Feature Photo: C Elliott, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Steve Lacy was born on May 23, 1998, in Compton, California. He began playing guitar at age seven and attended the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. His early interest in music production led him to experiment with GarageBand on his iPhone, a method he would later use for his first professional recordings.
Lacy’s career took off in 2015 when he joined the R&B band The Internet as the guitarist, shortly after their previous guitarist left the group. He contributed to their third studio album, Ego Death, which was released in June 2015 and was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Lacy’s innovative guitar work and production style helped define the group’s evolving sound.
After gaining attention for his work with The Internet, Lacy launched his solo career with the release of his debut extended play, Steve Lacy’s Demo, on February 24, 2017. The EP received positive reviews and showcased his ability to blend R&B, funk, and indie rock influences, much of it recorded on his iPhone. Songs such as “Dark Red” and “Ryd” demonstrated his signature production style and established him as a rising solo artist.
In July 2018, The Internet released their fourth studio album, Hive Mind, with Lacy contributing significantly as a songwriter, producer, and guitarist. The album received critical acclaim and further solidified Lacy’s reputation in the music industry. Throughout this period, he also began producing and writing for other artists, collaborating with Solange, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, J. Cole, and Vampire Weekend.
Lacy’s debut studio album, Apollo XXI, was released on May 24, 2019. The album was noted for its eclectic mix of genres, including psychedelic rock, funk, and soul. Apollo XXI debuted on several international charts and received a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Singles from the album include “N Side” and “Playground.” Lacy continued to make high-profile collaborations during this time, appearing on tracks by Tyler, the Creator and Blood Orange.
In 2020, Lacy released a compilation album titled The Lo-Fis, which collected unreleased tracks, demos, and rare recordings from his early career. The same year, he contributed to projects by Thundercat and Kali Uchis, reinforcing his reputation as a sought-after collaborator in modern R&B, alternative, and hip-hop circles.
On July 15, 2022, Lacy released his second studio album, Gemini Rights. The album featured the breakthrough single “Bad Habit,” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a viral hit on social media platforms. Gemini Rights also produced other singles, including “Mercury” and “Sunshine,” and received critical acclaim, ultimately winning Best Progressive R&B Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. Lacy was also nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Bad Habit.”
Lacy’s achievements include a Grammy win for Best Progressive R&B Album (Gemini Rights) and nominations in multiple categories, including Best Urban Contemporary Album (Apollo XXI), Best Urban Contemporary Album (Ego Death with The Internet), and Song of the Year and Record of the Year (“Bad Habit”). He has been recognized at the MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards for his solo and collaborative work.
Beyond music, Steve Lacy has participated in fashion campaigns and has been involved in social activism, using his platform to speak on issues affecting his community. He has performed at major music festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza, and embarked on headlining tours in support of his solo albums.
Complete List Of Steve Lacy Songs From A to Z
- 2Gether (Enterlude) (with Matt Martians) – Gemini Rights – 2022
- 4 Leaf Clover (Ravyn Lenae featuring Steve Lacy) – Crush – 2018
- 911 / Mr. Lonely (Tyler, the Creator featuring Frank Ocean and Steve Lacy) – Flower Boy – 2017
- Amber – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Amandla’s Interlude – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Atomic Vomit – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Bad Habit – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Bars. 1 – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Basement Jack – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Beat Goes On (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Black Qualls (Thundercat featuring Steve Lacy and Steve Arrington) – It Is What It Is – 2020
- Buttons – Gemini Rights – 2022
- C U Girl – Non-album single – 2015
- Cocky Girl – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Cody Freestyle – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Come Together (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Computer Luv (Ravyn Lenae) – Crush – 2018
- Dark Red – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- Daze – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Dent Jusay (Matt Martians featuring Syd and Steve Lacy) – The Drum Chord Theory – 2017
- Dollar Bills (Syd featuring Steve Lacy) – Fin – 2017
- Donchano – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Exit Scott (interlude) (Solange) – When I Get Home – 2019
- Flower Moon (Vampire Weekend) – Father of the Bride – 2019
- Folding Clothes (J. Cole) – 4 Your Eyez Only – 2016
- 4Real – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Found Me Some Acid Tonight (Matt Martians featuring Steve Lacy) – The Drum Chord Theory – 2017
- Fungus (TRU. featuring K. Solar, Scott Kelley) – The Leimert Park Project – 2017
- Give You the World – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Glitter (Tyler, the Creator) – Flower Boy – 2017
- Guide – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Hate CD – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Haterlovin – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- Helmet – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Hold On (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Hummer – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- I Think I Should – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- If Tomorrow’s Not Here (Denzel Curry featuring Twelve’len) – Imperial – 2016
- Infrunami – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- In Lust We Trust – Apollo XXI – 2019
- It Gets Better (With Time) (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Jars Of It – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Just a Stranger (Kali Uchis featuring Steve Lacy) – Isolation – 2018
- Jet Fuel (Mac Miller) – Swimming – 2018
- La Di Da (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Lay Me Down – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Like Me (featuring DAISY WORLD) – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Live Without Your Love (Love Regenerator featuring Steve Lacy) – 96 Months – 2020
- Look What U Started (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Looks – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- Love 2 Fast – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Mangosteen (C&T featuring Steve Lacy) – Loud – 2017
- Mercury – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Mood (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Moron – Non-album single – 2017
- Next Time / Humble Pie (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- N Side – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Only Girl (Kali Uchis featuring Steve Lacy and Vince Staples) – Non-album single – 2016
- Only If – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Out of Me Head – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Out of Your League (Blood Orange featuring Steve Lacy) – Negro Swan – 2018
- Outro Freestyle/4ever – Apollo XXI – 2019
- Palace / Curse (The Internet featuring Steve Lacy and Tyler, The Creator) – Ego Death – 2015
- Playground – Apollo XXI – 2019
- PRIDE. (Kendrick Lamar featuring Anna Wise, Bēkon) – DAMN. – 2017
- Roll (Burbank Funk) (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Ryd – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- Scrood (Jonti featuring Steve Lacy) – Non-album single – 2017
- Selfish (Twenty88) – Twenty88 – 2016
- Silkk da Shocka (Isaiah Rashad featuring Syd) – The Sun’s Tirade – 2016
- Skin Tight (Ravyn Lenae featuring Steve Lacy) – Hypnos – 2022
- Some – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- Some Girl (GoldLink featuring Steve Lacy) – At What Cost – 2017
- Static – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Stay the Night (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- Sunflower (Vampire Weekend featuring Steve Lacy) – Father of the Bride – 2019
- Sunshine (featuring Fousheé) – Gemini Rights – 2022
- Thangs – Steve Lacy’s Demo – 2017
- The Song – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Thats No Fun – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Uuuu – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Verbs (Peyton of Milky Wayv) – The Best Mixtape You’ve Ever Heard – 2015
- Wanna Be (The Internet) – Hive Mind – 2018
- What Love Is (Matt Martians) – The Drum Chord Theory – 2017
- When I – The Lo-Fis – 2020
- Worries (Chloe x Halle) – The Two of Us – 2017
Albums
Steve Lacy’s Demo (2017): 6 songs
Apollo XXI (2019): 12 songs
The Lo-Fis (2020): 15 songs
Gemini Rights (2022): 10 songs
Singles/Features/Collaborations: 43 songs
Check out similar articles and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com
Top 10 Steve Lacy Songs
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory