| "A Boy Is a Gun*" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Tyler, The Creator | |
| from the album Igor | |
| Released | May 17, 2019 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:30 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Tyler Okonma |
| Music video | |
| "A Boy Is a Gun" on YouTube | |
"A Boy Is a Gun" (stylized with an asterisk in the end) is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his fifth album Igor. The song was written by Tyler, the Creator with multiple producers. Released on May 17, 2019, beside the other songs in the album, it charted in the Billboard Hot 100, the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and the Canadian Hot 100. The song also gained a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and a gold certification from Music Canada
An accompanying music video directed by Tyler himself is centered around Igor–Tyler's alter ego. It is set in a mansion. Igor is interested in a love interest, while the love interest is disinterested. Igor appears to have a mental breakdown and fights with the interest, ending the video.
Since day one, I’ve always wanted to make the prettiest shit that’s borderline boring,
or the hardest fucking shit, And I’ve been trying to mix those together since my first album.
Tyler Okonma, [1]
The song is inspired by the 1971 French western film Une Aventure de Billy le Kid, also known as "A Girl is a Gun". [2] "A girl is a gun" was popularized by a clothing brand, Pleasure, which printed the phrase in shirts. The phrase was further popularized when Playboi Carti wore it in his single Magnolia. [3] The video style is inspired by another movie, 2017's Call Me by Your Name, from which Tyler is a fan of. [4] On May 13, 2019, Tyler released a 28-second snippet on the song in social media. [5] The song was sampled from "Bound", by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One, with vocals from Solange Knowles. [6] Tyler has history with the sample, co-producing "Bound 1", by Kanye West. [7]
The music video was directed by Wolf Haley, with an appearance by Tracee Ellis Ross. [8] The video is centered to Igor, Tyler's alter ego. Igor is placed in a mansion, walking around the balcony, ending up in a bathtub. [9] [10] He is spotted to be interested in a love interest, while the love interest is "disinterested" in him. After, Igor appears to have a mental breakdown, throwing clothes and running across the lawn. [9]
The song was described containing "minimalist, looping, eyes-to-the-sky aesthetic" by the Music website Sputnikmusic. [11] British website NME stated that the song "put its' own spin" on the Ponderosa Twins Plus One track, Bound. [12]
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [13] | 56 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [14] | 75 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [15] | 72 |
| US Billboard Streaming Songs [16] | 47 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [17] | 36 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) [18] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) [19] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Tyler Gregory Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, record producer, director, and fashion designer. He has been cited as an influential figure in alternative hip hop during the 2010s.
"Yonkers" is a song written, produced, and performed by American rapper Tyler, the Creator, released digitally as the second single from his debut studio album Goblin on February 14, 2011. It received controversy due to its violent lyrics and numerous disses, although it was critically acclaimed and landed on numerous year-end lists. Tyler also directed a music video for the single, which was also met with positive critical reception and earned him the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Numerous magazine publications noted "Yonkers" as Tyler's breakout song.
This is the discography of Tyler, the Creator, an American rapper and the former leader of the Los Angeles hip hop collective Odd Future. His discography consists of one mixtape, seven studio albums, one EP, and thirty-two singles.
"Bound 2" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featured as the final track from his sixth studio album, Yeezus (2013). It was produced by West and Che Pope, with additional production being handled by Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No ID and Mike Dean. The song features vocals from American soul singer Charlie Wilson and serves as the album's second single. "Bound 2" incorporates samples from "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and the lines "Uh-huh, honey" and "Alright" from Brenda Lee's "Sweet Nothin's". The song also interpolates Wee's "Aeroplane (Reprise)" for the bridge, sung by Charlie Wilson.
Ponderosa Twins Plus One was an American soul vocal group formed in 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio. The group featured two sets of identical twins, Alfred and Alvin Pelham, and Keith and Kirk Gardner, along with Ricky Spicer. The group released one studio album, 2 + 2 + 1 = Ponderosa Twins Plus One, in 1971, before disbanding in 1975.
2 + 2 + 1 = Ponderosa Twins Plus One is the only album by American vocal group Ponderosa Twins Plus One, released in 1971 through Horoscope Records. The album was produced by Bobby Massey of the O'Jays and Michael Burton, a songwriter and producer of All Platinum Records.
"Energy" is the second single by Canadian rapper Drake from his commercial mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. The single was released on July 10, 2015, about five months after the release of the mixtape.
"Who Dat Boy" is a song written and performed by American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring fellow American rapper ASAP Rocky. Produced by the former, it was released on June 30, 2017 alongside, "911 / Mr. Lonely" through Columbia Records, as the lead singles from his fourth studio album Flower Boy.
"911 / Mr. Lonely" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring American singers Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy as well as Norwegian singer Anna of the North. It was released through Columbia Records on June 30, 2017, alongside "Who Dat Boy", as the lead singles from the former's fourth studio album, Flower Boy. Produced by Tyler, he wrote the song alongside Ocean, with Raymond Calhoun receiving writing credits for the interpolation of The Gap Band's song "Outstanding."
Flower Boy is the fourth studio album by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. The album was released on July 21, 2017, by Columbia Records. Produced entirely by Tyler, the album features guest vocals from a range of artists, including Frank Ocean, ASAP Rocky, Anna of the North, Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Steve Lacy, Estelle, Jaden Smith and Rex Orange County.
"See You Again" is a song written, produced, and performed by American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring vocals from Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis. It was released as the fourth single from Tyler's fourth studio album Flower Boy (2017) on August 29, 2017. The single went viral on TikTok, leading the song to enter several charts around the world for the first time as a sleeper hit in April 2023.
Igor is the fifth studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on May 17, 2019, through Columbia Records. Produced solely by Tyler himself, the album features guest appearances from Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Solange, Kanye West, and Jerrod Carmichael. Following the release of Tyler's previous album Flower Boy (2017), the album was primarily recorded in California, with recording sessions also being held in Lake Como, Italy, and Atlanta between 2017 and 2019.
"New Magic Wand" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his fifth studio album Igor (2019). It incorporates elements of "Vsichni Praznj" by Siluetes 61 and features background vocals from American singer Santigold.
"I Think" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator, released as the third track from his fifth studio album Igor (2019). The song features additional vocals from American singer Solange, as well as background vocals from singers Ryan Beatty, Anthony Evans, Amanda Brown and Tiffany Stevenson.
"Gone, Gone / Thank You" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his fifth studio album Igor (2019). It features background vocals from American singer CeeLo Green. The song contains excerpts from "Hey Girl" by Cullen Omori of Smith Westerns and interpolations from "Fragile" by Tatsuro Yamashita.
"Earfquake" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It is the second song from his fifth studio album, Igor (2019). It features an uncredited guest appearance from fellow American rapper Playboi Carti and background vocals by American singers Charlie Wilson and Jessy Wilson. It was released as the album's lead single to rhythmic contemporary radio on June 4, 2019. Its official remix by Channel Tres was released on October 4, 2019. "Earfquake" is Tyler, the Creator's highest-charting song in the US, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also ranked 14th on Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2019 list.
"Best Interest" is a song by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was first released on December 23, 2019 as a music video, before being released to streaming services on January 25, 2020. The song contains a sample of "Bless You With My Love" by Heaven Sent & Ecstasy.
"Lumberjack" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator, released on June 16, 2021, as the lead single from his sixth studio album, Call Me If You Get Lost. The song samples the Gravediggaz track "2 Cups of Blood".
Call Me If You Get Lost is the sixth studio album by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. The album was released on June 25, 2021, through Columbia Records. The album is narrated by DJ Drama and features guest appearances from 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, Domo Genesis, Brent Faiyaz, Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell Williams, Teezo Touchdown, Fana Hues and Daisy World. Tyler produced the album himself, with additional production contributed by Jamie xx and Jay Versace.
"WusYaName" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring fellow American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again and American singer Ty Dolla $ign. It was released on June 22, 2021, alongside a retro-themed music video, as the second single from Tyler's sixth studio album, Call Me If You Get Lost. A '90s-inspired R&B record, it samples H-Town's "Back Seat ", and sees Tyler rapping and singing to a mysterious woman he becomes love-struck with while on a road trip. The song was noted for its production and Tyler's delivery, and is the highest-charting track from the album.
