Everything Ian’s done up until this point of his career has been a “Grand Slam.”
Unafraid of showcasing who he really is—a college kid who looks like the president of his frat with a supportive family behind him—the Dallas native not only knows how to reach an audience, but how to capture attention spans and never let them go. It’s jarring considering that he’s worn the same outfit since March and his debut tape’s cover art recreates the “had to do it to ‘em” meme, but nevertheless, his success is warranted in how he’s moved in 2024.
Sharing the visual for his breakout hit “Figure It Out” with Lyrical Lemonade on May 13, the rapper sparked greater hype with the arrival of his debut project, VALEDICTORIAN (May 17). Holding 12 tracks (including its two deluxe cuts “Magic Johnson” and “Options”), the album features highly-anticipated snippets like “Chauncey” (which is produced by Tana) and “Airbnb,” with a majority of the project spearheaded by Sxprano (Ian, Tana, Che, Yung Fazo, Swapa).
As one of the internet era’s fastest rising stars, seemingly jumping to acclaim out of nowhere these past few months, it’s almost impossible to look away from Ian’s motion. However, Ian’s been making music as far as back 2022, first catching underground ears with “Wimbledon” in January. He, amongst the likes of Nettspend, OsamaSon and Lazer Dim 700, is the face of the current wave.
Following his viral From The Block freestyle of “Figure It Out” at the dinner table with his family, it’s clear that his sound is just one of the many reasons why fans flock to him; Ian is miles ahead of what artists normally do online.
Each skit and video on his feed is calculated and eye-catching; It feels like you’re watching an episode of The Office at times. He’s coming different by not trying to pretend he’s someone else for likes. This, in itself, is a winning formula for organic engagement, and Ian seems as authentic as they come in the current landscape of fast lane UG rap stars. He’s broken the mold and broken through because of it.
Not only does Seahawks’ legend Marshawn Lynch appear in the video for “Figure It Out” (“my big brudda like Marshawn Lynch,” Ian raps on the song), but the AMD-directed piece is just the beginning of Ian’s widespread notoriety.
Check out ‘VALEDICTORIAN’ below!