Steve Lacy's "Oh Yeah?": A Raw Self-Portrait Set Against the Times
Steve Lacy releases his third studio album, Oh Yeah?, on July 17, 2026 via RCA Records. It's his formal response to the mainstream breakthrough of 2022's Gemini Rights, which produced the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single "Bad Habit." The new record builds on that album's psychedelic pop-rock foundation while layering in existential self-questioning, with guest turns from SZA and Erykah Badu.
What's on the record
The title track and opener, "Oh Yeah?," rides an electric guitar riff while Lacy interrogates the meaning of his own life, setting the confessional tone for the album. On "Is It Cool?" (feat. SZA), he confronts his own self-destructive tendencies, while "Pure Color" (feat. Erykah Badu) digs into the absence of his father — personal disclosure runs through the whole tracklist.
Per NME's review, the album doesn't stop at the personal. "Doom" blends alt-rock with soul to address the ambivalence and emotional anxiety of late millennials and Gen Z, giving Lacy's hedonism and self-sabotage a sociological anchor. Closing track "Bebe" ends with the line "That's the story 'bout the time I got my life screwed up," turning personal anecdote into a portrait of a generation.
NME's review argues that Lacy's standout skill is carrying complicated emotions with economy — balancing contemplation and resolve without lingering too long in either. Stylistically, Oh Yeah? continues where Gemini Rights left off, while echoing the candor of his 2019 debut, Apollo XXI.
Release Details
- 📅 Release date: July 17, 2026
- 💿 Label: RCA Records
- 🎤 Featured artists: SZA, Erykah Badu
- 🔗 Read NME's full review