Skip to main content

One Video: iSpy by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty

One Video: iSpy by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty

/

Imagine a beach

Share this story

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Every week, a slew of new music videos hits the web. Watching them at your desk is not time theft because you deserve it; think of it as a nice reward for surviving another work week. But what if you don’t have time to watch every video — maybe you have a deadline, a hungry pet, or other grown-up concerns. In consideration of your schedule, Lizzie and Kaitlyn are kicking off a new series called One Video. Each week we’ll tell you “one video” you need to watch, why, and for how long.

Kaitlyn Tiffany: So far, in New York City, in 2017, there have been several days where you could wear sandals or flip-flops or no shoes if you’re a crazy person, and there have also been many days like today — with snow. In honor of these facts, which are ridiculous, we picked a “One Video” that takes place on the beach and also contains the words “mothafuckin’ snow day.” At some point it will be summer, and you’ll drink a warm rum and coke in the sand while you listen to this song, and you’ll be all “Snow... Is that like bubbles?” Imagine that!

This week’s video: “iSpy” by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty

Lizzie Plaugic: The “iSpy” animated lyric video is about looking around at the dolphins waving at you from the ocean and realizing that everything’s pretty alright. Especially if you’re an animated version of yourself.

Kaitlyn: It’s also about love “forever ever,” and then “hold up, never mind.”

Who is Kyle (stylized “KYLE”)?

Lizzie: KYLE is a kid from Kalifornia (birth name: Kyle). You might know him from his 2015 single “Don’t Wanna Fall in Love,” or the one he did with Chance the Rapper. He’s got a delightful lisp and a nice skittery fairy tale flow. I would recommend listening to KYLE whenever you’re feeling like a silly baby or a little mopey.

Kaitlyn: Kyle, apparently, has a verse on “Wanna Be Cool,” my favorite song on Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet, and The Social Experiment’s free summer 2015 mixtape Surf. Kyle’s verse, I also learned, is the one that has always been my favorite. I get a kick out of the line “baby got her jeans from Goodwill / bet they make that ass look gooood still” every time I hear it yet never bothered to look up who was saying it. What a day. I have a new crush, how nice for me.

What’s special about “iSpy” by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty:

Lizzie: I’ve watched this video four times in the past hour, and I’m just trying to finish this sentence so that I can watch it again. Kyle’s brag “I got a selfie with Oprah, I just ain’t never post it” is the new “No songs with Kendrick, we just hang out.” The track itself came out last year, but the video, animated by Jayme Lamperle, Courtney Garvin, Frank Gidlewski, Evan Red Borja, and Jake Reed, makes the song sound even better somehow. It’s both adorable and freaky, like a troll doll with a bunny rabbit body.

Kaitlyn: I like it when Kyle says “I ain’t frowned since ‘06 / I ain’t cried since ‘01” and I wish those statements were factually accurate about me. Maybe if I say them enough times while tossing back s’mores Goldfish on a beach they will feel true.

I don’t love it when Lil Yachty says “on my mother's mother I won't fuck a bitch without a damn rubber” because “rubbers” is what Texas Senator Ted Cruz calls condoms when he’s ranting incoherently about women’s health decisions that are none of his business.

Lizzie: “Rubber” also rhymes with “mother(s).”

Kaitlyn: Okay, fair! I was also going to say that I appreciate Lil Yachty serving as a role model for youths. Everyone is so quick to hit Lil Yachty with their ire, yet he’s just hanging out being quick to make sweet songs and give teens good advice.

How long everyone should watch “iSpy” by Kyle ft. Lil Yachty:

Lizzie: Until you can imagine a world where shorts and back sweat exists.

Kaitlyn: Until the video ends and then YouTube automatically queues up a different Kyle song and you listen to that and then it suggests one of the Kyle and Chance the Rapper songs and you listen to that and then it suggests the Chance the Rapper and Joey Purp song called “Girls” and you listen to that and then it suggests the Chance the Rapper and Childish Gambino song “Worst Guys” which isn’t that great but they both look so young and happy and they are... guess where...

Lizzie: In that sweet spot between really famous and critically adored?

Kaitlyn: The beach.