“Imma live it up, I got one life” – Yeat on “Team CEO”
Noah Olivier Smith, better known as Yeat, is a 24 year old American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer from Irvine, California. Yeat has been producing music since 2015, but it wasn’t until 2021 when he began to gain traction following the release of the tracks “Monёy So Big” and “Gёt Busy,” which gained a considerable following on Tiktok.
The addictive beat and hype from “Monёy So Big,” alongside the slow buildup to the unique and creative insert of a bell in “Gёt Busy,” resulted in Yeat gaining the attention of the media. This sudden burst of attention also promoted his entry into the mainstream music industry. “Gёt Busy” and “Monёy So Big” were not the only songs on the album ‘Up 2 Mё,’ and although not as popular, several other tracks in the album and his mixtape ‘4L’ added to his popularity.
It’s been two years since his rise to the spotlight, and he’s released a total of four albums since then. Yeat averages around 17.3 million listeners on Spotify, and Yeat’s last four albums prior to ‘Lyfestyle’ have amounted to around 4.3 billion streams on Spotify.
On Oct. 18, Yeat released his fifth studio album, ‘Lyfestyle.’ On release, it debuted number one on the Billboard Hot 200, as Yeat’s first number one album in his career. The album included hits such as “THE COSTËS,” “LYFESTYLË,” and “U DONT KNOW LYFE.” The album features popular artists such as Don Toliver, Lil Durk, and Kodak Black, lowering but maintaining the standards of features set by his last album ‘2093’ which had features such as Drake, Lil Wayne, and Future. The album was creative, set up in a way that each track blends with another as if it was one huge track capable of mutating.
In terms of popularity, several arguments arose with whether or not the album was just another example of how “The best Yeat songs are packed with absurdities that reframe genre cliches as fresh and hip” as stated by Pitchfork. Or if it exceeded expectations as “one of the best projects in a while in this vein” and how “the album really marked an interesting step forward for Yeat,” expressed by The Needledrop. Pitchfork spoke on how the experimental rapper could potentially be near the end of his run, making statements saying, “Yeat’s breakout single is not even five years old, and already fans are arguing whether he’s ‘washed’.”
In contrast, The Needledrop made comments on how the album marks a “bold switch up” arguing that “maybe at the end of the day, this project is a larger creative arc for Yeat, and he is merely just showing us a different version of himself.” It’s an interesting point to bring up, as he has the opportunity to do something similar to Tyler the Creator, as his many personalities could represent different opinions across albums. However in Yeat fashion, I believe it would be less on lyrical meaning and opinion, and more on varied tempo and rhythm. A good sign for an experimental artist.
If you are a fan of a more experimental side of music that’s constantly shifting, but occasionally consistent then I would recommend Yeat to you. His music could range from aggressive and synth-based to a more calmer upbeat setting in terms of rhythm and pace. ‘Lyfestyle’ could act as an interesting introduction to his style of music, serving as a platter of what he’s all about. The album offers an interesting onlook of his work. Lyrics aren’t his strong suit, as he does rely on the the rhythm and buildup of the song, something akin to Ken Carson. If this sounds like something you would tune into, then give ‘Lyfestyle’ a listen.
If the album is too chaotic for you, then I’d recommend you to give “Ley Go” a listen. It’s more approachable to anyone used to listening for lyrics, and the beat isn’t too overpowering. Yeat is only a feature on the song, but Dammntc and Yeat blend well together making a good combination.
