"IFHY" ("I Fucking Hate You") is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his second studio album Wolf (2013). Produced by Tyler himself, it features American musician Pharrell.

Background

In March 2013, Tyler, the Creator revealed that Kanye West offered to be featured on the song, but he turned him down. When asked why he refused, Tyler answered on Formspring: "cause it was mine. he wanted to be on IFHY too! but i was like, nah hahaha. ye is soo awesome, i talk to him almost everyday it seems like. its cool to have someone you can level with about art and everything else."^[1] In July 2013, he further explained:

It was just that I played him the album before it was finished and it was a song that he really, really liked on there and he really liked it a lot and he wanted to be on it or whatever. And the way I do features I specifically pick people for what they're featured on. And that song, it was nowhere where creative-wise where I thought he would fit on there. Kanye is one of the only few people in this industry that I consider a friend. I'll probably talk to him once a week and we just — we both have a love for art and we hate a lot of the same stuff. So, I don't want people to think that's a diss or like a side hit when I said I denied him.^[2]

Composition and lyrics

Tyler, the Creator says in the song, "This isn't a song, I just happen to rhyme when I get emo".^[3][4] The production contains "plinking" and "sprawling" synths,^[5][6] jazzy chords,^[5] and a combination of a "kaleidoscopic, funhouse melody" with "gunshot snares".^[3] The lyrics revolve around a dysfunctional relationship^[7] and the accompanying jealousy as Tyler expresses contradictory feelings toward a girl; in the hook, he says "I fucking hate you, but I love you"^[6][8] and "We're good at being troubled".^[9] He further raps about his strong desire for her, stating he will "lose a couple screws" if she considers leaving him and admitting he is "passive aggressive for no goddamn reason".^[4] The song features a coda performed by Pharrell using a falsetto.^[5]

Critical reception

David Jeffries of AllMusic stated, "'IFHY' is another throwback as an emo kid evolves into a serial killer during the course of a love letter, and yet superstar Pharrell is on the cut, million-dollar crooning over some drippy production that came from Tyler's stickered-up laptop."^[10] Chris Kelly of Fact wrote, "Pharrell shows up with the silky cooing that put so many Neptunes/N.E.R.D. songs over the top; unfortunately, the staid love/hate lyrics prevent this one from doing the same."^[3] Andy Baber of MusicOMH deemed the song a highlight of Wolf, describing it as "addictive and angry" and that Tyler, the Creator "sounds at his most venomous" on the song.^[6]

Music video

The music video was directed by Tyler, the Creator under his Wolf Haley alias and premiered on March 29, 2013. It takes place inside a dollhouse and portrays him as a doll,^[11] wearing scary makeup that provides his face with the appearance of being coated in plastic.^[12][13] Tyler woos, berates and harasses his love interest, who is depicted as a female doll.^{[11][12][14][15]} The clip ends with a real-life Tyler and Hodgy Beats driving through a suburban neighborhood, as their song "Jamba" plays.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Charts

Certifications

References