“CHROMAKOPIA,” Tyler, the Creator’s eighth studio album released last Monday, is classic Tyler — eclectic, jazzy and unique. The album is enhanced with surprise features from artists such as Daniel Caesar, Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino, to name a few.
The 14-track album centers around themes of paranoia and adulthood, as Tyler reflects on advice his mother gave him when he was young. From upbeat, aggressive songs like “Sticky” and “Thought I Was Dead,” to more introspective tracks such as “Like Him,” Tyler, the Creator once again displays his musical range and distinctive artistry.
Already ranked No. 1 on the global Spotify Top Artists chart, Tyler, the Creator also announced “CHROMAKOPIA The World Tour.” The tour will last from Feb. 4 to Sept. 4 of next year, with openers Lil Yachty and Paris Texas.
As I opened Spotify and pressed play on the opening track, “St. Chroma,” I was instantly drawn into the project. The song starts off strong with Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, stating, “You are the light. It’s not on you, it’s in you.” Smith’s voice is heard throughout the album, offering words of wisdom and advice.
Daniel Caesar’s vocals on “St. Chroma” are angelic and offer perfect juxtaposition with Tyler’s harsh whispering tone. Tyler continues his aggressive, militaristic delivery for “Rah Tah Tah,” which transitions seamlessly into the third track, “Noid.”
To me, “Noid” is reminiscent of Rockwell’s 1984 hit single “Somebody’s Watching Me”, with lyrics like “Triple checkin’ if I locked the door, I know every creak that’s in the floor.” The song paints a picture of the feeling of paranoia, which Tyler opened up about in an interview with the Rolling Stone, saying, “Because of the internet, people don’t know personal boundaries anymore, and it’s normalized... [but] it’s like, ‘we don’t know each other’.”
Tyler also sampled “Nizakupanga Ngozi,” by Zambian rock band, the Ngozi Family, for his chorus hook. The song off their 1977 album, “45,000 Volts,” features similar themes of respecting one’s privacy.
Moving down the track list, next is “Darling, I.” Now, my opinions on music are ever changing, but for the moment at least, I’m not too impressed. The song definitely reminds me of Tyler’s 2017 album, “Flower Boy,” with a flowy chorus and easily digestible verses. Maybe I just need another listen, but there is nothing in the song that really stands out to me.
Transitioning to a more serious track is “Hey Jane,” where Tyler details a story about an accidental pregnancy, addressing the woman whom the song is named after with sincerity. While this isn’t a song I would listen to regularly, I do appreciate the storytelling and depth.
I love the instrumentals of “I Killed You” and “Judge Judy,” and I like the slower, calmer vibe of the latter, as well as the call back to a verse from “DOGTOOTH” from the deluxe version of “Call Me If You Get Lost.” However, the tone quickly switches back to energetic and dynamic with “Sticky.”
Tyler’s eighth track features rappers GloRilla, Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne. While Tyler and Wayne have collaborated on numerous songs, including “HOT WIND BLOWS” from “Call Me If You Get Lost,” “Sticky” is the first time that he has been on a track with GloRilla and Sexxy Red. Tyler’s collaboration with two female rappers newer to the industry garnered plenty of online controversy, with some fans questioning why they were featured over Frank Ocean, an artist that Tyler has collaborated with for years.
Am I a huge fan of GloRilla or Sexxy Red, either? Definitely not, but I can’t deny the addictingly catchy verses and heavenly horns. I’ll be the first to say I’ve listened to “Sticky” on repeat all day today.
“Take Your Mask Off” switches back again to a smooth and gliding track that is another one of my favorites, with lyrics that discuss hiding one’s true self and in Tyler’s case, wearing both a metaphorical and literal mask, as seen from the album cover.
Nearing the end of the album are tracks “Tomorrow,” which explores the somber realization that both you and your parents are growing older, and “Like Him,” a soulful ballad about Tyler’s absent father. Both titles are emotional and raw, showing a more expressive version of the artist.
Smith’s voice can be heard in the outro of “Like Him,” admitting to Tyler it was her fault all along that his father was not present in his life. Her words, “He’s always wanted to be a father to you... Forgive me,” tragically parallels “Answer,” from Tyler's 2013 album, “Wolf.” In “Answer”, Tyler addresses his biological father in anger, blaming him for leaving him and his mother. After listening to “Like Him,” a whole new perspective on Tyler’s family is unveiled, as he discovers that his father tried to be a part of his life, after all.
Sandwiched between these two emotional songs is “Thought I Was Dead,” a repetitive, defiant track featuring rapper ScHoolboy Q. With lines like “Y'all wanna take what I got, but y’all do not got what it take” and “Everything I said I’d do, I did,” the two-time Grammy award winner is confident and in your face, flaunting his successes.
The last two tracks on the album, “Balloon” and “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” — a potential hot take, but I also don’t like “Balloon.” I wasn’t a fan of Tyler’s voice in this track, and, in my opinion, Doechii’s feature ruined the song.
The final song was a refreshing change from Doechii’s obnoxious verse, with a smooth and satisfying outro. Smith’s voice is heard once again, saying “Do your thing, just keep, keep shinin,’” which gracefully concludes Tyler, the Creator’s newest project.
“CHROMAKOPIA” was a chaotic whirlwind of raps and melodies, playful synths and deep basses and an impressive range of featured artists. The beauty of “CHROMAKOPIA” is in Tyler’s refusal to conform to a single genre – the beauty is in the chaos.
