Kyle (musician)

Kyle
Kyle performing in 2024
Kyle performing in 2024
Background information
Also known as
  • K.i.D
  • SuperDuperKyle
  • lovekyle
  • King Wavy
  • Kidd Kash
  • Fire Spittin' Kitten
Born
Kyle Thomas Harvey

(1993-05-18) May 18, 1993 (age 33)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OriginVentura, California, U.S.
Genre
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years active2009–present
Labels
APG
Websitesuperduperkyle.com

Kyle Thomas Harvey (born May 18, 1993), known mononymously as Kyle (stylized in all caps) and SuperDuperKyle (formerly known as K.i.D, an acronym for Kyle is Determined), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor from Ventura, California. He is best known for his 2016 breakout single "iSpy" (featuring Lil Yachty), which peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Signed to Indie-Pop and Atlantic Records, Harvey is also known for his association with the SuperDuperCrew which consists of Brick, Jesus, and Maxx.

Harvey has collaborated with artists such as Waywo, Kehlani, Lil Yachty, G-Eazy, Chance the Rapper, Miguel, MadeinTYO, Yuna, and Ty Dolla Sign, among others. Some of his songs in addition to "iSpy" include "Keep It Real", "Doubt It", "King Wavy" (featuring G-Eazy), and his 2018 hit single "Playinwitme" (featuring Kehlani). In 2015, Rolling Stone named him as "one of the ten artists you need to know".

His commercial mixtapes Beautiful Loser and Smyle were released in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Harvey's debut studio album Light of Mine was released in 2018 to positive reviews and reached within the top 30 of the Billboard 200.

Harvey made his acting debut in the 2018 Netflix original film The After Party. He also released a single from the film "Moment" (featuring Wiz Khalifa). His second album See You When I Am Famous was released on July 17, 2020.

Early life

Harvey was born in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, to his parents who were married. During separation, he and his two siblings resided in a home of eight family members. He grew up one hour away in Ventura. He stated that he has a speech impediment and that during his youth he was bullied because of it. Harvey attended Ventura High School and regularly took part in drama classes which helped his confidence largely.

He started singing at the age of 6 and was writing and performing his own songs by elementary school. Harvey started rapping when he was about 13 years old and began recording music after hearing Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Harvey's first songs were recorded on PreSonus' Studio One recording software using his aunt's computer while in high school.

Career

2009–2012: Early mixtapes

Kyle started releasing mixtapes such as Senior Year, Second Semester, FxL, Super Duper, and K.i.D under the monikers KiddKash and K.i.D starting in 2009 to 2012.

2013–2015: Beautiful Loser and Smyle

In 2013, he released his commercial debut mixtape Beautiful Loser. Although it did not chart on the Billboard 200, it peaked at number 40 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and number 25 on the Rap charts. It was supported by the singles "Keep It Real", "Fruit Snacks", "Mr. Bang", and "Raining Love."

In May 2014, he was featured in G-Eazy's music video for "I Mean It" as a technical director on the fictional news set.

In October 2015, he released his follow up commercial mixtape Smyle. The album peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 76, and was supported by the single "Don't Wanna Fall in Love." The album featured a guest spot by Chance the Rapper on the track "Remember Me?" and has garnered over 2 million views on YouTube. Kyle's first music video to reach one million views was "Keep It Real", which was accomplished later that year.

2016–present: Breakthrough and Light of Mine and See You When I Am Famous

In December 2016, Kyle released the single "iSpy", featuring Lil Yachty. The song gained widespread recognition for Kyle, and served as the lead single for his debut album Light of Mine. The song peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the Canadian Hot 100. A remix featuring rapper Kodak Black was released on June 9, 2017. The song eventually reached Diamond certification status on April 16, 2026.

In February 2017, Kyle signed a deal with Atlantic Records. Four months later, Kyle was named as one of the ten 2017 XXL Freshmen along with A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Aminé, MadeinTYO, Kamaiyah, Kap G, and XXXTentacion.

In March 2018, alongside the release of his single "Playinwitme" featuring Kehlani, Kyle announced that Khalid would be featured on a track titled "iMissMe". Although "Playinwitme" did not chart on the Billboard 200, it did chart at number 1 on Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and achieved double Platinum status. Kyle's debut studio album Light of Mine was released on May 18, 2018. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and achieved Platinum status on February 18, 2021. The deluxe edition featured the song "Hey Julie!" featuring Lil Yachty, which went Platinum.

He appeared as the main character in the Netflix original film, The After Party, which debuted on August 24, 2018.

2018–present: See You When I Am Famous, It's Not So Bad and Smyle Again

Kyle's second album See You When I Am Famous was released on July 17, 2020, and was supported by the singles "Yes!", "What It Is" and "Bouncin". The album peaked at number 124 on the Billboard 200 and failed to match the success of Light of Mine. One year after the release, Kyle parted ways with Atlantic Records.

On January 28, 2022, Kyle released the album It's Not So Bad as an NFT, his fifth project and first as a newly independent artist. It marks a creative departure from Kyle's pop rap roots, instead experimenting with R&B. It did not peak or appear on any charts.

On March 8, 2024, Kyle released the album Smyle Again, serving as a sequel to Smyle, through the labels Independently-Popular and APG.

Discography

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Note
2018 The After Party Owen Ellison Lead role
2021 Cherry Roy

Television

Year Title Role Note
2019–2020 Sugar and Toys Himself Main role

References

  1. ↑ "KYLE – 'It's Not So Bad' review: Offbeat pop-rapper is just what we need right now". NME. February 2022.
  2. ↑ "indie-pop!". indie-pop!.
  3. ↑ "Kyle Thomas Harvey, Born 05/18/1993 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "KYLE Signs to Atlantic Records – Fashionably-Early". fashionably-early.com. February 7, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ ""ISpy" – KYLE ft. Lil Yachty". Artistic Manifesto. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Kyle and Lil Yachty Ignore the Haters in "iSpy"". XXL. December 2, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kyle & Lil Yachty – "iSpy"". HYPEBEAST. December 2, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  8. ↑ "10 New Artists You Need to Know Now". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Get millions of songs. All ad-free". Apple Music. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Get millions of songs. All ad-free". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Moment (feat. Wiz Khalifa) – Single by KYLE". Apple Music.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Meet Kyle, the "iSpy" MC Who Wants to Be Rap's John Lennon". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ Kyle, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Aminé's 2017 XXL Freshman Cypher, July 10, 2017, retrieved July 27, 2021
  14. 1 2 "Kyle Is Rapping and Playing It Safe". vice.com. December 3, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  15. ↑ "K.i.D". K.i.D. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Bout to Blow: 10 Dope New Songs You Should Be Hearing Everywhere Soon". Complex. January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  17. ↑ GEazyMusicVEVO (May 28, 2014), G-Eazy – I Mean It (Official Music Video) ft. Remo, retrieved September 12, 2018
  18. ↑ "Kyle – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Kyle". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Kyle – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Kyle". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "American certifications - Kyle". Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ "XXL Freshman 2017 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  22. ↑ "New Music: KYLE feat. Kehlani – 'Playinwitme'". Rap-Up. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  23. ↑ Bitran, Tara (August 6, 2018). "Rapper Kyle Vies for Stardom in Netflix's 'The After Party' Trailer".
  24. 1 2 Lee, Cydney (January 28, 2022). "Kyle Wants You to Know That 'It's Not So Bad' With New Independent Project". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  25. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie Cummings-GradyMackenzie (March 8, 2024). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ransom and Harry Fraud, MIKE and More - New Hip-Hop Projects". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 1, 2026.