# Laila!
**Laila!** is the stage name of Laila Smith, an American singer, songwriter, and producer from Brooklyn, New York, who makes bedroom R&B with a hip-hop feel; she is the daughter of the rapper and actor Yasiin Bey, formerly known as [Mos Def](https://www.edgepedia.org/mos-def).[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) The exclamation point is part of her official name and is retained in credits and on streaming platforms.[3](https://flyerthanu.com/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | Laila Smith, performing mononymously as Laila!; American singer-songwriter-producer born and raised in Brooklyn[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) • [3](https://flyerthanu.com/) |
| Family | Daughter of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) |
| Start | First beat made at 14 in GarageBand during pandemic lockdown in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; first song "Like That" posted to TikTok in 2023[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) • [1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) |
| Releases | EP *IN CTRL!* (February 2024); debut album *Gap Year!* (September 6, 2024, 17 tracks); single "Angel" with Teezo Touchdown (August 2026); sophomore album *We'll Never Be This Young Again* (October 23, 2026)[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) • [5](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf) • [6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/laila/1675181193) |
| Chart performance | Warner Records' October 2026 release reported that "Like That!" spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's TikTok Top 50, while its August 2026 release reported a six-week No. 5 peak; "Not My Problem" reached No. 1 across multiple platforms and entered the Top 20 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) |
| Streams | More than 300 million streams; about 1.76 million monthly Spotify listeners[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) • [8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t) |
| Recognition | Best of 2024 list placements for *Gap Year!* from Pitchfork, Billboard, Complex, VIBE, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Refinery29, and Okayplayer; Rolling Stone's 2025 Future of Music issue; Billboard's 21 Under 21 in 2025 and 2026[8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t) • [5](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf) |
## Early life and background
Laila Smith was born and raised in Brooklyn and grew up listening to R&B figures including Aaliyah, Brandy, and [Whitney Houston](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-houston); she began writing songs at a young age.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) Her father is Yasiin Bey, the rapper and actor formerly known as Mos Def.[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/)
She is self-taught. She made her first beat at 14 while temporarily living in St. Thomas, U.S. [Virgin Islands](https://www.edgepedia.org/virgin-islands), during the height of the pandemic lockdown, working in [GarageBand](https://www.edgepedia.org/garageband), and by 16 she was posting beats on [SoundCloud](https://www.edgepedia.org/soundcloud).[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) "I'm not classically trained or anything. I just played by ear," she told Rolling Stone, which described her at that point as an 18-year-old producer encouraged by her sisters, her grandmother, and her mother, who manages her.[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) After graduating high school she forwent college to pursue music.[9](https://www.bet.com/article/iwvkng/laila-brings-diy-flavor-to-rb-on-her-debut-lp)
## Career
**Breakout.** She posted her first song, "Like That," to TikTok in 2023 under the name Laila!; the clip reached a million views and entered Billboard's TikTok charts at Number Four in May, per Rolling Stone.[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) AllMusic places the song's entry into the TikTok chart Top 20 when she was 17.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) After the song went viral she signed with the Brooklyn-based independent label IIIXL.[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024)
**First projects.** She followed "Like That!" with "Whassup" and, in February 2024, the four-song EP *IN CTRL!*, a title she described as a nod to SZA's *CTRL* and [Janet Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/janet-jackson)'s *Control*; she produced, recorded, engineered, and distributed the EP herself.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) • [4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024)
**Gap Year!** Her debut album, *Gap Year!*, a 17-track record timed to back-to-school season, was released on September 6, 2024.[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) Its cover art recreates her senior graduation portrait, and its intro track is a recording of her real high school talent show performance.[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) The album led to tour dates with [Kali Uchis](https://www.edgepedia.org/kali-uchis) and [Mariah the Scientist](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-the-scientist).[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) • [10](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-new-music-interview-sza-cosign-1235630582/)
**Second album.** In August 2026 she released the single "Angel" with Teezo Touchdown.[5](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf) Her sophomore album, *We'll Never Be This Young Again*, was released on October 23, 2026, via Three Times Louder / [Warner Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/warner-records), with a title track issued ahead of it; it contains 12 songs.[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) • [6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/laila/1675181193) She told Rolling Stone the album "really does show the ways I've grown up," two years after her debut.[10](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-new-music-interview-sza-cosign-1235630582/)
## Musical style
AllMusic characterizes her music as airy bedroom R&B with a hip-hop feel and strong melodic hooks, with vocals that fall somewhere between Brandy and SZA.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) Her own listed genres are cloud rap and alternative R&B, and she plays vocals, piano, and production software.[3](https://flyerthanu.com/) She cites [Frank Ocean](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-ocean), Cleo Sol, Lauryn Hill, and [Brent Faiyaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/brent-faiyaz) as inspirations, alongside the R&B singers she grew up on.[4](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454) Her 2026 album is described as stylistically varied, marking a step in her evolution from the debut's bedroom sound.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454)
## Reception
*Gap Year!* earned Best of 2024 recognition from Pitchfork, Billboard, Complex, VIBE, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Refinery29, and Okayplayer.[8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t) She was named to Rolling Stone's 2025 Future of Music issue and Billboard's 21 Under 21 list, the latter two years running (2025 and 2026).[8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t) • [5](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf) On social media she has been praised by [Tyler, the Creator](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-the-creator), noticed by [Kaytranada](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaytranada), and encouraged by [Snoh Aalegra](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoh-aalegra); Rolling Stone's 2026 interview also reports a SZA co-sign.[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) • [10](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-new-music-interview-sza-cosign-1235630582/)
## By the numbers
Her label credits her with more than 300 million streams.[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) Her Spotify profile showed about 1.76 million monthly listeners.[8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t)
Warner's October 2026 release says "Like That!" spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's TikTok Top 50, while Warner's August 2026 release for "Angel" says six weeks at No. 5 on that chart (with No. 25 on Hot R&B Songs).[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) • [5](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf) For "Not My Problem," which reached No. 1 across multiple platforms, Warner places it in the Top 20 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart while her Spotify profile says Top 10.[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) • [8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t)
She has performed at the festivals Camp Flog Gnaw, Lollapalooza, and The Roots Picnic, appeared on The Late Show's #LateShowMeMusic series and the 2025 BET Awards Red Carpet Live! pre-show, and completed sold-out 2025 North American headline and European tours.[8](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t)
## Artistry and creative process
She writes and produces her own music, from the beginning of her career.[7](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf) She has used GarageBand since she was 14, and takes the artist-producer title seriously enough that her official Instagram handle is @prodlaila.[9](https://www.bet.com/article/iwvkng/laila-brings-diy-flavor-to-rb-on-her-debut-lp) "Not My Problem" served as the reference track for [Cash Cobain](https://www.edgepedia.org/cash-cobain)'s eight-minute cypher featuring Big Sean, Flo Milli, and Rob 49.[1](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/) She has named SZA, Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Brent Faiyaz, and Steve Lacy as dream collaborators.[9](https://www.bet.com/article/iwvkng/laila-brings-diy-flavor-to-rb-on-her-debut-lp)
## References
1. [Laila! Interview: New Album, Mos Def, Future Plans, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-debut-album-interview-1235096492/)
2. [Laila! — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laila%21-mn0004623454)
3. [Laila! official site](https://flyerthanu.com/)
4. [Laila! on Her Gap Year, Cash Cobain, and Proving She 'Deadass Makes Music For Real', Teen Vogue](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/laila-on-gap-year-cash-cobain-proving-she-deadass-makes-music-for-real-interview-2024)
5. [Warner Records press release: "Angel" single with Teezo Touchdown](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-08/Laila%21%20-%20Angel_ujtlnc0w.pdf)
6. [Laila! on Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/laila/1675181193)
7. [Warner Records press release: sophomore album due October 23](https://press.warnerrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014901/files/2026-10/laila_b4fubv94.pdf)
8. [Laila! on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tHTnyrdTNM152slc8aQ3t)
9. [Laila! Brings DIY Flavor to R&B On Her Debut LP, BET](https://www.bet.com/article/iwvkng/laila-brings-diy-flavor-to-rb-on-her-debut-lp)
10. [Laila! on Her New Album, SZA Co-Sign, Touring With Kali Uchis, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/laila-new-music-interview-sza-cosign-1235630582/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 2010s to present › Surnames H to O*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license