Tate McRae’s third studio album So Close to What arrived on 21 February 2025, featuring the much-anticipated collaboration I Know Love with her real-life partner, The Kid LAROI.
This track marks their first musical union, offering fans an intimate glimpse into their relationship through both lyrics and performance.
From Mexico to Music: The Real-Life Romance Behind “I Know Love”
The chemistry between McRae and LAROI is at the centre of I Know Love, built on the foundation of their real-life relationship.
Their connection reportedly began in early 2024 during a holiday in Mexico, something LAROI references directly in the lyrics: “I said, ‘You my type,’ out in Mexico tonight.”
At her album listening party in Los Angeles, McRae shared what it was like making music together.
“It was a really funny process because me and LAROI have never really taken each other seriously,” she said. “You know when you’re in a relationship, and you sing around each other, but you don’t really sing? So it was a little stressful being in the studio singing and writing in front of him, but it was a cool experience to watch him in his process.”
It wasn’t just about creating a track together. As McRae told Rolling Stone, stepping into a studio with someone you’re dating shifts the dynamic completely:
“I feel like the person you are in a relationship and the person you are in the studio as an artist are very different. We were a little nervous singing in front of each other.”
That mix of familiarity and creative uncertainty gives I Know Love an unfiltered quality, something that separates it from other polished, made-for-radio collaborations between famous couples.
Tate McRae and The Kid LAROI “I Know Love” Song Meaning
The song moves through different phases of their relationship, with each lyric marking a shift.
LAROI opens with, “We started off friends, how we end up here? I don’t know, but I don’t see no problems,” acknowledging how things naturally escalated.
Then there’s “You said it was gon’ be quick, now we’re twelve months in,” showing how what started as something casual became something more.
But the most telling moment is LAROI’s line, “Girl, stop actin’ like you’re tough and let your guard down,” which hints at McRae’s initial hesitation.
The chorus takes on a different tone, making love sound more overwhelming than effortless:
“It’s a little like drugs / Got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees.”
Instead of romanticising love as smooth and simple, I Know Love focuses on the rush and the disorientation that comes with it.
The repeated “I know love when it hits” gives the song a hypnotic, almost trance-like quality, mimicking how love can take over before you even realise what’s happening.
The Sound of “I Know Love”: A Dreamy, Wavy Momentum
Produced by Ryan Tedder and Tyler Spry, I Know Love moves with a steady pulse that keeps it engaging without feeling rushed.
The beat gives it a sense of urgency, but the smoothness of McRae and LAROI’s delivery balances it out, making it feel both high-energy and hypnotic at the same time.
Rather than drifting without direction, the production ensures the song stays rhythmic and infectious, making it more than just an ambient, floaty love song.
It’s the kind of track that can sit between a late-night reflection and an upbeat moment, depending on how you listen to it.
McRae’s crisp, controlled vocals contrast with LAROI’s looser, more instinctive delivery, making the duet feel fluid rather than formulaic.
The stuttered “kn-kn-kn-kn-know” in the post-chorus adds to the looped, hypnotic effect, reinforcing the idea of love as something that lingers in your mind long after the moment has passed.
Compared to other high-profile couple collaborations, I Know Love leans into a more raw, personal feel.
It doesn’t rely on a dramatic beat switch or a massive hook. Instead, it lets the emotion sit with the listener, making it more intimate than theatrical.
Where “I Know Love” Fits on So Close to What
As track 9 on McRae’s 15-song album, I Know Love arrives at a point where the album starts to turn inward.
Earlier tracks wrestle with uncertainty and hesitation, while this song shifts into something more certain, even if it’s not entirely steady.
McRae has continued to refine her pop sound, moving away from dance-driven tracks into something more textured.
LAROI, usually more associated with rap-influenced melodies, leans into a softer vocal performance that makes this track feel distinct from his usual work.
While some collaborations between artists in relationships feel like marketing moves rather than creative choices, I Know Love doesn’t fall into that trap.
It’s not built around a viral moment, and it doesn’t feel overly engineered.
Instead, it thrives on its simplicity and authenticity, making it stand out in a way that’s rare for songs of this nature.
How “I Know Love” Stands Out Among Music’s Famous Couple Duets
Pop music has had its fair share of high-profile couple collaborations, but I Know Love takes a different approach.
Unlike songs that aim for radio dominance with massive hooks and over-the-top production, this track leans into its natural chemistry.
It doesn’t push for a stadium-filling chorus or rely on excessive production.
Instead, it plays with contrast—a strong beat that never overpowers, vocals that remain intimate, and a structure that lets the emotions unfold naturally.
That balance makes it more than just a moment in their personal story.
It’s a song that works even without the backstory, which is what ultimately makes it last.
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Tate McRae I know love ft. The Kid LAROI Lyrics
Verse 1: Tate McRae
He said, “No lie, girl, you lookin’ sexy on the magazine, but what you doin’ after the photos?”
Looks like I’ll be in the covers with you practicin’ a new kinda promo
I said, “Baby, if you want, I’ll give you somethin’ you can hold on, you can feel for now, yeah”
I said, “Baby, if you want, I’ll give you somethin’, but you only got me right now,” because
Chorus: Tate McRae
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, yeah
Yeah, I know love when it hits, when it feels like this
It’s a little like drugs
Got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees
Yeah, you’re so fucked up fallin’ for me
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, I know love
Verse 2: The Kid LAROI & Tate McRae
We started off friends, how we end up here?
I don’t know, but I don’t see no problems
We started off friends, how you end up here next to me? (Honestly, this shit is crazy)
I said, “You my type,” out in Mexico tonight
You said it was gon’ be quick, now we’re twelve months in, so
Everybody needs somebody they can hold down (Mm, yeah)
Girl, stop actin’ like you’re tough and let your guard down
Chorus: Tate McRae, The Kid LAROI
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, yeah (I know love)
Yeah, I know love when it hits, when it feels like this
It’s a little like drugs
Got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees
Yeah, you’re so fucked up fallin’ for me
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, I know love
Post-Chorus: Tate McRae, The Kid LAROI
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know love
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know love (When it hits like that)
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know (I know love)
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know love (I know love)
When it hits, I kn-kn-kn-kn-know (I know love)
Yeah, I know love, I know love
Bridge: Tate McRae & The Kid LAROI
New love, new plans, new script
Yeah, it’s only the beginnin’, but it’s happening quick, boy (Mm)
New nails, new hair, new tricks
New positions that I put you on and then I put you in, like (Yeah, oh no)
Chorus: Tate McRae & The Kid LAROI
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, yeah (I know love)
Yeah, I know love when it hits, when it feels like this
It’s a little like drugs
Got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees
Yeah, you’re so fucked up, falling for me
I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits
Yeah, I know love, I know love
Outro: Tate McRae
Oh, mm
When it hits, when it hits
