Tyler, The Creator has had many evolutions in his music, each different from the last.
His older music seemed to be voicing his darkest, innermost thoughts, sparking a lot of debate. But in recent years, the Earfquake singer been exploratory with his sound, lyrics, and production.
With his 2019 album, IGOR, he would often perform with a blonde wig and blue suit. Now, years later, he has finally released a new album with a sound that’s both new and familiar, with a new persona.
With his 2019 album IGOR, he often performed in a blonde wig and blue suit. On October 28, he returned with a new album that brings a fresh persona and sound that still feels distinctly familiar.
Let’s talk about Chromakopia.
The Sound
Chromakopia opens with St. Chroma featuring Daniel Caesar.
In it, Tyler whispers most of his verses, followed by Caesar’s angelic and bright vocals. It’s a nice and light introduction to the project. St. Chroma blends seamlessly into the next track Rah Tah Tah which gives the nostalgic feel and sound of Tyler’s old music.
Darling, I has a nostalgic, 90s feel to it, both sonically and the rapping style.
Hey Jane tells the story of a friend of Tyler’s getting pregnant with his child, that has his fandom on Reddit wondering if it’s fiction, the truth, or somewhere in between.
Either way, the story is told vividly with a drum heavy beat as the lyrics oscillate perspectives of the woman and Tyler, debating whether or not to keep the child. Of concern the woman in the story wonders how she would explain the situation to her loved ones.
I said I wouldn’t do this again
It’s a lose if I lose lil’ bro again
And it’s a lose-lose if I lose you as a friend
The lyrics here are fittingly clear and heavy.
Sticky is arguably the most polarizing song on Chromakopia with some people hating it and others loving the track. The song features Glorilla, Sexxy Red, and Lil Wayne, each giving their short verses and contributions. Tyler dons a higher pitched voice for most of the song, all set against the soundscape of heavy horns and bass thumping sound.
The Message
In Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator seems to divulge a lot about himself and his life. In his song Like Him, he appears to sing about how much he misses his absentee father, wondering if he looks like him.
Tyler’s past music has hinted at the emotional impact of his father’s absence and how it may have influenced him.
In the emotional closing of Like Him, he reveals that it was actually his mother’s resentment that kept his father away, admitting that this decision stemmed from spite.
You know, it was my fault
Not him ‘cause he always wanted to be there for you
And I’m sorry, I was young
But he’s always wanted to be a father to you
It’s a heart-wrenching revelation that many fans have resonated with.
Chromakopia might be one of Tyler’s best albums. With the incredible sound, amazing features, and emotional depth, fans have never connected more with a project from the artist.
This article reflects publicly available information, and the author’s interpretations are based on those sources. Trendy Matters has no affiliation with any brand or person mentioned in this article, which is for informational purposes only.
