Tyler, the Creator has remained a prominent figure in the rap industry since 2011. He has garnered widespread recognition for his alternative and pioneering style of music. His latest release, “CHROMAKOPIA,” has marked a continuation in his prolific and successful career as a hip-hop icon.
“Tyler’s lyrics radiate a unique aura,” senior Jashlene Layug said. “The way Tyler incorporates meaningful experiences and his personality into each album to ensure his music isn’t ‘static’ is what makes him unique to me.”
As an artist, Tyler, the Creator is noted for his long-lasting career in the music industry. He started writing and producing music professionally in 2007, when he formed the hip hop group Odd Future. This group featured other prominent artists, including R&B star Frank Ocean and fellow rapper Earl Sweatshirt. Throughout his career, Tyler, the Creator was also known for his bold and eclectic fashion choices. In 2011, he founded Golf Wang, his own fashion label influenced by streetwear and skater culture. A year later, he would also found Camp Flog Gnaw, an annual music festival that has hosted numerous noteworthy headliners such as rappers Drake, A$AP Rocky and Lil Wayne.
However, Tyler’s path to mainstream success was primarily through his solo music career. His 2009 debut mixtape earned him a record deal, eventually leading to the release of “Goblin,” Tyler, the Creator’s first full-length release. His earlier releases of music, though widely acclaimed by various critics, were often noted as particularly crude and offensive. His seemingly transphobic and misogynistic lyrical content compelled Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May to ban him from performing in the country. Nonetheless, his witty and sarcastic demeanor, even regarding sensitive or taboo topics, attracted a cult following.
In subsequent releases, Tyler, the Creator began to distance himself from the harsher content of his older music. However, he maintained a particularly distinctive characteristic of his career: his use of alter-egos. Though Tyler’s persona often comes across as unserious in his own music, he uses fictional alter egos in his albums to represent his deeper emotions. As if to mask his genuine self, he would often use these characters to talk about his personal struggles. For instance, in his 2019 album “IGOR,” the titular character represents Tyler’s darker and angrier inner emotions as he attempts to handle heartbreak. His use of these alter egos in his albums has made fans admire his introspection, contributing to his artistry.
“Tyler’s many different albums show a willingness to do something different from its predecessor, showing how he’s able to constantly evolve his music into something unique, each and every time,” senior Joseph James said.
This October, Tyler, the Creator began his rapid rollout of his new album “CHROMAKOPIA.” The album was released only 11 days after being announced. The album was a near-instant success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 charts. Many fans of the artist, including those in New Hyde Park, were highly anticipating the album.
“I love ‘CHROMAKOPIA,’” James said. “It’s the first album I’ve waited for since I started listening to Tyler. I played the released singles on repeat until the album came out.”
Tyler, the Creator’s new album also employs an alter ego to represent an aspect of the artist’s personality. Going by the name of St. Chroma, the masked character represents Tyler’s inauthenticity and braggadocious nature, which often masks his true emotions. The album is particularly introspective, discussing Tyler’s newfound paranoia as he gains popularity as well as his complex relationship with his own father. Yet, the arrogant nature of many of the tracks acts as a “mask” to his more raw sentiments. This duality in the album speaks to Tyler’s distinctiveness as an artist.
The release of “CHROMAKOPIA” has displayed Tyler, the Creator’s avant-garde yet highly distinctive nature as an artist. Many NHP students have expressed their appreciation for the newly-released album.
“I really enjoyed listening to Tyler’s new album,” senior Frances Lin said. “My favorite song was ‘Darling, I’ because of the song’s catchy instrumentals in the background.”
