Josef Leimberg (born November 29, 1972) is a producer, lyricist, and trumpet player from Los Angeles. He contributed to Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy Award-winning album, To Pimp a Butterfly, and is currently signed with World Galaxy, the jazz imprint of Alpha Pup Records.
After being introduced to Snoop Dogg, Leimberg produced numerous tracks on the rapper’s platinum albums R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece and Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss - followed by extensive touring with Snoop Dogg as part of the band. Leimberg would then tour with singer Robin Thicke as a dominant force in his band’s horn section.
In 2014, Leimberg linked up with Terrace Martin under a new alias LoveDragon. The two would collaborate on Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming project, the Grammy Award-winning LP, To Pimp a Butterfly. On the album, Lovedragon contributed to the track "You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Mama Said)" as well as the track "How Much a Dollar Cost" - which was President Barack Obama’s favorite song of 2015. and featured "neck-snapping drums, a somber piano melody and heavenly horn stabs". Leimberg’s baritone vocals can also be found on the "Wesley's Theory" and "For Sale?". "As a trumpeter, Leimberg’s work appears in six tracks on To Pimp a Butterfly: "For Sale?", "Wesley's Theory," "These Walls," "Complexion (A Zulu Love)," "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" and "Mortal Man"
In 2016, Leimberg released his first solo album Astral Progressions on World Galaxy, the jazz imprint of Alpha Pup Records, an independent label co-founded by Daddy Kev of Low End Theory. The album is a blend of jazz, ballads, hip hop, funk, and meditation.
National Public Radio member station KCRW presented a guest mix from Leimberg and also included his album Astral Progressions on "KCRW’s Best of 2016."