/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-songs) charts, and earned Thomas Grammy nominations during the album's awards cycle.[1](https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/leon-thomas-mutt/) • [2](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78) • [4](https://apnews.com/article/8ba53ba9b10a7b06caa2e01b17c44b7e)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | Leon Thomas, R&B singer, songwriter, and producer also known for producing SZA's "Snooze"[2](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas) |
| Release | Title track of the album *MUTT*, released September 27, 2024 on EZMNY Records and Motown[1](https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/leon-thomas-mutt/) |
| Writers / producers | Written by Thomas and Bizzy Crook; produced by D. Phelps and Freaky Rob; AllMusic credits Lazaro Camejo, Rob Gueringer, David Phelps, and Leon Thomas as composers[5](https://thehoneypop.com/2024/10/03/exclusive-interview-leon-thomas-on-his-new-album-mutt/) • [2](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas) • [6](https://www.allmusic.com/song/mutt-mt0066812751) |
| Chart peaks | No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 (an Associated Press report on the Ty Dolla $ign album *Tycoon* gives No. 11); No. 1 on Billboard's Radio Songs chart and No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[3](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78) • [7](https://apnews.com/article/4d7bf94f9b1ab9597a776e863e4e4750) |
| Certification | Double platinum[3](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78) |
| Remixes | A remix with Freddie Gibbs, and a Chris Brown remix ("MUTT (CB REMIX)") featured on the deluxe edition *MUTT Deluxe: HEEL*[3](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78) |
| Awards | Grammy-nominated as Best R&B Performance in the live version "MUTT (Live From NPR's Tiny Desk)"; Thomas received six nominations overall for the *MUTT* album cycle[8](https://naras.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/2026_grammys_best_new_artist_performers_announcement) |
## Writing and production
Thomas has said he wrote "MUTT" in a couple of hours with his co-writer Bizzy Crook while he was finishing the album and searching for a title.[5](https://thehoneypop.com/2024/10/03/exclusive-interview-leon-thomas-on-his-new-album-mutt/) • [9](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9rxl3m) The song was produced by David Phelps (D. Phelps) and Rob Gueringer (Freaky Rob), who joined Thomas on a Song Exploder episode to break down how it was made; the episode notes the song is technically not in key.[2](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas)
The production pairs a sensual bassline with knocking drums and real instrumentation; one review noted that the lead vocal sits noticeably recessed in the mix relative to the drums.[10](https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2025-12-18/leon-thomas-on-nickelodeon-mutt-and-breakout-year) • [11](https://themixreview.org/reviews/mutt/) Thomas has described his influences on the album as spanning jazz figures such as [Art Blakey](https://www.edgepedia.org/art-blakey) and [Miles Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/miles-davis), neo-soul, and rock acts like [Black Sabbath](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sabbath) and Led Zeppelin.[12](https://www.grammy.com/news/leon-thomas-iii-interview-new-album-mutt)
## Meaning and lyrics
The song compares Thomas's flawed behavior in relationships to a "mutt," a dog with good intentions that keeps getting into trouble; the hook runs "I'm a dog / I'm a mutt."[10](https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2025-12-18/leon-thomas-on-nickelodeon-mutt-and-breakout-year) Thomas said the title came from his dog Terry, a [German Shepherd](https://www.edgepedia.org/german-shepherd) and Husky mix whose pattern of sweet intentions undercut by misbehavior mirrored his own tendencies during a breakup.[12](https://www.grammy.com/news/leon-thomas-iii-interview-new-album-mutt) • [13](https://lyricsweb.com/album/leon-thomas/mutt) AllMusic's album review described the track as a soul ballad retrofitted with hulking drums and bass, and read it less as a player's anthem than an admission and warning.[14](https://www.allmusic.com/album/MW0004363521) One of the song's widely quoted lines, "I can't smoke on reggie, so pardon my bluntness," carries a double meaning: Thomas will not smoke low-grade cannabis, and he will not soften the truth.[15](https://neonmusic.co.uk/leon-thomas-mutt-review-lyrics-meaning)
## Chart performance
"MUTT" simmered for months before breaking out. The Los Angeles Times reported that by early 2025 the song had cracked the Billboard Hot 100, climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Radio Songs chart, and earned double platinum status, with endorsements from figures such as Tems, SZA, Keke Palmer, and [Issa Rae](https://www.edgepedia.org/issa-rae) helping push it into ubiquity.[10](https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2025-12-18/leon-thomas-on-nickelodeon-mutt-and-breakout-year) Coverage of the deluxe album gives its Hot 100 peak as No. 13,[3](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78) while an Associated Press report on Ty Dolla $ign's *[Tycoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/tycoon-album)* states that the single hit No. 11 on the all-genre Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[7](https://apnews.com/article/4d7bf94f9b1ab9597a776e863e4e4750)
## Reception and legacy
The song and its parent album carried Thomas to a new career level after years of writing and producing for others, including [Ariana Grande](https://www.edgepedia.org/ariana-grande), Drake, SZA, and [Rick Ross](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-ross).[2](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas) • [1](https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/leon-thomas-mutt/) The Recording Academy nominated Thomas for six [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards) on the strength of the *MUTT* cycle: Album of the Year and Best R&B Album (*MUTT*), Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance ("MUTT (Live From NPR's Tiny Desk)"), Best Traditional R&B Performance ("VIBES DON'T LIE"), and Best R&B Song ("YES IT IS").[8](https://naras.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/2026_grammys_best_new_artist_performers_announcement) "MUTT" also won at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, and Thomas won the American Music Award for Favorite Male R&B Artist in 2026, with "MUTT" nominated for Best R&B Song there.[16](https://los40.com/2026/03/27/iheartradio-music-awards-2026-lista-completa-de-los-ganadores/) • [17](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/amas-2026-lista-completa-de-ganadores-de-los-american-music-awards-f202605-n/) In 2026 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers announced that Thomas would receive its Vanguard Award, citing the breakout title track among the work that shaped his rise.[4](https://apnews.com/article/8ba53ba9b10a7b06caa2e01b17c44b7e)
## References
1. [Mutt, album review, Plugged In](https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/leon-thomas-mutt/)
2. [Episode 307: Leon Thomas, "Mutt", Song Exploder](https://songexploder.net/leon-thomas)
3. [Leon Thomas is 'ready for the moment' with new album 'MUTT Deluxe: HEEL', Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/cef60aeec3125a243d403566d8c75a78)
4. [Leon Thomas to receive ASCAP Vanguard Award for shaping the future of R&B, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/8ba53ba9b10a7b06caa2e01b17c44b7e)
5. [Exclusive Interview: Leon Thomas On His New Album MUTT, The Honey POP](https://thehoneypop.com/2024/10/03/exclusive-interview-leon-thomas-on-his-new-album-mutt/)
6. [MUTT, Leon Thomas, AllMusic song page](https://www.allmusic.com/song/mutt-mt0066812751)
7. [Ty Dolla $ign returns with 'Tycoon', Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/4d7bf94f9b1ab9597a776e863e4e4750)
8. [2026 Grammy Awards Best New Artist performers announcement, Recording Academy](https://naras.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/2026_grammys_best_new_artist_performers_announcement)
9. [Leon Thomas - Mutt, Behind the Song, Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9rxl3m)
10. [Leon Thomas talks Nickelodeon, Grammys and his breakout single "Mutt", Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2025-12-18/leon-thomas-on-nickelodeon-mutt-and-breakout-year)
11. [The Mix Review - Mutt](https://themixreview.org/reviews/mutt/)
12. [Leon Thomas III Talks Unleashing 'Mutt' And Pushing R&B Forward, GRAMMY.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/leon-thomas-iii-interview-new-album-mutt)
13. [MUTT by Leon Thomas, Tracklist & Story Behind the Album, LyricsWeb](https://lyricsweb.com/album/leon-thomas/mutt)
14. [Leon Thomas: MUTT Tracks & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/MW0004363521)
15. [Leon Thomas MUTT Review, Neon Music](https://neonmusic.co.uk/leon-thomas-mutt-review-lyrics-meaning)
16. [Ganadores de los iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026, LOS40](https://los40.com/2026/03/27/iheartradio-music-awards-2026-lista-completa-de-los-ganadores/)
17. [AMAs 2026: Lista completa de ganadores, AS](https://as.com/us/tikitakas/amas-2026-lista-completa-de-ganadores-de-los-american-music-awards-f202605-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Compositions and songs › Pop, rock, and metal songs › R&B and soul songs › Contemporary R&B songs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license