In my experience as a Tyler the Creator fan, I have found the best way to listen to his albums is by wearing headphones with the volume as loud as I can tolerate, removing all distractions and blocking out an hour of time to sit and listen. So, when his eighth studio album, “Chromakopia,” dropped at 6 a.m. on Oct. 28, I went into the day with a game plan of avoiding any spoilers until I listened to it in full.
Track one, “St. Chroma,” opens with Tyler’s mom saying, “You are the light. It’s not on you, it’s in you. Don’t you ever in your … life dim your light for nobody.” Originally, he posted a teaser in mid-October for the song depicting a masked man in a suit, Tyler’s ego for the album, leading a marching group of silhouetted figures into a shipping container. As the music builds an eerie twinge in the background plays. Tyler is whispering,“ I ain’t never had a doubt inside me/And if I ever told you that I did, I’m … lyin’.” Daniel Caesars’ featured vocals layer to create beautiful gospel-inspired harmonies. And then, the beat drops. It is chaos controlled by a piano melody played behind Tyler’s rapping. The song ends with Caesar’s angelic vocals asking “Can you feel the fire?” and Tyler hits us with a transition.
“Rah Tah Tah” is an intense, almost 180 degree turn from “St. Chroma.” It’s heavy and fast paced, but with an eerie beat similar to the preceding song. Tyler talks about his feelings of paranoia he’s grown to experience as he’s dealt with fame for nearly two decades. Then hits us with another stellar transition to elaborate further in “Noid.” At this point, it is evident the album’s theme is investigating the effects of family trauma and coping with fame.
Tyler plays off lyrics from old works throughout the album, expanding on a concept of personal growth. His mom’s voice is heard throughout the album, and she serves as a guide to him through this ego-death point in his life where he describes his struggle with finding purpose and reason. There is detail and meaning behind every word, music video scene and verse. “Thought I was Dead” brings the energy and life back into the album after hearing a couple songs in the middle that feel like fillers. Its vibrant beat calls attention to Tyler’s self-reclamation. Immediately after, “Like Him” takes a meaningful turn with a ballad feel and clear gospel inspiration. It’s a beautifully unique standout on the album, and Lola Young’s feature adds layers of emotion to draw the listener in on a personal level.
Songs like “Balloon” featuring Doechii show Tyler’s personality and lyrical creativity. I think she was the best choice to be a part of the song as she matches Tyler’s energy perfectly. I love how Tyler found ways to build ethereal harmonies throughout the song. “Sticky” is another stand out track from the album. Featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne, the song has a catchy chorus with a simple beat. It sounds like he recruited a live step team to record the backing vocals. These are classic Tyler the Creator songs, but I think they have a hard time meshing well with the overall album.
“Chromakopia” is nothing short of the creative genius Tyler has showcased in the past. It is soulful, goofy, manic and brilliant. Tyler’s best work is done with slower, more harmonic pieces, but the collective cornucopia of different songs with different samples and features are a part of the great uniqueness that is a Tyler the Creator album.
