Noah Olivier Smith, born on February 26, 2000, is professionally known as Yeat (pronounced "YEET"). He is an American rapper, singer, and music producer. Yeat is recognized for his unusual music style, including a unique way of choosing words and clothing that mixes high-end brands with items like balaclavas.
Yeat became well-known in mid-2021 after releasing his mixtape 4L and his first studio album Up 2 Me. Songs from Up 2 Me, such as "Money So Big" and "Get Busy," became popular on TikTok. In 2022, he released his second studio album, 2 Alive, and an EP called Lyfe. Both projects reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2023, Yeat released his third studio album, Afterlyfe, which reached number four on the Billboard 200, marking his first album to enter the top five. He also appeared on Drake’s song "IDGAF," which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Global 200 chart. In 2024, Yeat released his fourth and fifth studio albums, 2093 (in February) and Lyfestyle (in October). 2093 debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, while Lyfestyle reached the top of the chart, becoming the first project to do so.
Early life
Noah Olivier Smith was born on February 26, 2000, in Irvine, California. His mother, Laura (born Olivier) Smith, is Romanian, and his father, Joshua Smith, is an American with Mexican and British heritage. Noah’s paternal grandmother is Mexican and from the city of Tijuana, and his paternal grandfather was Anglo-American. Noah has two younger brothers named Luca and Ethan. His father is also a musician and currently creates music under the name Beast Clouds. Noah spent his early childhood in Fullerton, California, before moving with his family to Portland, Oregon, where he attended Lakeridge High School in the nearby town of Lake Oswego. After finishing high school, Noah briefly lived in New York City before returning to the Greater Los Angeles area to pursue a music career.
Career
Yeat began his music career in 2015, initially releasing songs under the name Lil Yeat. These early songs were later removed from the internet. On June 30, 2018, Yeat made his first public appearance using his current name, premiering a song called "Brink" on Elevator, a YouTube channel. He explained that he chose the name Yeat while high, trying to think of a word that felt familiar. The name is also said to combine parts of "yeet" and "heat." Yeat mentioned that using LSD helped him focus on his music. His first mixtape, Deep Blue Strips, was released on September 20, 2018. On February 21, 2019, he released the music video for "Stay Up" on Elevator.
Yeat gained widespread online attention in 2021, especially on TikTok. A writer for Pitchfork, Mano Sundaresan, noted that Yeat’s unique style, which included surreal themes, became a key part of his success. His mixtape 4L, released on June 11, 2021, included popular songs like "Sorry Bout That" and "Money Twerk." In August 2021, Yeat released the EP Trendi, which featured tracks such as "Mad Bout That" and "Fukit." A short clip of his song "Get Busy" went viral online, drawing media and fan interest. The song’s line, "this song already was turnt but here's a bell," was followed by the sound of church bells, a common element in his music. Rappers Drake and Lil Yachty also referenced this line.
On September 10, 2021, Yeat released his debut studio album, Up 2 Me, through Interscope Records and Foundation Media. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics. After his initial deal ended, Yeat signed with Field Trip Recordings and Listen to the Kids, a joint venture with Geffen Records and Interscope Records.
On January 22, 2022, Up 2 Me debuted on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching number 183 and later peaking at number 58. Later that month, Yeat announced plans to release his next album, 2 Alivë, in mid-February. His song "U Could Tell" appeared in the Euphoria episode "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can," which aired on January 30.
On February 11, 2022, Yeat released the single "Still Countin" with a music video directed by Cole Bennett. His second studio album, 2 Alive, came out on February 18, 2022, through Geffen Records and other labels. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, selling about 36,000 units. A deluxe version, 2 Alive (Geek Pack), was released on April 1. On April 29, Yeat released "No Handoutz," a collaboration with Internet Money Records.
On June 28, 2022, Yeat released "Rich Minion," a song created for a Lyrical Lemonade trailer promoting the movie Minions: The Rise of Gru. The song became linked to "GentleMinions," a meme involving people wearing formal clothes to movie screenings.
On September 2, 2022, Yeat released the single "Talk" from his EP Lyfe, which was released on September 9. The EP debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200.
On February 24, 2023, Yeat released his third studio album, Afterlyfe, featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again and his alter egos Kranky Kranky and Luh Geeky. The album reached number four on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Rap Albums chart. On May 3, Yeat released "Already Rich," a song that had been leaked in 2021 and gained minor popularity on social media. On May 26, he released "My Wrist," featuring Young Thug and produced by Pi'erre Bourne. On August 10, Yeat released "Bigger Then Everything" with a music video by Cole Bennett. On October 6, Yeat appeared on Drake’s song "IDGAF" from the album For All the Dogs. The song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Yeat’s first top ten entry and his first number one on the Billboard Global 200.
On February 16, 2024, Yeat released his fourth studio album, 2093, featuring Lil Wayne, Future, and Donald Glover on "Power Trip." The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Songs like "Breathe" and "If We Being Real" became popular online. Two days later, 2093 (P2) was released with two bonus tracks. A few days after that, 2093 (P3) was released digitally with four bonus tracks. Yeat also appeared on Donald Glover’s album Bando Stone & the New World.
In April 2024, Yeat confirmed via Instagram that two more albums, Lyfestyle and A Dangerous Lyfe, would follow 2093. Lyfestyle was released on October 18, 2024, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking Yeat’s first number one album.
In March 2025, Pitchfork reported that Yeat and Don Toliver would release a collaborative album in 2025 and headline the Summer Smash 2025 festival on June 20, 2025. However, the album announcement was later removed.
On October 6, 2025, Yeat made his runway debut at the Vetements SS26 fashion show with other celebrities. At ComplexCon, he showcased his new Nike Air Max Goadome boots. On November 22, 2025, Yeat appeared in the video game Roblox through a collaboration with Dead Rails. On February 26, 2026, Yeat released the single "Made It On Our Own" with EsDeeKid.
Musical style
Since the beginning of his career, Yeat has used Auto-Tune to enhance his vocal recordings. In 2021, he began using a more intense and synth-heavy style, joining other rappers who incorporated "rage beats," a sound common in SoundCloud music influenced by energetic vocal styles, EDM, Future, and Young Thug. Yeat has said that Future and Young Thug are among his greatest influences. He also mentioned that American rapper T-Pain was a major influence during his childhood, calling T-Pain "The GOAT of Auto-Tune." Yeat's most commonly used vocal setting was provided by his former frequent collaborator and musician, Weiland.
On his album 2093, Yeat experimented with futuristic and unusual sounds, blending elements of rage rap and electro in his songs.
Yeat is known for creating unique phrases and ad-libs in his music, such as "twizzy," "krank," and "luh geeky." He often refers to luxury SUVs as "Tonka trucks" or "Tonkas" in his lyrics. His father inspired him to invent these words, as his father also made up new words when Yeat was young.
Some parts of Yeat's music have connected him to online trends and memes, especially his frequent use of bell sounds. For example, in his popular song "Get Busy," he raps, "This song already was turnt but here's a bell," followed by repeated bell sounds throughout the track.