After three years, Tyler the Creator has once again risen to the No. 1 spot in the charts with his new album “CHROMAKOPIA”, released on Oct. 28. It being his eighth studio album, he continues to explore and push boundaries with his sound, creating a collection of fourteen songs in the realm of hip-hop, R&B and jazz. In a review on the Grammy’s website, Shawn Setaro wrote “This is his album from beginning to the end his lyrical themes and obsessions, his harmonic sensibility, his often daring arrangement choices.”
“CHROMAKOPIA” introduces a character named St. Chroma, a figure representing Tyler the Creator’s ongoing inner journey. He takes listeners through both proud and confessional lyrics that depict his wrestle with fame, personal history and the nuances of artistic growth. While listening to the album chronologically, the songs flow from one to the next, turning the album into an experience rather than a collection of tracks. With introspective storytelling, Tyler the Creator can reflect on his upbringing and perspective toward his absent father. These themes exhibit a new tone of maturity towards difficult topics. Along with that, he tackles broader subjects of race, identity and beauty standards, resonating deeply with a large audience.
Assisting in creating a vibrant, immersive experience for listeners, different artists including Daniel Caesar, Lola Young, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne and others collaborated on this album. Each artist helps to individualize the songs and bring a distinctive tone with their features on the tracks. The opening song of the album “St. Chroma” includes Daniel Caesar’s soulful and smooth voice to enunciate the mood of personal ruminations. Lil Wayne, Glorilla and Sexyy Red come together in the song “Sticky” combining their skills in rap with Tyler the Creator’s one-of-a-kind production style.
Critics have noted that “CHROMAKOPIA” is less cohesive in structure than Tyler the Creator’s previous works, such as “Flower Boy,” “Igor” and “Call Me If You Get Lost.” However, this unpredictable nature can be seen as part of its charm. The album has received high praise for its ability to world-build, painting a picture for listeners. The creativity in the sounds allows for a unique experience that many fans find to be Tyler the Creator’s distinguishing quality. His unapologetic approach to his pacing, structuring and sounds, while upsetting some reviewers, acts as a reflection of his creative flourish. His ongoing evolution is highly present in this album and is likely to continue in the next as he continues to impress both admirers and reviewers.
Macy Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]