KYLE

With affable bars and smile-inducing production choices, KYLE has established himself as a go-to MC for all things positive. Born Kyle Thomas Harvey in 1993 in Ventura, CA, the artist was influenced early on by hardened storytellers like Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Scarface, and later by rappers he found more relatable: Drake and Kid Cudi. In 2013, KYLE independently released his sunny debut mixtape, Beautiful Loser, which featured the glitchy, tongue-in-cheek, video game-inspired “Sex & Super Smash Bros.” By 2015, KYLE secured collaborations with fellow Californians G-Eazy and Kehlani, and appeared on unorthodox jazz collective Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment’s Surf. That same year, he released the mixtape Smyle, a hype yet introspective project that showcased his versatility on tracks like the contemplative, Chance the Rapper-assisted “Remember Me?” KYLE’s commercial breakthrough came in 2016, when the cheerfully humorous and upbeat “iSpy,” featuring mischief-maker Lil Yachty, broke into the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2018, KYLE brought his happy-go-lucky outlook to his debut studio album, Light of Mine, where he collaborated again with Kehlani on “Playinwitme,” an effervescent duet about the complexities of dating. He would follow up that effort with his 2020 album, See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!!, led by the whimsical and boast-filled “YES!” featuring Atlanta artists Rich The Kid and K CAMP. By making unabashed pop-rap that captures the joys of life, KYLE reflects us at our best.