Noah Olivier Smith, professionally referred to as Yeat, was born on February 26, 2000, in Irvine, California. He currently lives in LA, although he spent a majority of his professional career in NYC, and grew up in Oregon. His mother is Romanian and his father is half Mexican and half White. He began his career in 2015 under the alibi Lil Yeat, however he switched to Yeat mid-2018— a mix of “yeet” and “heat.” Yeat’s music began to gain traction online following his 4L mixtape, which was released June 11, 2021, and included big hits like “Sorry Bout That” and “Money Twërk.” After going viral on platforms like TikTok, he released several more mixtapes until he released his first album Up 2 Më his on September 10, 2021. With double-digit projects and a constantly expanding fan base, Yeat’s autotune style, utilization of synth-based sounds, and trademarked use of rage beats is indubitably very influential in our modern era.  

Whether cranking out a set of incline bench press or speeding down I-26 on a Tuesday morning (especially when 45 minutes late to newspaper), Yeat’s bass boosted, upbeat, lyrically transcendent mǚsic is always incredible. In this article, Ransome and Boris will rank Yeat’s 5 major projects, which include 2 mixtapes, 2 studio albums, and 1 EP: Alive, 4L, Up 2 Me, 2 Alive, and Lyfe. After a brief description of the album, we will rank the top 2 songs of each album. However, the album awarded 1st place will have a 5 song ranking alongside enthusiastic insight. 

Despite our opinionated recommendations, an exploration of Yeat’s entire discography is heavily encouraged in anticipation of the upcoming February release of Afterlyfë.

5. Alivë

At number 5, we have Yeat’s third mixtape, and first release of 2021. Alivë features 22 songs, and was most notably a debut of his current musical style. It is also the first project to be produced under the label of Twizzy Rich. The techno-electric instrumentals mixed in with a low bass are first seen in this project, no doubt the album that introduced Yeat to thousands of current fans.

We have ranked Alivë at 5 because of the lack of incredible tracks. It is no doubt a great mixtape, however no tracks really shine besides WAR 1. However, it is important to keep in mind that this was Yeat’s first project featuring his current rap and beat production methods.

Best Tracks

1. WAR 1

We love this song. A favorite to play during lacrosse warm ups, the energy radiating from this track is impeccable. It is an excellent pump-up song, and overall one of the greatest tracks ever produced by Yeat.

2. Tonka

The prequel to Yeat’s more popular “Tonka 2,” this song in his first notable album features a mesmerizing, robotic beat. As usual, Yeat’s adlibs add to the aura of the song, making you want to go workout, or do some other productive activity. Additionally, Yeat’s creative lyrics are found throughout the track, rhyming “bonkers” with “tonkers” and referencing his seemingly unlimited money supply and his road to the top, where he sits currently. 

4. 4L

Continuing in their order of release, we rank 4L at the #4 spot. While still undoubtedly a great work, this album shows Yeat’s continued effort to create a unique niche, continuing with the style of Alivë, but falling short of his current peak popularity at the time of its release. His last album before the major move to releasing studio mixtapes, this album features several Yeat classics from “Tëslas & Rovers” to “Goin Back 2 Ella”.

Best Tracks

1. Off Tha Lot

The bouncing beat on this popular Yeat track puts the listener in an excited mood. Along with the very short intro, getting right into the action, this song is very well-rounded. While this track is less chaotic compared to some of Yeat’s other songs, it will no doubt make your head bop with its pronounced rhythm.

2. Sorry Bout That

A staple of 4L, Sorry Bout That was one of Yeat’s first mega-popular tracks, and for good reason. Yeat establishes himself as a master lyricist, making seemingly impossible rhymes and taking full advantage of the cyclical synth beat. My favorite rhyme sequence is “I had the Issey Miyake jeans with the Arcteryx jacket” (a nod to his signature style) to “I’m not a kid, I’m a man like Pacqui” (a beautiful reference to the star Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao). Along with several other stellar lines, this track is sure to be a new favorite for those who have not already heard it. 

3. 2 Alivë

2 Alivë, along with its deluxe edition, 2 Alivë (Geek Pack), are together on this list at number 3. The biggest difference in this album from Yeat’s previous releases is the heavily increased presence of features, besides, of course, the typical SeptembersRich inclusion. Young Thug, Gunna, Ken Carson, and Lancey Foux all appear on the album, as well as two songs with Lil Uzi Vert. 

Best Tracks

1. Rackz got më (feat. Gunna)

Ransome’s personal favorite Yeat song of all time, his first feature with Gunna is objectively one of his greatest tracks. The aggressive, hard-hitting beat jumps right into the action with the song’s signature line, “Racks don’t stab my back,” a nod to how money will never betray you like people do. The already solid track is only improved by Gunna’s feature, which features his signature melodic style and lines about his immense wealth. 

2. Nëw turban

If you ever find yourself in a family friendly match of Search and Destroy on Call of Duty, Nëw turban is the perfect song to blast into game chat after a round to silence the screeching seven year-olds. Yeat’s signature hard-hitting beat, similar to “Rackz got më”, makes this track a rhythmic masterpiece. Littered with the classic Yeat bell, Nëw turban is a very well-rounded track, leaving very little to be desired by the listener. The song’s catchy chorus will imprint itself on your brain, leaving it replaying in your head for the remainder of the day. Yeat’s melodic adlibs round out the track, making it stand out on the album in combination with Yeat’s masterful flow. 

1 (tie): Lyfë and Up 2 Më

In a conflicted position, the number 1 spot was split between two phenomenal projects: Lyfë and Up 2 Më. With too many incredible tracks, these two masterpieces are a go-to for any regular Yeat listener. We also recommend starting with one of these if you choose to delve into the world of Yeat. Although Ransome prefers Up 2 Më, and Boris more a fan of Lyfë, we have unanimously agreed that they are indubitably Yeat’s greatest projects, fit for drives home from practice, morning showers, and tuning in to crank out the 140 anatomy terms that McCormick will be mercilessly examining on the following day.

Lyfë 

Boris’s pick for the title of number 1, Lyfë is living proof that Yeat’s musical skill only escalates with each release. This album is Yeat’s most recent release, and features a track for any level of Yeat fan; Be it novice, casual, or expert, any listener will find their favorite song in this album. The introduction features Lil Uzi Vert, with a beat drop that has gone viral across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, among others. In fact, the introduction is so influential that it is currently the most popular sound to use for sports and other edits. With common themes throughout the project alluding to Yeat’s success in both the rap industry and making money, this album radiates of confidence and accomplishment. 

Best Tracks

1. Systëm

This is Boris’s favorite Yeat song, by a considerable margin. The sonic vibrations are best felt through the speakers of a Subaru Outback, an ethereal experience that is bound to bring anyone into the zone. Zone for what? Anything. This track is so versatile that it can fit practically every mood experienced by the listener. The smooth, electric, bubbly sounds overlapped by Yeat’s riverbed chorus is, all in all, incredible.

2. Out thë way

Another favorite of Boris’s, his overall number 5 most listened to last month, this song is much less chaotic compared to the rest of Yeat’s discography. The track is both groovy and melodic, with the autotuned yelling in the chorus of the song trademarking this piece as something special. Although Out thë way differs from the rest of the album’s energy, it is uniquely wonderful with its bubbly-synth background.

3. Talk

“A-a-all we do is just go number one, uh” – Noah Oliver Smith 

This song is Boris’s number 6 most listened to last month. The introduction features chatter and “talk” before Yeat tells the chorus to “Shh” and “Shut up, let me go.” This powerful track hints at Yeat’s determination despite the large population of doubters and haters against him as he was on his come up. 

4. Wat it feel lykë

Wat it feel lykë is Boris’s 8th most listened to song last month. While the combination of a sharp bass, high-pitched melody, and contrasting autotune chorus may seem unsatisfactory upon a first listen, it somehow fuses into a track where the differences in sounds become complementary towards each other. 

5. Up off X

In a tough decision, Up off X receives the spot for number 5 in this album. This is one of our favorite songs to work out to, as the linear, simple synth that leads Yeat’s vocals is very upbeat. It is great to zone in, as the song itself feels like an auditory embodiment of what tunnel vision feels like. Once again, Yeat describes how he couldn’t care less about followers, the internet, and haters— whom he says are “broke” if they “got enough time to be hatin.”

Up 2 Më

Ransome’s pick for the number 1 spot, Up 2 Më is Yeat’s magnum opus, a masterpiece of an album without a single bad track (at least from a Yeat fan’s point of view). Up 2 Më takes the listener on a journey, with Yeat inviting you to “Cmon” a trip from the first track, starting in the morning (“Morning mudd”), and ending with “Lying 4 fun”, in which Yeat fakes the end of the song before continuing, saying “you must have thought I was done”. This album alludes to Yeat’s work ethic and determination to not only reach the top of the rap game, but maintain his position. 

Best Tracks

1. Turban

Turban includes possibly the greatest secondary beat drop in the history of music. Besides the initial beat drop, which is delightful, too, the sequence from 0:52 – 1:12 is impeccable. Yeat uses an atypical, wildly high-pitched voice, exclaiming about his success and ensnaring the listener in his track, from beat to lyrics. 

2. Twizzy Rich

Twizzy Rich is arguably one of the most well known Yeat songs. Among others on Up 2 Më that found major popularity on social media apps like TikTok, such as “Monëy so big” and “Dëserve it”, Twizzy Rich is my favorite. A mesmerizing beat drop after an intro littered with bells, during which Yeat mumbles “it’s all up to me”, opens this song like no other. In combination with a more easy-going flow, this track is one of the best on the album

3. Bak on ëm

A somewhat lesser known track, my pick for the third best song on Up 2 Më is “Bak on ëm”. A contagiously catchy chorus following an unorthodox beat drop propels this song to my upper rankings. 

4. Lying 4 fun

The final track on the album, “Lying 4 fun” is a light-hearted, melodic song, and one of my favorites. About two and a half minutes into the song, close to the typical runtime on Yeat’s track, the beat slows down, emulating the end of a song. At 2:49, however, Yeat utters “you must have thought I was done”, forcefully continuing the track on a slightly similar, more melodic beat. The change in beat and flow on this 5 minute 3 second song displays Yeat’s versatility like no other. 

5. Told ya

Similar to “Bak on ëm”, “Told ya”’s appearance on the top five songs in Up 2 Më may be somewhat of a ‘hot take’. A classic lack of intro and a beat heavy on percussion form a track that encourages getting hype. 

Smaller Projects:

Besides his five major albums, Yeat has released several smaller projects, from singles to EPs.

For example, his 4 song EP “Trëndi” is frankly impeccable. This project in album form would take the world by storm. All 4 songs included are top tier, from “Mad bout that” to “Tonka 2.” A feature from SeptembersRich, a staple on Yeat’s albums, rounds out the EP, making it truly special.

Yeat’s 2021 single “Cali” is an example of a lesser-known song in his discography, that all true fans will enjoy. The slower, more melodic beat and lyrics provide great contrast to Yeat’s often violent flows. 

Featured On:

Yeat is featured on an abundance of songs from other artists, from Autumn!, to KANKAN, to NBA Youngboy. 

In his 2022 album, “Ma’ I Got A Family,” mega-popular rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again made the expert decision of featuring Yeat on the song “I Don’t Text Back,” a track that beautifully showcases the strengths of both artists. Yeat’s signature ad libs in conjunction with YoungBoy’s melodic chorus combine to produce a true listening experience. 

In 2021, the release of sharkboy’s EP “UNDERWATER” brought another Yeat song to the public, “Yam.” My favorite aspect of this track is the aggressive flow switch at around 1:10. The hard-hitting beat along with Yeat’s powerful lyrics and ad libs fuse into a song that is a must-add to any workout playlist. 

Lastly, another great track with a Yeat feature is “Pop Out” by KillBunk. Similarly to “Yam,” this song is excellent for working out. The song gets right into the action, with no noticeable intro. This track would probably be the best of those with a Yeat feature if it wasn’t for the frankly garbage verse by KillBunk. Thankfully, Yeat is first on the song, making it so that you don’t have to listen through KillBunk’s portion.

Other great tracks that are worth a listen are: 

No Handoutz (feat. Yeat) by Internet Money

Probably! by Autumn!

Appear by CHUXXI