“Oh — . That’s Steve Lacy.”
Two stylishly dressed men were enjoying matcha lattes on the patio of Verve Coffee in West Hollywood when singer-songwriter Lacy approached the counter to order iced tea, and they were visibly surprised.
Lacy, now 28, was dressed simply in black workout clothes and had a short haircut – a more understated look than his recent style of long braids and large sunglasses. The only hints of his usual flair were a bright green purse and the tattoos covering his arms, as he prepared to discuss his new album, “Oh Yeah?”.
Steve Lacy’s career took off after the release of his hit song “Bad Habit” in 2022. The song, known for its relaxed and intimate sound, reached number one on the charts, received Grammy nominations, and dramatically changed his life. Now, as a rising star from Compton, Lacy has become instantly recognizable whenever he’s out in Los Angeles.
When asked about being recognized in public, Steve Lacy chuckled. He admitted he wouldn’t personally call a restaurant announcing himself, but he definitely appreciates it when his assistant gets them a good table. He joked that his name is more well-known than he is. While it can be a little frustrating, he says things have been pretty relaxed lately.
Okay, so I’m totally obsessed with Julien Baker’s new album, “Oh Yeah.” It’s this really cool, almost cynical look at what it’s like to be famous and deal with all that comes with it, especially now. It feels super relevant. The whole thing is only ten songs, but it really makes you think – can you actually find real love when it feels like you have endless choices? He’s questioning whether true connection is even possible when, as he puts it, he’s got so many ‘friends’ he could literally buy nice shoes with the money! It’s honest and a little heartbreaking, honestly.
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Steve Lacy, a musician from Compton who plays guitar and sings, recently had a number one hit with the song ‘Bad Habit.’ He’s now nominated for a Grammy award, and he achieved this success while staying true to himself. As he puts it, ‘I didn’t have to change who I am to get here.’
During his 2022 tour for the album “Gemini Rights,” a fan threw a camera at Steve Lacy while he was performing in New Orleans. Lacy, a dedicated musician who has collaborated with artists like Kendrick Lamar and previously received a Grammy nomination as part of the R&B group The Internet, was upset by the incident. The sudden viral success of his song “Bad Habit” had unexpectedly turned him into a popular meme, and he reacted by destroying the camera on stage.
Lacy can laugh about it now, remembering how chaotic things were for everyone involved.
Lacy explained that early on, his shows were mainly attended by dedicated music fans or people interested in the intellectual side of things. But as his music gained popularity with a younger audience, he had to adjust to their energy and behavior. Many attendees were new to live concerts and hadn’t learned typical concert etiquette, but Lacy found himself appreciating their enthusiastic spirit. While he still values a level of respect at his shows, he sees it as a mutual learning experience – he’s adapting to them, and they are also learning from him.
When writing his next album after his big hit “Gemini Rights,” he faced the challenge of handling newfound fame without sacrificing the unique, thoughtful style that defined his music. This meant blending influences like the Brazilian jazz of João Gilberto and the soulful sound of Erykah Badu into his songwriting.
He splurged on a top-of-the-line Jupiter 8 keyboard, but didn’t really play it. He admitted he could afford to be frivolous, buying things like instruments, clothes, and cars simply because he wanted to. He was just enjoying the rewards of his hard work and felt optimistic about the future, though he also sensed a need for restraint. He described much of the album-making process as a lesson in patience and humility – a reminder to ‘slow down.’
Lacy isn’t focused on chasing trends or trying to appeal to a wider pop audience. However, after his song became hugely popular last year, he felt some unexpected pressure. He admitted it subconsciously threw him off balance. Creating such a successful anthem opened doors he hadn’t anticipated and left him feeling unprepared. But he views the experience as valuable learning opportunity, adding that while reaching number one was great, he wasn’t immediately driven to return to the studio and create more hits.
His latest songs showcase a wider range of sounds and styles than ever before, blending sophisticated arrangements with his signature playful and sometimes cheeky lyrics. He effortlessly moves between genres, delivering a high-energy drum and bass track in “Nice Shoes / In Your World” and capturing the warm, vintage synth sound of Stereolab in the dreamy, melancholic single “The Feeling.”
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A black helicopter approached from the east and paused in the air above the warm pavement at Compton Municipal Airport.
The album “Pure Color” creates a soundscape that feels like a psychedelic experience – spacious and echoing, with a blend of trip-hop beats and Erykah Badu’s vocals sounding ethereal and distant.
Lacy described the song as an expression of the sadness and sense of loss that comes with grieving. Having experienced a lot of death in her family – including cousins, her father, aunts, and grandmother – she feels she’s constantly processing these losses, but also believes loved ones continue to connect with us. The song captures a feeling of exhaustion with the pain and a desire to escape it, even if just for a moment, through things like going outside or finding temporary relief.
The album also explores more raw and primal desires, a stark contrast to the sweetly shy tone of “Bad Habit.” The song “Is It Cool?” dissects the behavior of someone who repeatedly cheats, featuring a surprisingly dark chorus: “You don’t need to trust me to love me, babe.” SZA then acknowledges she’s fully aware of the situation, admitting, “Being emotionally open is draining, babe / Let’s just skip to the physical.”
Lacy explained that when people hear that particular line, their immediate reaction is often to dismiss the speaker as foolish. She believes it clashes with the true meaning of love, but also reveals a deep-seated insecurity in the person saying it. This person is profoundly unhappy and nothing will ever be enough for them. Interestingly, Lacy suggests the one doing the cheating is often just as, if not more, insecure than the one afraid of being cheated on. She sees it as a way of acknowledging the problem, allowing them to move past it.
The album is also pull-off-the-road-level funny.
Lacy described their recording sessions as filled with a lot of fun and laughter, even when things got stressful. “Even when we were really struggling, we were always cracking up,” he explained.
Will having a song perform like “Gemini Rights” make or break this new project? Lacy definitely hopes “Oh Yeah?” does well, but he’s comfortable with the likely outcome: an album that’s artistically stronger than anything he’s done before and solidifies his connection with his most dedicated fans as he moves forward in his career.
I was really struck by something Lacy said recently. She explained that as you get older, all your achievements start to feel the same size – like looking at a wall of accomplishments, whether it’s having your phone in the Smithsonian, topping the charts, or even being a Grammy nominee as a teen, they all just feel…big. But she also pointed out that those big moments pass, and you can’t let your successes define who you are as a person. It really resonated with me – it’s like she’s saying success is amazing, but it shouldn’t be your personality.
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Despite challenges facing downtown Los Angeles after the pandemic, and with the growing popularity of dance music, the founders of Origin believe the music scene can contribute to the area’s recovery.
He’s essentially come full circle with this new work. While Lacy still calls Los Angeles home – he even recorded some of the album in Paris and did modeling for YSL there – he celebrated its release locally, holding a listening event at Lauren Halsey’s “Sister Dreamer” sculpture garden in Compton. This fantastical space, inspired by Black history and imagination, felt more connected to his roots than the nearby SoFi Stadium or Kia Forum.
Steve Lacy has been making music again with his band, The Internet, which he formed with his childhood friends Syd and Matt Martians. The group gained popularity after starting with the Odd Future collective and became known for setting trends in R&B and hip-hop. Lacy anticipates they’ll release new music as a full band eventually. He describes the group as family, emphasizing how much they enjoy being together. He feels a strong connection to them, even when pursuing solo projects, and credits them with teaching him the ropes of the music industry and how to work with others. He says he wouldn’t be where he is today without that experience.
As a huge music fan, I’ve always been blown away by Lacy – he’s one of those artists who just doesn’t seem to fit into one category, and he’s incredibly talented. But when you listen to his music, which is so personal, it makes you wonder about his own life and whether he finds it easy to connect with people on a deep level. It’s a fascinating contrast.
Lacy doesn’t label his sexuality and embraces being open to attraction to anyone. His songs often explore desires for both men and women, but also a sense of keeping everyone at arm’s length. While he enjoys connection, he does hope to create a family one day, but only in a way that feels right for him.
He shared with me that becoming a dad is something he truly envisions for his future. However, he doesn’t picture finding a life partner in the traditional sense of a husband or wife. He really wants to build a family, but he’s not sure about marriage or being in a strictly monogamous relationship – it sounds like he’s open to different ways of making that happen.
People have been excitedly discussing Lacy’s love life ever since he shared a cozy photo with singer Omar Apollo, jokingly captioning it “Hoes Mad.” When asked about the picture, Lacy playfully reacted with embarrassment. He didn’t want to discuss the nature of their relationship, but encouraged everyone to show affection to their friends – regardless of gender – and to embrace freedom and self-expression.
Lacy explained she’s very comfortable with her physicality and enjoys close connections with people. She said she’s affectionate and kisses her friends, and that’s simply how she expresses herself – even publicly, like at parties. She encouraged others to be similarly comfortable with showing affection to their friends.
2026-07-22 13:34