I Listened to Tyler The Creator's New Album With My Boyfriend
by Simone Gonzalez
Before Chromakopia, I had a distorted opinion of Tyler the Creator. Initially, my impression of Tyler was shaped by rumors and bits of information I’d come across. I should have dug deeper into an artist very well known amongst my generation. Of course, I knew his most popular hits (ARE WE STILL FRIENDS and DOGTOOTH for example) but didn’t know much about his personal life and/or his artistry.
Additionally, Glitter and a few other songs off of Tyler’s Flower Boy was recommended to me via Spotify. As a song called “Like Him” caused me to stop what I was doing, miss my dad and research more about Tyler, I noticed that song had the same affect on people my age. It was devastating to see, young people having in depth conversations over social media about how this song made them miss their dads like I was missing mine. I scrolled and scrolled on all my social media apps only to be haunted by this song over and over again.
Shortly after all that, I decided to give the album I listen. However, like I said I didn’t know anything about Tyler the Creator’s past work and I didn’t want to go in completely blind.
As it turns out, my boyfriend was the perfect person to ask.
St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Caesar):
Tyler the Creator did a SZA on this album quite a few times. His mom is the voice of reason, truth and love throughout this album. I am the kind of person who is not bothered by it, to hear someone’s speaking voice at the end of a song is soothing and peaceful in my opinion. She begs Tyler not to dim his light for nobody, she won’t stand for it.
In past songs, Tyler has touched on dark and disturbing topics at least that’s what I know. His lyrics have gotten him into a bit of trouble but it’s tricky because it seems that with every album, Tyler creates a different persona and/or character to match the albums themes. When you’re listening to Chromakopia, (at least fans think) Tyler the Creator is a character named Chroma the Great from the 1961 novel “Phantom Tollbooth” by North Juster. In the classic 1961 novel, Chroma the Great is the conductor of the color orchestra, and his primary role is to conduct the sunrise and sunset. My personal opinion is that this character mirrors Tyler. Chroma the Great is in charge of the sunrise and sunset. In Chromakopia, Tyler is in charge, period for better or for worse.
"My theory: Tyler‘s character seems to be emulating 'Chroma the Great' a character in a book called, The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster," the Tyler, The Creator fan theorized about CHROMAKOPIA. "Chroma's job is to conduct the orchestra that colors every day; without him and the instruments, the world would have no color at all. And if you know, Tyler is well known for his bright saturated colors throughout his career and worlds he has created. Also, Tyler‘s character seems to give up the look of a dictator. [...] I feel as though this album will take us on the journey through the perspective of Tyler‘s new character. As someone who is influenced not only music but the style and world he’s created throughout Tyler’s whole career. It’s not the end but the beginning of a coloring book."
This is a brilliant move of his and this song is a strong introduction to Chromakopia. He even references the song after which is another move I admire from an artist.
My boyfriend and I liked this one, it was an amazing album intro song (especially with Daniel Caesar on it too) but we had greater favorites.
Rah Tah Tah:
“This goes hard” - Trevor Bagnell
This song had my head spinning, as someone who doesn’t usually listen to Tyler the Creator, I was surprised. Tyler seems to be flexing or bragging about himself in this song but my boyfriend shared with me a theory he had about this song.
Trevor’s theory was based on one particular lyric,
Me and crack don’t share daddies but we really twins
What does crack do to people? My boyfriend asked me that as we were listening. It drives people crazy and makes people addicted easily. My boyfriend stated that maybe this lyric is reflective of Tyler’s personality, the chaos and craziness that is Tyler the Creator. That’s why “[him] and crack are really twins”.
As I mentioned, Tyler the Creator has gotten himself into sticky situations (haha I have made my own album reference you will see soon) because of his lyrics. I won’t say which lyric it is in this song because maybe you’ll listen to his other albums after this article. In this song he has a lyric where he says something then shifts the tone in his voice (a tough don’t mess with me tone to a softer gentle tone) as he says “or those women”. The question is, is he now referring to women respectfully? is it sarcastic or is it not?
Little did I know, there was more to be discussed about women in this album.
Additionally, Tyler had notable “bars” on this song (this one I like the best):
If my ex is spillin tea about me dont you drink that
Noid:
Tyler the Creator is para NOID, get it.
Firstly, I have to say I like the quick transition between Rah Tah Tah and Noid. You gotta love a good transition. Noid seems almost like a part two to St. Chroma because Tyler begins rapping right away after a combination of smooth vocals.
The next part of this song is where I learned, Tyler samples “Nizakupanga Ngozi” by Zambian band Ngozi Family from their 1977 album 45,000 Volts. Roughly, the beginning of this song translates to:
When you come at my house, please be respectful. Because I don’t like talking too much. Talking too much breeds gossip.
Tyler can’t eat in peace without people watching. Tyler can’t go anywhere without people watching him. People use voice recorders to record his discussions. People find his home and watch him.
In my experience, sometimes when listening to Tyler the Creator, it is like you are watching a horror film. This is a real horrifying scenario but unfortunately is a reality for artists and celebrities. We all know it should not be but it is and Tyler had the courage to speak openly about his experience in this song.
As a result of Tyler being in charge of all production, lyrics and sound on this album, he creates an eerie landscape in this album to take you to the paranoia in his mind. It was in this song that when I listen to it, in my head it is like he is finding his way through a dark forest towards any light he can find in Chromakopia despite the paranoia and pressures of fame.
This is also a great song to listen to if you like Willow Smith, take your time listening so you can hear her vocals on this song.
Darling, I (Ft. Teezo Touchdown):
The beginning of this song was hilarious with Tyler’s mom being the voice of reason yet again.
Tyler gets so easily infatuated he tells us listeners that life is short but forever is too damn long. He states clearly that monogamy is not for him while earlier it seems he’s telling someone, Darling I keep on falling in love. He’s falling in love repeatedly but not ever with the same person. He admits he’s not perfect but that’s exactly why he can’t get everything from one person. He even admits he could be at the aisle (getting married) and still be looking for more. Don’t judge he suggests because everyone is different and different people make him feel different things. He ends the song with telling any partner of his he wants the same for them. He wants whoever they are to meet people and go through different experiences with people besides him.
Additionally, nothing fulfills Tyler like music. One day he will be lonely with grammys.
Teezo Touchdown’s vocals added layers to this song, he can SING. He has an album out and he easily made this song a favorite for me.
Tyler’s mom finishes the song off by telling Tyler to always be honest and on Darling I, he definitely was. He continues his record of brutal honesty in Hey Jane.
Hey Jane:
Jane is someone Tyler knows deeply and is glad to know. Jane and Tyler’s exes want to see them in hell and both Jane and Tyler’s dad aren’t present in their lives.
Jane is also pregnant and I was shocked to hear that. It’s incredibly bold and very honest of Tyler to release a song like this right now where many people may just need to hear it.
When I mention to my boyfriend that people claim that Tyler the Creator has been disrespectful to women in his music before this album, he understands where people are coming from.
That’s the thing about Tyler the Creator. Unless you’re a hardcore fan and even then, you don’t know who he really is. You can say something in music that’s bad and crazy and not believe in it but for him, people think he’s crazy. There’s a line for sure and I don’t know what he truly believes. Maybe he’s trying to show us something through it. He’s very funny and relatable outside of all of it though.
-Trevor Bagnell
My boyfriend also told me that Hey Jane refers to a New York City based company that provides abortion services by the exact same name. So, Tyler unpacks the shock of this situation as best as he can. He struggles with great fear and hesitation but he also tells Jane he is no one to complain because Jane has to experience her entire body changing (only for the baby to have his last name fuck that he says).
Tyler continues to be completely open with Jane. They haven’t even argued as a couple yet. They don’t know if they are in love yet. He is upset he took a shortcut to forever but he tells her his mom would be excited. He tells her he’s glad they are experiencing this together. He tells he supports her either way. He writes a verse from her perspective with Jane telling him maybe they should keep the baby and that she still believes he’s a good person. She’s scared to tell anyone and everyone. Her emotions are being thrown around her like a frisbee ad she realizes her body is changing. Jane does not want to live in regret and she tells Tyler, he will never understand this from her perspective.
Jane doesn’t want to lose Tyler as a friend. She tells him she’s starting to resent him but wants to be cool with him either way which matters most.
I Killed You:
I gotta work, I gotta eat
If they see you on top of me, I gotta leave
Bitch, I killed you
Your natural state is threatening
To the point that I point at myself and self-esteem
Bitch, I killed you
Feel ashamed, so we straightened you out without a doubt
Berries and oils, your naturе was so simple
But I guess the coils and kinks bеcame an issue
Without a doubt, Tyler the Creator has killed his hair. The pressure around the naturalness and history of his hair causes Tyler to doubt his self esteem. By tackling another heavy topic in society today, Tyler creates relatability towards him and his listeners.
He acknowledges his hair is an essential crown of his but he had to kill his hair. He needs to work and to eat and he claims if people see his natural hair, he can not eat and work. As a voice in this song tells him he cuts to his hair, Tyler decides to revive his hair. In his album cover, apparently, this is the first time fans have seen his hair. His past album covers consist of him wearing hats. Tyler could never kill his hair after all.
This newfound courage of Tyler’s may have to do with Childish Gambino’s voice on the outro of this song, motivating him in this song by telling him he’s so beautiful.
Judge Judy:
If you didn’t understand already, this album touches on mature themes and has explicit language. In Judge Judy Tyler tells us about girl, a character in Chromakopia or a person he may have met in his life. Also yes, he may definitely be referencing the famous Judge Judy but he is saying he won’t judge her.
Jane and Tyler had an instant connection. She noticed him and they spent days together…doing all kinds of (sexual) things they both liked to do. As Tyler was spending more and more time with Judy, she randomly stopped talking to him. She wrote a letter telling him she had cancer and passed away. In the letter, she insists that Tyler lives as his truest self with no regrets. She thanks him for not judging her but Tyler tells us listeners that he can’t judge her because she is just like him.
Childish Gambino’s vocals can also be found in this song. While this song is kind of crazy at first listen (Trevor and I admitted that immediately at exactly the same time), sharing Judy’s advice, be your truest self with no regrets (well as long as you are not hurting anyone in the process but more so being a safe place for people in the way that Tyler was for Judy) is the kind of advice we need to hear.
Sticky (Ft. GloRilla, Lil Wayne & Sexyy Red):
You do not want it to get sticky with Tyler the Creator. He may or may not have bragged about being a homewrecker in this song but also claims he’s the jack of all trades, anyone who is higher than him must be God only. Sticky features Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and GloRilla, with Tyler and his collaborators rapping about the confidence they have. The lyrics are about standing up to anyone who doubts them, and embracing their success and uniqueness.
All of these artists have haters and those who doubt their talent and success. However, with humor “Better find a mop, it’s gettin’ sticky,” is a playful way of saying things are messy but these artists are always ready for it.
According to Genius some of the song samples Young Buck’s “Get Buck”.
This song is very Tyler -Trevor Bagnell
I wonder what a music video for this song would look like.
Take Your Mask Off (Ft. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams):
My very first thought listening to this song was that this song is a direct reference to his album cover.
Tyler has told quite a few stories within Chromakopia that my boyfriend and I paid great attention to. My boyfriend was right that sometimes you’re not sure whether Tyler the Creator is writing about himself or his character he creates for every album. I kept what Trevor said in mind as I listened to Tyler expose the “masks” people wear in their lives to hide their true selves in this song. A young man who is used to family vacations, ivy league schools and middle class money pretending to be someone he’s not. Tyler continues and tells the story of a preacher of a church hiding his queerness and a unhappy single mom. Meanwhile, Daniel Caesar sings that he and Tyler hope these people find themselves.
My boyfriend and I talked about this song for a long time. How often do people try to be something they are not? How many times do we see people adjust themselves to who society wants them to be? When have my boyfriend and I doubted ourselves and wondered if people would like limited and not real versions of ourselves? I understand why someone would not be themselves but I would not understand living that way continuously or for forever. Trevor thinks there is some hidden diss in this song, that Tyler is calling out a rapper who has a mask on currently (I won’t name names).
In the last verse of this song, Tyler mentions someone paranoid since they were 19. Does that sound familiar? Before the last verse, Tyler’s mom tells him that Tyler should not have to lie about who he really is and put on a fictional mask. He should be true to himself like how his mom told him to not dim his light for anybody. I really recommend you listen to this song and the last verse shows you a bit of who Tyler the Creator or at least, he takes his mask off for you.
Tomorrow:
This song begins with Tyler’s mom telling him she wants a grandchild from him, she needs that. Tyler can not decide if he should put his music career to a stop in order to have a family, or continue to create music. He admits he’s worried about aging and his mom aging. He reassures his mom not to worry about him and not to worry about tomorrow.
He doubts his current lifestyle, wondering if he has all he really needs. He starts to ponder on taking relationships seriously and settling down with someone which contrasts the homewrecking and how forever is too long to commit to someone earlier in Chromakopia. At the very last line, he states he has to get this pressure off him by airing out his paranoia. He’s referencing Noid by mentioning his paranoia and referencing a song coming up in this article.
Thought I Was Dead (Ft. Santigold & ScHoolboy Q):
So, apparently Tyler’s album before Chromakopia was released three years ago. This song is definitely for people who were hating him on that. I can understand Tyler’s swag or aura here I guess, he comes in strong and stands his ground.
He says he’s not hid old tweets which people do keep bringing up because they were…quite problematic. He states his chaotic persona and energy will stay with him even when his hair turns grey. Tyler even includes a woman’s voice (most likely his mom or his sister) saying Tyler this Tyler that no one knows you.
He also begs not to be found. He makes it clear he likes his space, is filled with hate and likes his farm with the lake. Santigold & ScHoolboy Q also make some bold statements (one might even be a reference to Diddy) or is a reference to some other celebrities who in general when they get rich, they act weird” as stated in the song.
Like Him (Ft. Lola Young):
Ah, here we are, my song for better or worse. Are you similar to your dad? Do you look like him?
Tyler the Creator is the spitting image of his dad as his mom tells us in the beginning of the song. It doesn’t matter though. He tells his mom he’s chasing a ghost. He doesn’t know who his father is. Is his dad a ghost?
Everything in his life worked out without his father, Tyler tells his mom in response to her saying she looks like him. He had the love he needed and would never judge his mom for whatever she has done in the situation. Tyler is everything he has ever strived to be so he does not need his dad but...as the music builds, Tyler boldly proclaims:
I don’t look like him
Does he not look like him? Or does he not want to be associated with him?
Regardless, Tyler’s mom takes responsibility and all blame leaving us to realize that, though a character is found within this album, Tyler is the truest person to focus on when you listen to this vulnerable album of his.
Tyler’s mom:
It was my fault, not yours, not his, it was my fault, I'm sorry
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
So I, I fucked up and I take ownership of that
Of my choices and decisions
And I'm sorry for that
He's a good guy
So don't hold that against him, because it was my fault
Just, you know, forgive me
Balloon (Ft. Doechii):
I think “Like bells during December, I sleigh” is a lyric I wish I was bold enough to get tattooed. After reflecting on his father, Tyler reflects on all of his success but also wonders what it’s worth. He reassures himself that his soul and spirit profits from his strong work ethic when it comes to his music and his storytelling. There is a superficialness fame but his desire and love for music triumphs over the not so great parts of the music industry.
I Hope You Find Your Way Home:
Tyler has found his way from St. Chroma, his masked character, to home. As Tyler typically does, this song gives you another round of that eerie feeling.
According to Genius, this song can be an answer song to his previous acclaimed album, Call Me If You Get Lost which to fans seems to be an album that symbolized exploration for Tyler. Tyler has quite a few songs where he’s bold and confident but this may be the one where his light shines the most. He mentions he is not gonna have a kid, it’s not time yet. It’s in this song where the message of this album is most clear. Tyler has evolved from someone proudly lost to someone wishing others find their way to stability and belonging.
Lastly, we have another message from his mom:
Real shit, I'm proud of you
I'm proud of you, bro
Like, you just never cease to amaze me, like, you just—
There's no words right now how I feel
Do your thing, just keep, keep shinin'
Conclusion:
I can only hope Tyler chooses a path that consists of vulnerability and storybuilding. Although I’m sure he’s aware of this, he makes a lasting impression on young people. With every album, Tyler takes off his mask. Young people are listening carefully and intently to that. I must admit I am interested in Tyler’s other work and will be listening to them soon. As my friend Emily puts it:
Tyler the Creator is a genius, he’s so musically gifted. It’s one thing to make music but it’s another to understand music and really create your own sound. No one makes music like him. -Emily Perez
P.S. Call this number if you want to hear from a certain Chromakopia Trucking Company
So fascinating. Firstly, I didn’t realize Willow was on Noid, so thanks for that. Also I agree, initially didn’t like Judge Judy but now it’s up there. I often click it first as I open up Spotify. I Killed You is my favourite. My boyfriend is a hardcore Tyler fanboy too, so I’ll definitely be sharing this with him.