Yeat

Yeat
Yeat performing in May 2022
Yeat performing in May 2022
Background information
Birth nameNoah Olivier Smith
Also known as
  • Luh Geeky
  • Kranky Kranky
Born (2000-02-26) February 26, 2000 (age 24)
Irvine, California, U.S.
OriginLake Oswego, Oregon, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
DiscographyYeat discography
Years active2015–present
Labels
Websiteyeatofficial.com
Signature

Noah Olivier Smith[1] (born February 26, 2000),[2] known professionally as Yeat (occasionally stylized as YEAT /ˈjiːt/ YEET),[3] is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his experimental sound—most notably the rage sound, unique choice of words, and unconventional fashion sense featuring a mix of designer brands and balaclavas.[4][5]

Yeat rose to prominence in mid-2021 following the release of his mixtape 4L and debut studio album Up 2 Me, with the tracks "Money So Big" and "Get Busy" from the latter gaining considerable popularity on TikTok. In 2022, he released his second studio album: 2 Alive, and the EP Lyfe, with both projects debuting in the top ten on the Billboard 200. In 2023, he released his third studio album: Afterlyfe, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200—becoming his first album to reach the top-five, and was featured on Drake's song "IDGAF"; the track debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the Global 200. In 2024, Yeat released his fourth and fifth studio albums: 2093 (in February) and Lyfestyle (in October). 2093 debuted and peaked at number-two while Lyfestyle peaked at number-one on the Billboard 200, the latter being his first number-one debut.[6]

Early life

Noah Olivier Smith was born on February 26, 2000, in Irvine, California to a Romanian mother and an American father of British and Mexican descent. His paternal grandmother is Mexican and from the city of Tijuana while his grandfather is British-American.[7] Yeat has two younger brothers. Yeat spent his early childhood in Fullerton, California before he and his family moved to Portland, Oregon,[8] where he attended Lakeridge High School in the nearby town of Lake Oswego.[9] After finishing high school, Yeat briefly moved to New York City before returning to the Greater Los Angeles area in pursuit of a music career.[8]

Career

2015–2021: Career beginnings

Yeat began his career in 2015, originally making music under the name Lil Yeat, but these releases have since been deleted from the Internet.[10] On June 30, 2018, Yeat made his first public appearance under his current moniker, premiering a track called "Brink" on Elevator, a YouTube channel.[11] Yeat has stated that he created the name Yeat while high and trying to come up with one word that sounds familiar to people.[10][8] His stage name has also been described as a combination of "yeet" and "heat".[3] Yeat has mentioned how his use of LSD was able to help him pursue his music career.[10] He released his first mixtape, Deep Blue Strips on September 20, 2018.[12] On February 21, 2019, he premiered the music video for his track "Stay Up" on Elevator.[13]

2021–2022: Viral success, Up 2 Me, and 2 Alive

Main articles: Up 2 Me and 2 Alive

Yeat achieved viral success online through platforms such as TikTok in 2021.[14][15] Writing for Pitchfork, Mano Sundaresan commented "Cutting his teeth in the influential online rap collective Slayworld over the last few years, Yeat was always a little stranger than his peers, and consequently cast as a minor figure. But in 2021, his surrealist bent became his superpower."[16] Yeat's music began to gain traction online following his 4L mixtape, which was released June 11, 2021.[14][17] The 4L project notably included "Sorry Bout That" and "Money Twerk".[17]

In August, he released the EP Trendi which had increased success with "Mad Bout That" and "Fukit".[14] Also in August, a snippet of his song "Get Busy" went viral online, attracting considerable media and fan attention upon its release.[18] The song was particularly cited by media outlets for its line "this song already was turnt but here's a bell", which was immediately followed by the ringing of church bells (which are often incorporated into his songs).[18][19] Fellow rappers Drake and Lil Yachty also referenced the line.[17]

On September 10, Yeat released his debut studio album Up 2 Me through an initial one-album deal with Interscope Records and Foundation Media.[20] The album received generally positive reception from critics.[17][15][19] After the limited Interscope and Foundation deal had ended, Yeat fulfilled a promise he made to Zack Bia by signing with the latter's Field Trip Recordings, in addition to Conor Ambrose's Listen to the Kids, in a joint venture with Geffen Records and Interscope Records.[21]

On January 22, 2022, Up 2 Me made its debut on the Billboard 200, initially reaching number 183 and ultimately peaking at number 58.[22] Later that same month, Yeat teased a mid-February release date for his next album, 2 Alivë. His song "U Could Tell" was featured in the Euphoria episode "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can", which premiered on January 30.[23]

On February 11, the single "Still Countin" was released alongside a Cole Bennett-directed music video.[24] On February 18, Yeat released his second studio album, 2 Alive, through Geffen Records, Field Trip Recordings, Listen to the Kids, and Twizzy Rich.[25] It debuted and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, selling around 36,000 units and becoming his highest charting project.[26] On April 1, the deluxe version of 2 Alive, titled 2 Alive (Geek Pack), was released.[27] On April 29, he released "No Handoutz", a collaborative single with Internet Money Records.[28]

On June 28, Yeat released "Rich Minion", a single he was commissioned to create for a Lyrical Lemonade-produced trailer promoting the film Minions: The Rise of Gru.[29] After its release, the song became associated with "GentleMinions", a meme involving people who would dress in formal attire and attend screenings of the film while it was playing in movie theatres during the summer of 2022.[30][31]

2022–present: Lyfe, Afterlyfe, 2093 and Lyfestyle

Main articles: Lyfe (EP), Afterlyfe, 2093 (album), and Lyfestyle

On September 2, 2022, Yeat released "Talk", a single from his EP Lyfe. The EP itself was released a week later on September 9, debuting and peaking at number ten on the Billboard 200.[32][33]

On February 24, 2023, Yeat released his third studio album, Afterlyfe.[34] The album includes a feature from YoungBoy Never Broke Again, in addition to Yeat's alter egos Kranky Kranky and Luh Geeky.[35] It peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Rap Albums chart.[36] On May 3, Yeat released the single "Already Rich"; the song, often referred to by the unofficial name "ard up", was originally leaked in 2021 and saw minor success on social media apps such as TikTok.[37] On May 26, the single "My Wrist" featuring Atlanta rapper Young Thug was released; this song, notably, features production by producer Pi'erre Bourne.[38] On August 10, Yeat released the single "Bigger Then Everything" alongside a music video directed by Cole Bennett.[39] On October 6, Yeat was featured on Drake's track "IDGAF" from his album For All the Dogs;[40] the song would go on to debut at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first top ten entry on the chart, as well as his first number one on the Billboard Global 200.[41]

On February 16, 2024, Yeat released his fourth studio album, 2093, with features from Lil Wayne and Future, and a guest appearance from Donald Glover on "Power Trip".[42] 2093 debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Songs "Breathe" and "If We Being Real" broke through as some of the songs that went viral on social media platforms. Just a day later, 2093 (P2), was released. This included two bonus tracks. A couple days later, 2093 (P3) released exclusive to digital download with 4 bonus tracks. Glover and Yeat worked again with Yeat having a feature on Glover's album Bando Stone & the New World.[citation needed]

In April 2024, Yeat confirmed via an Instagram story that two more studio albums following 2093 are to come out, titled Lyfestyle and A Dangerous Lyfe, respectively.[43][better source needed] Via an Instagram post on the account of Yeat's label Lyfestyle Corporation, it was confirmed that Lyfestyle was set to release sometime in October.[44][45] The album was released on October 18, 2024, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, landing Yeat's first number one debut.[6]

Musical style

From the start of his career, Yeat has utilized Auto-Tune-infused vocals.[46] In 2021, he adopted a more aggressive and synth-based sound, joining a growing group of rappers that used "rage beats", a sound that became a SoundCloud staple influenced by the lively vocal deliveries and EDM, Future, and Young Thug.[17] Yeat has stated the latter two are some of his biggest inspirations. He also cited American rapper T-Pain as one of his biggest influences growing up, calling him "The GOAT of Auto-Tune".[8] Yeat's signature vocal preset is based on a vocal chain given to him by formerly frequent collaborator and fellow musician Weiland.[10]

On 2093, Yeat uses a more futuristic and experimental sound, using elements of rage rap and electro in his songs.

Yeat has also been noted to employ a unique lingo in his music, coming up with ad-libs and phrases such as "twizzy", "krank", and "luh geeky", and often referring to luxury SUVs as "Tonka trucks" or "Tonkas" in his lyrics.[10] His father was one of the inspirations for him creating these unique words, as he himself would make up his own words when Yeat was a child.[10]

Certain aspects of Yeat's music have led him to be associated with various Internet memes and trends, especially the frequent use of bell sounds in his music; an example being one of his breakout songs, "Get Busy", in which he raps "This song already was turnt but here's a bell" followed by the ringing of bells throughout the rest of the track.[31][47][48][49]

Discography

Main article: Yeat discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ "ASCAP MUSIC CREDITS – YEAT". Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Mckinney, Jessica (February 28, 2022). "Everything You Need to Know About Yeat". Complex.
  3. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (February 23, 2022). "Yeat Is The Future, Maybe". Stereogum. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Yeat transitions to the 'AftërLyfe' on experimental third studio album". Our Generation Music. March 9, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Delahoussaye, Adam (February 27, 2023). "'Aftërlyfe' review: The wide world of Yeat". The Daily Beacon. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (October 27, 2024). "Yeat Lands First No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'Lyfestyle'". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "YEAT on Up 2 Me, Twizzy Rich, KanKan, 4L, Sorry Bout That, T-Pain, & More". YouTube. July 31, 2021. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
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  9. ^ Gallivan, Joseph (March 24, 2023). "Underground rapper Yeat heading "home" to play Portland". LakeOswegoReview.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
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  11. ^ Yeat – Br!nk. Elevator. June 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Deep Blue Strips by Yeat". Genius. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
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  14. ^ a b c Myers, Owen (September 3, 2021). "Who are they: YEAT". The Rocket. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
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  43. ^ "x.com".
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  45. ^ @lyfestylecorporation (September 23, 2024). "OCTOBER WE STYLE" – via Instagram.
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  49. ^ de Luna, Elizabeth (July 5, 2022). "Minions shatters box-office records because Gen Z is obsessed with it". Mashable. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
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