Tyler, the Creator has been a turbulent figure in the music industry since his breakout mixtape in 2009. In the fifteen years since he entered the scene, he has greatly matured and has shown staggering levels of creativity within his discography. If there is one thing that has been proven true about Tyler, it’s that he is undeniably one of the most talented and versatile artists we have seen in a long time. The immersive atmospheres he builds using unique soundscapes and skillful storytelling make for extremely memorable records. All of this and more is true with his newest release: Chromakopia.
The most notable thing about Chromakopia is the fact that Tyler, who is known for telling stories through characters in his work, does not adopt a persona on this project. This entire album is a window directly into his soul, containing some of his most personal and heart wrenching tracks to date. Each song consists of thoughtful lyrics that deconstruct him as a person, oftentimes diving so deep into his psyche that it feels like we should not be hearing them.
The album puts Tyler’s character into question, managing to be both terrifyingly real and very endearing. He puts everything about himself out into these songs, revealing many flaws most would take to their grave. In the track “Hey Jane” he draws parallels between himself and his father who abandoned him, telling a story about being put in a very similar situation to his father and having no choice but to leave the mother and unborn child. He continues the cycle he has vowed to end since the beginning of his discography. It may be the most layered and mature song he has made to date.
Even songs that seem to lack depth on a surface level such as “Rah Tah Tah” have underlying themes that tie into the rest of the album. The track mainly focuses on Tyler’s lavish lifestyle while he flaunts his possessions behind a futuristic instrumental. The song is interrupted by a sentiment that seems to haunt Tyler throughout the project: Fame has made him paranoid and terrified of losing everything he has built for himself.
Other tracks such as “Take Your Mask Off” reach a level of intensity we have never heard from Tyler, fully pulling himself apart and announcing all of his nasty behaviors while insulting himself for thinking the way he does. This song acts as a therapy session and brutal destruction of his own character that only serves to further Tyler’s desire to grow as a person.
Even if you were to ignore the lyrics, the production on the album is second to none and solidifies Tyler in a league of his own as a producer. Every instrumental is fantastic and bursting with both personality and flavor. Whether they hearken back to his earlier albums or push into new territory, every beat has me coming back for more. “Rah Tah Tah”, “Sticky”, and “Thought I Was Dead” are easily the highlights for me, but the production prowess displayed on every other song cannot be denied. His rapping ability displayed on “Hey Jane” is genuinely impressive as he manages to balance two voices and a fairly technical flow for four straight minutes without any breaks.
He puts all of himself out there for the world to see on Chromakopia, no matter how personal, which makes for a listen just as rewarding as it is demanding. It is most certainly his most mature and layered release to date. From wonderful instrumentals to insightful lyrics and great performances, this album is highly enjoyable all around.
9/10 Pomegranate seeds.
