Ian O'Neill Smith (born May 29, 2005), known mononymously as Ian (stylized in

all lowercase Letter case is the distinction between the letters that are in larger uppercase or capitals (more formally ''majuscule'') and smaller lowercase (more formally ''minuscule'') in the written representation of certain languages. The writing systems ...

), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.

Early life

Born in

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

, Missouri, he attended

Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (commonly referred to as Jesuit Dallas or Dallas Jesuit, and formerly known as Jesuit High School) is a private, college-preparatory school for Single-sex school, young men under the direction of the ...

and

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

. Before he began his rap career, he played rugby and

crew A crew is a body or a group of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchy, hierarchical organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard. The word has nautical resonances: the ta ...

in high school. He also played rugby at Clemson before pursuing his music career fulltime.

Career

2018–2022: Early career and production work

Ian began his music career in 2018, initially uploading tracks to SoundCloud under the alias Suburbancerberus. His early work consisted mostly of mixes featuring popular artists like Chief Keef, and he gradually transitioned into producing beats. By 2019, he shifted his focus towards music production, working behind the scenes for other artists. From 2020 to 2022, he collaborated with underground artists such as Izaya Tiji, BabySantana, and Slump6s, refining his sound and establishing a name within the SoundCloud rap scene.

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 Marshawn Terrell Lynch (born April 22, 1986) is an American actor and former professional American football, football player who was a running back for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Beast Mode", he spent the majori ...

in its

Lyrical Lemonade Cole Bennett (born May 14, 1996) is an American music video director and record executive. He is the founder of Lyrical Lemonade. He has most notably collaborated with Juice Wrld on music videos such as " All Girls Are the Same", " Lucid Dreams" ...

-produced music video. Shortly after, on May 17, 2024, Ian released his debut mixtape "Valedictorian", which debuted at #54 on the Billboard 200 and featured high-energy rage beats and dynamic production by mainly producer Sxprano and American rapper and producer tana. 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. In June 2024, he released "Fit Check" with VonOff1700. 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''.

2024: Rise to mainstream and "Goodbye Horses"

Following the success of "Valedictorian," Ian collaborated with

Lil Yachty Miles Parks McCollum (born August 23, 1997), known professionally as Lil Yachty, is an American rapper. He first gained recognition in August 2015 for his viral hit "One Night (Lil Yachty song), One Night", the lead single from his debut extend ...

on the single " Hate Me," which debuted at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. 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," featuring production from Sxprano, Tana, and Bnyx. The album debuted at #86 on the Billboard 200 and showcased a more experimental, melodic side of Ian’s artistry while still incorporating his signature rage-inspired sound.

2024: "Ian" Tour

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. The tour received positive reviews, with fans praising Ian's dynamic stage presence and the high-energy performances. A highlight from the tour was the concert at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which featured a DJ set by SXPRANO and Ian's live performance.

2025–present: Continued success and upcoming projects

In early 2025, Ian teased new music and announced his first headlining tour, set to take place in the U.S. and Europe. He has also hinted at collaborations with artists like Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, and Yeat. With his growing influence in the rage rap and hyperpop scenes, Ian is expected to release a follow-up project in late 2025.

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

Extended plays

Singles

Other charted songs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:ian 2005 births Living people 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American singer-songwriters American hip-hop singers 21st-century American male rappers American male singer-songwriters Clemson University alumni Columbia Records artists Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas alumni Rappers from Dallas Singer-songwriters from Texas Singers from Dallas