Ian (rapper)
American rapper (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ian O'Neill Smith (born May 29, 2005), known mononymously as Ian (stylized in all lowercase), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.[2]
May 29, 2005[1]
Ian | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | shyboy19, Suburbancerberus |
| Born | Ian O'Neill Smith[1] May 29, 2005[1] St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[1] |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, U.S[2] |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | ian |
Early life
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas where he played rugby and crew. He attended Clemson University, where he also played rugby before pursuing his music career full-time.
Career
2023–2024: Breakthrough with Valedictorian
In 2023, Ian began releasing singles under his own name, gaining traction with tracks like "Bad Habits" and "Ghost Ride". He signed with BuVision, Columbia Records, and Dogdog in early 2024. His breakout moment came with the release of his single "Figure It Out" in May 2024, featuring a cameo from former NFL star Marshawn Lynch in its Lyrical Lemonade-produced music video.[3] Shortly after, on May 17, 2024, Ian released his debut mixtape Valedictorian, which debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200 and featured high-energy rage beats and dynamic production by mainly producer Sxprano and American rapper and producer tana.[4] A deluxe edition, released in July 2024, included the viral hit "Magic Johnson", which charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was later certified Gold by the RIAA.[5]
In June 2024, he released "Fit Check" with VonOff1700.[6] Also in 2024, he released the song "Magic Johnson," which became viral on TikTok; this single would be tacked onto the deluxe edition of Valedictorian.
In support of his debut mixtape Valedictorian, Ian embarked on the "Ian" Tour in late 2024. The tour included performances across various cities, including Santa Ana, San Diego, Chicago, and Houston. Notably, the San Diego show took place at The Observatory North Park on December 5, 2024.[7]
2024-present: Rise to mainstream and Goodbye Horses
Following the success of Valedictorian, Ian collaborated with Lil Yachty on the single "Hate Me", which debuted at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] The song was accompanied by another Lyrical Lemonade music video and further propelled his growing popularity. In October 2024, Ian released his debut studio album, Goodbye Horses.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Studio album details | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| US [9] | ||
| Goodbye Horses |
|
86 |
Mixtapes
| Title | Mixtape details | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| US [10] | ||
| Valedictorian |
|
54 |
| 2005 |
|
— |
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Only for a While |
|
| Remembrance |
|
| Empty Suit (with gyo) |
|
