About the artist
Y2K, born Ari David Starace on July 27, 1994, is an American producer and DJ from Scottsdale, Arizona, who rose to prominence in the late 2010s internet music scene. Self-described as a professional sellout, he built a reputation for bright, hyper-catchy production that blends elements of hip-hop, electronic, and pop, often tailored for viral moments on platforms like TikTok and SoundCloud.
His defining breakthrough came with «Lalala», produced alongside Canadian-Armenian rapper bbno$, a minimalist, earworm track that became a massive viral hit and one of the definitive songs of its era's internet-driven pop landscape. The song's success led to a wave of remixes and reworkings, including versions featuring guitarist Polyphia and producer umru, showcasing Y2K's willingness to let his tracks evolve across different sonic communities.
Beyond «Lalala», Y2K has built a broader career as a go-to collaborator for artists navigating the space between underground internet rap and mainstream pop, working with names like Doja Cat, bbno$, and KILLY. His production style favors bouncy, minimal beats with playful, meme-ready hooks, positioning him as one of the key architects of the sound that emerged from SoundCloud-era hip-hop's crossover into pop culture.