ISpy (Kyle song)

"iSpy" is a song by American rapper Kyle featuring fellow American rapper Lil Yachty. It was released on December 2, 2016, by Indie-Pop (independently popular) and Atlantic Records.^[1] It is the lead single from Kyle's debut studio album Light of Mine (2018).^[2] The song was produced by Naz, Chico Jay, SuperDuperBrick, and Lege Kale.^[3][4][5]

"iSpy"
Single by Kyle featuring Lil Yachty
from the album Light of Mine
Released	December 2, 2016
Recorded	2016
Genre	Hip hop trap alternative R&B cloud rap
Length	4:14 3:44 (radio edit)
Label	Indie-Pop Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Kyle Harvey Miles McCollum Joshua Portillo Justin Howze Malik Keith
Producer(s)	Naz Chico Jay SuperDuperBrick Lege Kale
Kyle singles chronology
"Blame" (2016) "iSpy" (2016) "Want Me Bad" (2017)
Lil Yachty singles chronology
"After the Afterparty" (2016) "iSpy" (2016) "From the D to the A" (2017)
Music video
"iSpy feat. Lil Yachty" on YouTube

Background

In an interview for website Genius, Kyle talked about the creation process behind the song:

The making of "iSpy" it was super casual. It was me and Ayo [now known as Naz] in the studio. We just wanted to make some feel-good shit. I just had this little piano and started playing bomp bomp bomp—very badly, though, 'cause I’m not that raw. And then Ayo replayed it and made it saucy.^[6]

The official remix, which features American rapper Kodak Black, was released on June 9, 2017,^[7] with some slightly altered lyrics "to shout out Kodak and [to] talk about the original single".^[8]

Music video

The music video was released on April 7, 2017, on Kyle's YouTube account. It was directed by Colin Tilley.^[9] The official video features the heads of Kyle and Lil Yachty animated onto children's bodies for the duration of the video, with one critic noting that, "their childish sense of humour beams out of every scene."^[10][11] Discussing the idea for the video, Kyle said, "It was [Tilley's] concept. I just agreed on it. I told him, 'This song is fun. The video needs to be twice as fun...' It doesn't get more feel good than being a baby surrounded by incredible looking women at the beach with no cares in the world."^[12]

Prior to the release of the official video, an animated lyric video was released on Kyle's YouTube channel and amassed 19 million in its first month, causing the song to receive an uptick in recognition.^[13][14][15]

The lyric video was well received, with one critic saying, "The track itself came out [in 2016], but the video...makes the song sound even better."^[16] The lyric video was produced by Carpool Films, directed by Jayme Lamperle, and animated by Lamperle, Courtney Garvin, Frank Gidlewski, Evan Red Borja and Jake Reed.^[16][17]

Critical reception

David Drake of Complex wrote that the song is "reminiscent of 'Broccoli', between the stop-start kick drums, its sweet charming tone, and the evident fun of its screwball lyrics".^[18]

Chart performance

"iSpy" debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated January 14, 2017.^[19] It peaked at number four on the chart dated April 22, 2017, becoming Kyle's first and Lil Yachty's second top five single.^[20][21]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[22] 33 Australia Urban (ARIA)[23] 6 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[24] 14 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[25] 25 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 14 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 47 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 86 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 22 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[31] 13 Portugal (AFP)[32] 56 Scotland (OCC)[33] 30 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] 46 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 79 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 61 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 33 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[39] 3 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[40] 19 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[41] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[42] 40 US Billboard Hot 100[43] 28 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[44] 14 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46]	3× Platinum	210,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[47]	5× Platinum	400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[48]	Gold	45,000‡
France (SNEP)[49]	Gold	100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[50]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[51]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52]	Gold	15,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[53]	Gold	25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[54]	Gold	5,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57]	8× Platinum	8,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "iSpy (feat. Lil Yachty) Single By Kyle". iTunes. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
2. "Light of Mine – Album by Kyle on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
3. ""ISpy" - KYLE ft. Lil Yachty". Artistic Manifesto. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
4. "Kyle and Lil Yachty Ignore the Haters in "iSpy"". XXL. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
5. "Kyle & Lil Yachty - "iSpy"". HypeBeast. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
6. "Kyle "iSpy" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified". YouTube. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
7. "iSpy (Remix) [feat. Kodak Black] – Single by KYLE on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
8. "KYLE – ISpy (Remix) Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
9. "KYLE Releases 'iSpy' Video Feat. Lil Yachty: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
10. J'na Jefferson (7 April 2017). "KYLE And Lil Yachty Bring Childlike Fun In Colorful Video For "iSpy"". Vibe Magazine. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
11. Robin Murray (12 April 2017). "KYLE And Lil Yachty's New Video Is Hilarious". Clash. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
12. Myles Tanzer (7 April 2017). "Kyle And Lil Yachty Hit The Beach As Babies In The Video For "iSpy"". Fader. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
13. Amaya Mendizabal (6 April 2017). "Kyle's 'iSpy' Hits No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, Reaches Top 5 on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
14. Justin Ivey (20 March 2017). "Kyle's "iSpy" With Lil Yachty Breaks Into Billboard Top 10". XXL Magazine. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
15. Kyle Eustice (6 March 2017). "DX Digest: KYLE & Lil Yachty Get Animated For "iSpy" While A$AP Rocky Rides Shotgun In "Get A Job"". HipHopDX. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
16. Kaitlyn Tiffany and Lizzie Plaugic (10 March 2017). "One Video: iSpy by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty". The Verge. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
17. Jonathan Sawyer (8 March 2017). "KYLE and Lil Yachty Get Animated in New Video For "iSpy"". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
18. "Bout to Blow: 10 Dope New Songs You Should Be Hearing Everywhere Soon". Complex. January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
19. "Billboard - January 14, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
20. Trust, Gary (April 10, 2017). "Ed Sheeran Stays No. 1 on Hot 100, Kendrick Lamar Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
21. "Kyle – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Kyle". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
22. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
23. "ARIA Australian Top 40 Urban Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
24. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
25. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
26. "Kyle Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
27. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
28. "IRMA - Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
29. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
30. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
31. "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
32. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
34. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
35. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
36. "Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
38. "Kyle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
39. "Kyle Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
40. "Kyle Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
41. "Kyle Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
42. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
43. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
44. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
45. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
46. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
47. "Canadian single certifications – Kyle – iSpy (ft. Lil Yachty)". Music Canada. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
48. "Danish single certifications – Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
49. "French single certifications – Kyle – iSpy (feat. Lil Yachty)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
50. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kyle feat. Lil Yachty; 'iSpy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
51. "Italian single certifications – Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
52. "New Zealand single certifications – Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
53. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 18, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter iSpy in the search box.
54. "Portuguese single certifications – Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
55. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('iSpy')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
56. "British single certifications – Kyle feat. Lil Yachty – iSpy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
57. "American single certifications – Kyle – iSpy (feat. Lil Yachty)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 1, 2022.