Steve Lacy has officially dropped his highly anticipated new single, “is it cool?,” a raw and vulnerable duet featuring Grammy-winning artist SZA. Released today via RCA Records, the track serves as the latest preview of Lacy’s upcoming album, Oh yeah?, set to arrive on July 17. The collaboration brings together two of contemporary music's most distinctive voices to explore the intricate layers of intimacy, vulnerability, and self-sabotage.
For months, fans have buzzed with speculation following studio sightings of Lacy and SZA. Their joint effort on “is it cool?” not only delivers on that promise but exceeds expectations, presenting a surprisingly candid narrative over a soundscape that skillfully blends bedroom soul with confessional singer/songwriter traditions. Lacy, known for his genre-blurring style, takes a significant artistic risk by confronting deeply personal shortcomings with disarming honesty.
A Bold Lyrical Journey
The track dives headfirst into uncomfortable truths. Lacy opens up with the stark admission: “I just cheat every now and again / That was hard for me to admit / ‘Cause I really want to commit.” This line immediately sets a tone of profound introspection, hinting at the challenging themes woven throughout his forthcoming album.
SZA, in turn, offers a poignant counterpoint that resonates with modern relational dynamics: “Being vulnerable is exhausting, babe / Can we get naked instead of talking, babe?” Her response is poised to become a cultural touchstone, likely finding its way into countless social media captions and personal reflections, underscoring the universal struggle with emotional openness.
Unpacking Lacy's Candid Evolution
The release of “is it cool?” marks a pivotal moment in Steve Lacy’s career, signaling a bolder, more emotionally transparent direction for the artist. While his previous work, particularly 2022's Grammy-winning Gemini Rights and its global hit “Bad Habit,” saw him exploring complex emotions, this new single pushes the boundaries of his confessional style even further. The decision to “tell the truth,” as the track is described, represents a significant artistic leap, moving beyond blurring genre lines to blurring personal boundaries with an almost unvarnished honesty.
This willingness to expose his vulnerabilities, especially in such a high-profile collaboration with SZA, positions Oh yeah? as a defining project. It suggests an evolution from the enigmatic, genre-fluid persona to one deeply invested in raw human experience. The collaboration itself amplifies the message, as SZA's acclaimed artistry in exploring similar themes lends immense weight and mainstream appeal to Lacy's intensified introspection, cementing his status not just as a genre innovator but as a profound lyrical storyteller.
Oh yeah?: A Deeply Personal Project
Oh yeah? is shaping up to be Lacy’s most personal endeavor to date, a project born from a four-year period where he often felt more at home abroad than in his own surroundings. Written, produced, and largely performed by Lacy himself, the album’s lead single, “the feeling,” offered an initial glimpse into these profound emotions.
The newly revealed track list promises an adventurous array of collaborators, including the legendary Erykah Badu on “pure colour” and experimental pop artist Cecile Believe on “lovesexdrugbomb.” These eclectic features highlight Lacy’s continued commitment to innovative soundscapes and diverse artistic partnerships, further expanding his musical universe. At 28, Lacy is already a two-time Grammy winner with two entries in Spotify's Billions Club, a testament to his unique appeal as music “for guitar kids who love synths and synth kids who love guitars.”
Upcoming Tour Dates
Fans eager to experience Lacy's new material live will have the opportunity to do so during his upcoming run of Asian dates. Kicking off on August 13 in Tokyo, the tour includes headlining appearances at major festivals such as Summer Sonic in Japan and Lalala Festival in Manila and Jakarta. These highly anticipated shows will mark Lacy's first performances since early 2024, promising an electrifying return to the stage.
