Ian O'Neill Smith, known mononymously as ian, is an American rapper and songwriter born on May 29, 2005. He began his music career in 2018, initially releasing tracks on SoundCloud under the alias Suburbancerberus, where he gained attention for his mixes featuring popular artists. By 2019, ian transitioned to producing music for other artists, including Izaya Tiji, and continued this role until 2022. His breakthrough came with the release of his debut mixtape Valedictorian on May 17, 2024, which peaked at number 54 on the charts. The lead single from the mixtape, "Figure It Out," was released with a music video featuring former NFL player Marshawn Lynch and has garnered significant views. In July 2024, he collaborated with Lil Yachty on the single "Hate Me," further establishing his presence in the hip-hop scene. Despite facing criticism for his commercial sound and the perception of being an industry-created artist, ian continues to evolve his music, drawing attention for his energetic style and collaborations within the genre.