Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya (born May 23, 1998) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer from Compton, California.
He first gained wide recognition as the guitarist for the alternative R&B band The Internet, then broke into mainstream stardom with his Grammy-winning album Gemini Rights and the chart-topping single “Bad Habit.”
Who is Steve Lacy?
Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya, known professionally as Steve Lacy, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and percussion — often handling every element of a track himself.
Lacy first earned public attention as the guitarist of The Internet, the Grammy-nominated alternative R&B collective. By his early twenties, he had already produced records for Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Solange Knowles, and Tyler, The Creator.
He is also openly bisexual, publicly coming out in 2017.
His 2022 album Gemini Rights gave him his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bad Habit,” a song that became a viral phenomenon on TikTok before crossing over to radio dominance.
Early Life of Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy was born on May 23, 1998, in Compton, California. His mother raised him alongside his sister Asia Lacy after his father, who was largely absent, passed away when Lacy was ten years old.
His mother worked hard to shield him and his siblings from the difficult environment of Compton at that time. Lacy has described his upbringing as sheltered as a result of her protectiveness.
He started his secondary education at Narbonne High School before later transferring to a private school.
Music entered his life early, sparked at age seven by the video game Guitar Hero. That childhood spark pushed him toward a real guitar, and he never put it down.
Steve Lacy Age
Steve Lacy is 28 years old as of June 9, 2026, born on May 23, 1998. His zodiac sign is Gemini. In 2023, Time magazine named him one of its 100 Most Influential People in the world.
Steve Lacy Ethnicity and Nationality
Lacy holds American nationality. His mother is African-American and his father was Filipino, giving him a mixed ethnic heritage. He has spoken openly about his identity, with his racial background and sexual fluidity both becoming themes across his music.
Steve Lacy Height and Weight
Steve Lacy stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.83 meters) tall. His weight is reported at approximately 145 lbs (66 kg). He has a lean build, with a distinctive stage presence marked by curly black hair, dark brown eyes, and visible tattoos on his arms.
Steve Lacy Musical Style and Influences
Lacy’s sound draws from alternative R&B, funk, neo-soul, psychedelic pop, and lo-fi indie rock. Few artists blend those genres as fluidly within a single project.
His primary influences include Prince, Pharrell Williams, Thundercat, Erykah Badu, and Jimi Hendrix. He has cited Prince in particular, noting they share a Gemini birth sign, produce their own music, and both play guitar.
A major hallmark of his early work was producing entire songs on his iPhone using an iRig guitar plug-in and GarageBand. That lo-fi, DIY approach became his signature before he expanded to more traditional studio setups.
Steve Lacy Education
Lacy attended Narbonne High School in Los Angeles before transferring to a private school. It was through his high school jazz band that he met Jameel Bruner, who would later become his bandmate in The Internet.
He did not pursue formal higher music education. Instead, he taught himself guitar through YouTube tutorials and built his early production skills entirely through self-directed practice.
His iPhone-based recording setup in his teenage years produced work of professional quality. That self-taught approach became a defining part of his artistic story.
Steve Lacy Career
Early Career
Lacy’s professional journey started while he was still in high school. At around 16 years old, he began contributing production to The Internet’s recording sessions, eventually co-producing eight tracks on the band’s 2015 album Ego Death.
Ego Death earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 58th Grammy Awards. Lacy’s production credit on a major Grammy-nominated project while still a teenager signaled an unusual talent.
He used only his iPhone and an iRig plug-in to craft those early contributions. His February 2017 debut EP, Steve Lacy’s Demo, followed that same process — guitar, bass, vocals, and programmed Ableton Live drums all built from his phone.
Steve Lacy’s Demo built a devoted cult following almost immediately after its release.
That same period brought high-profile collaborations. He produced the beat for Kendrick Lamar’s 2017 single “Pride” and contributed to Tyler, The Creator’s song “911 / Mr. Lonely,” which featured Frank Ocean. He also co-wrote songs for Solange Knowles and contributed production to Ravyn Lenae’s 2018 EP Crush.
Breakthrough Album, Gemini Rights and “Bad Habit”
Lacy released his debut studio album Apollo XXI in May 2019. The record earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards, extending his streak of recognition from the Recording Academy.
His second studio album, Gemini Rights, came out on July 15, 2022, via RCA Records. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, his first top-ten debut on that chart.
The lead single “Bad Habit,” released on June 29, 2022, became a viral sensation on TikTok within weeks of its release. By October 2022, the track had climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks.
“Bad Habit” was his first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track also hit number one on the Alternative Streaming Songs, Rock Streaming Songs, and R&B Streaming Songs charts simultaneously. Lacy also performed “Bad Habit” and “Helmet” on Saturday Night Live in November 2022, his debut on that program.
Gemini Rights entered at number one on the Top Alternative Albums, Top R&B Albums, and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts. At the 65th Grammy Awards in February 2023, the album won Best Progressive R&B Album. “Bad Habit” also received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Lacy performed “Bad Habit” at the Grammy ceremony alongside bassist Thundercat, drawing Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to their feet in the audience.
Recent Work
In August 2025, Lacy confirmed through a Rolling Stone cover profile that his third solo album, Oh Yeah?, was in progress. He described the project as his most personal and lyrically focused work to date, drawing on trip-hop, electronica, and classic rock ballads.
The album was announced for release on July 17, 2026, via RCA Records. He previewed it with the single “The Feeling,” a hazy orchestrated R&B track, and described the project as his first time truly prioritizing lyrics alongside production.
Steve Lacy Discography
Lacy’s solo catalog spans EPs, compilations, and studio albums across nearly a decade.
Steve Lacy’s Demo (2017) was his self-produced debut EP, recorded primarily on his iPhone. Apollo XXI (2019) marked his first full studio album and earned a Grammy nomination.
The Lo-Fis (2020) was a compilation of early SoundCloud recordings and instrumentals. Gemini Rights (2022) became his breakthrough major-label album and spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit. His upcoming third studio album, Oh Yeah?, is scheduled for July 17, 2026.
Steve Lacy Awards and Recognition
Lacy won his first Grammy at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2023 for Best Progressive R&B Album. That same night, “Bad Habit” received three additional nominations: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world in 2023. His Ego Death contributions also earned a Grammy nomination as far back as 2016, when he was still in high school.
He appeared on Barack Obama’s end-of-year playlist in 2022, reflecting the cultural reach of “Bad Habit” beyond traditional music audiences.
Steve Lacy Tours and Concerts
Lacy toured extensively in support of Gemini Rights through 2022. Amazon Music and Prime Video live-streamed his sold-out show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in November 2022.
In early 2023, he co-headlined the inaugural Re:SET Concert Series alongside LCD Soundsystem and boygenius. He brought James Blake, Toro y Moi, and Fousheé as support acts at his dates.
His tours have become known for intimate, guitar-forward performances that translate the lo-fi warmth of his recordings to large live settings.
Steve Lacy Partner
Steve Lacy publicly came out as bisexual in 2017. He has kept his personal romantic life largely private, and no current partner has been publicly confirmed as of June 2026.
He has spoken about his identity with openness in interviews, and themes of love, heartbreak, and sexual fluidity run through his songwriting. His relationship status remains not publicly confirmed.
Steve Lacy Net Worth
Steve Lacy’s estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026. His income comes from album sales, streaming royalties, touring, production credits for other major artists, and brand partnerships.
His work as a producer for Kendrick Lamar, Solange, and others has generated substantial behind-the-scenes revenue separate from his solo career. The global success of “Bad Habit,” which has accumulated billions of streams, has significantly grown his earnings.
His third album Oh Yeah?, releasing in July 2026, is expected to add further to his financial profile.
Steve Lacy Social Media
Lacy is active on Instagram under the handle @steve.lacy, where he posts a mix of music announcements, candid selfies, and what fans have described as playful, unfiltered content.
He also maintains a presence on X (formerly Twitter) at @realstevelacyy. His social media presence reflects his known personality — relaxed, self-aware, and unbothered by conventional celebrity image management.
His Instagram post in June 2026 confirmed the release of new single “the feeling” and announced the Oh Yeah? album date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Steve Lacy’s net worth?
Steve Lacy’s estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026, earned through music, production work, and touring.
How old is Steve Lacy?
Steve Lacy is 28 years old as of June 9, 2026, born on May 23, 1998.
Who is Steve Lacy married to / dating?
Steve Lacy is openly bisexual but has not publicly confirmed a current partner as of June 2026. He has kept his romantic life private.
What is Steve Lacy’s biggest hit song / album?
His biggest hit is “Bad Habit” (2022), which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. The album Gemini Rights won Best Progressive R&B Album at the 2023 Grammys.
Where was Steve Lacy born?
Steve Lacy was born in Compton, California, United States on May 23, 1998.
What is Steve Lacy famous for?
Steve Lacy is famous for his solo music career, his role as guitarist and producer for The Internet, and the viral Grammy-nominated hit “Bad Habit.” He is also known for producing records for artists including Kendrick Lamar and Solange.
The Bottom Line
Steve Lacy won the Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album in February 2023 for Gemini Rights, capping a run that saw “Bad Habit” top the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and earn three additional Grammy nominations.
He grew up in Compton, California, building his early career entirely on an iPhone, using an iRig plug-in to produce and record tracks that would eventually reach global audiences. His mixed Filipino and African-American heritage and his openness about his bisexuality have both shaped his music in distinct ways.
His third album, Oh Yeah?, arrives July 17, 2026, via RCA Records. It represents his first project in four years and his most deliberately lyrical work to date.
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