By Ryan Fogg, Nov. 12, 2024
Following the Grammy-winning success of “Call Me If You Get Lost” in 2022, Tyler Okonma — better known as Tyler, the Creator — returned after a two-year hiatus to release his latest album “Chromakopia” topping Billboard 200 at No.1 for two consecutive weeks.
“Chromakopia” marks Tyler, the creator’s eighth entry into his 13-year discography. The album consists of 14 songs, with a runtime of 53 minutes. Joining Tyler, the Creator on “Chromakopia” are the likes of Daniel Ceasar, Teezo Touchdown, Childish Gambino, GloRilla, Sexyy Red and many more.
“Chromakopia” stands as Tyler, the Creator’s most introspective and raw album, appealing to longtime fans such as myself. It’s amazing to hear the growth and perspective of Tyler, the Creator since the “Bastard” and “Goblin” era. “Chromakopia” is no exception, standing tall as my favorite album of his at a 9-point rating.
In this entry, we see a new side of Tyler, the Creator, a rawer and more honest take of his current mindset. Primarily a hip-hop, R&B and jazz album, “Chromakopia” blends musical styles from his fifth album “Flower Boy,” borrowing concepts of neo-soul and synthesizer-based arrangements.
Similar to previous album concepts, Tyler, the Creator created a new persona which he calls “St. Chroma,” which reflects the title of the first track of the album. Tyler, the Creator spent the album using this persona to figuratively talk about his “light,” as heard in the beginning monologue by his mother, Bonita Smith.
“You are the light, it’s not on you, it’s in you / Don’t you ever in your motherf——life dim your light for nobody.”
We see Tyler, the Creator dimming his light when he takes accountability for his immaturity and lighting up to show critics why he is one of the most influential artists of the last decade.
Although they don’t push the album narratively, songs like “Rah Tah Tah,” “Thought I was Dead” and the feature-filled “Sticky” are a much-needed boost of energy throughout. “Rah Tah Tah” is the second track off the album and immediately pulls listeners into the chaotic energy Tyler, the Creator brings to his flows. The panning effects at the start of the song immediately hooks the audience, and Tyler, the Creator’s confidence delivered through his verses. “Rah Tah Tah” brings back a more refined version of something off his 2015 release “Cherry Bomb.” “Thought I was Dead” is the 11th song off the album. The song features Schoolboy Q, and it is where we see Tyler, the Creator back in his braggadocious persona. Throughout the track, Tyler, the Creator calls out the presence of culture-vultures in hip-hop, doubling down on past comments about the current state of the music industry.
Throughout the album, Tyler, the Creator expresses struggles with monogamy, family, identity and not feeling ready for fatherhood. Tracks like “Darling, I,” “Like Him” and “Tomorrow” are all examples of these themes. “Darling, I” is the fourth song off the album, and it’s where we see Tyler, the Creator open up about love, his complex emotions regarding commitment in a relationship and the temptation for new experiences. “Darling I” is an upbeat, hip-hop infused track that uses catchy melodies and clever word play. The song features a sample from Q-Tip’s “Vivrant Thing,” resembling an early 2000s hip-hop love song.
The tenth song “Tomorrow” addresses Tyler, the Creator’s state of mind on fatherhood. The song begins with piano chords and a short monologue from Tyler, the Creator’s mom, expressing the need for grandchildren as she gets older. Throughout the song, Tyler, the Creator reflects on his mother’s words and struggles to decide if he should put his music career aside to start a family. “The thought of children, it brings me stress because time is changing.” Tyler, the Creator continues to procrastinate the decision, hence the title “Tomorrow.” The track is supported by strong guitar and piano chords, embodying the heavy weight of the topic at hand.
I keep going back to “Like Him,” the climax of the album, where Tyler, the Creator explores universal themes of identity and family. The 12th song on the album is centered around the complex emotions tied to his father’s absence. For fans, the history with Tyler, the Creator’s father is not new. In his 2013 release “Wolf,” the subject matter of his father’s absence during his childhood was a recurring theme, especially on the track “Answer” where Tyler, the Creator expresses abandonment and the longing for connection toward his father. During the ending of “Like Him,” Tyler, the Creator’s mother reveals his dad wanted to be a part of his life, but she prevented the connection from happening, leaving fans on a cliffhanger. “Like him” is the highlight of the album for me because of its carefully crafted production, universal storytelling and emotional depth. The song takes the listener on a journey of self-reflection and growth, a lesson everyone can appreciate in its art.
The cover of “Chromakopia” is inspired by the character “St. Chroma” from the book “The Phantom Toll Booth.” “St. Chroma” embodies the idea that color is more than a visual concept, but also existential and emotional. In the cover, we see Tyler, the Creator (St. Chroma) take his mask off in a new light, celebrating the theme of self-expression and finding your identity. In a music landscape where artists announce and then delay new albums, Tyler, the Creator has a history of rolling out an album within two to three weeks, setting a higher standard for the industry.
Along with the release of the album, “Chromakopia” will also be getting a world tour from Feb. 4 to Sept. 4, reaching the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., Europe and New Zealand. Joining Tyler, the Creator on tour is rapper Lil Yachty and alternative hip-hop duo Paris Texas.
Feature image courtesy of Columbia Records
