Album Review: CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator

Maria Navarro

Music Journalist

Tyler the Creator has just recently released his seventh studio album CHROMAKOPIA. The week prior to the release, he had teased fans with music videos on Instagram prompting anticipation. Released on October 28th CHROMAKOPIA consists of fourteen tracks that have a wide range of moods and topics. This album touches on various personal subjects such as forming a family and the stresses that come with aging, infidelity, abortion, Tyler’s absent father, and his continuing struggle with fame and heritage. When I first heard the album I didn’t really think that I would be able to get into it. It definitely took me a couple of listens to really get used to the new sounds but also as I kept listening and the more I kept paying attention to these lyrics, I realized that this would be one of Tyler’s most important and freeing albums to date.

“Noid” was the first track to be released for “CHROMAKOPIA” and it highlights the difficulties that fame brings for Tyler and the way people continuously push boundaries due to his status. This track has kind of an eerie atmosphere tied to it and deep symbolism in the lyrics when transcribed. Once the album was released I have gathered a couple of favorites, starting off with the hard hitting and action-packed tracks. “Balloon” and  “Sticky” made me want to get up and start dancing and not care about what anyone has to say about it. GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s verses on “Sticky” overshadow Lil Wayne’s verse in my opinion. The chaotic energy in the beginning of the track and how it mellows out towards the end is a beautiful transition and lets you relax after letting loose. “Balloon” became another stand out for me. This song has repeatedly picked up my mood and given me a good laugh especially with Doechii’s verse. Her lyrics crack me up but also make me appreciate Doechii’s creative lyricism and incorporating Tyler’s brand of some shock value lyrics in a fun and exaggerated way.

“Darling, I” delves into how Tyler can’t be tied down to a relationship because monogamy just isn’t for him, and he acknowledges that this is a flaw of his, but this is just who he is. Even with this flaw Tyler is still discovering what he likes and what he wants for his future. The upbeat rhythm of the track makes you forget that this song is really about cheating and makes me think about “Hey Ya!” by Outkast and the saying “Y’all don’t want to hear me , you just want to dance.” My top track from CHROMAKOPIA has to be “Hey Jane”. Ever since the first listen, this song appealed to my senses. This young love that took a turn into a more serious situation. I like Tyler’s ability to take such a sensitive topic and personal experience and turn it into storytelling art. The lyrics that portray his fear and wanting to run away from this situation but can’t do so and reflecting on how he is not in the space to raise a child is not easy to admit and especially to millions of fans.

Following the heavier themes in the album “Like Him” has to be one of the heaviest songs for Tyler to release. A complete shock to lifelong fans of Tyler and making them question how Tyler is doing after his mother admits to him that his father did in fact want to be a part of his life. Tyler is known to have deep hatred for the father that he never knew according to his 2013 track “Answer” off his sophomore album Wolf and overall building a music career off his strong feelings. Years later he now wonders if he looks like his father after hearing all the similarities he portrays. The lyrics “Mama, I’m chasing a ghost, I don’t know where he is. Mama, I’m chasing a ghost, do I look like him” sounds conflicted, confused and hurt. It’s as if Tyler’s inner child looks for guidance and reassurance in his mother. Though his mother hid this secret from him, Tyler finds it in him to say that it is okay and that he isn’t going to judge but instead is trying to understand his mother and that even without his father he was able to strive and succeed in life.

The closing track “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” feels like an exit song to a movie that is filled with chaos but at the end the character finds peace in life. Tyler’s rapping contrasts the smooth beats and his lyrics reflect the lessons he learned from his experiences. Tyler is learning more about himself as life goes on and he’ll keep on going. The backbone of this album truly is Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith. Her words and advice throughout the album set the tone for songs and gives the listener an understanding of Tyler’s upbringing and the lessons that he has learned throughout his life. This insight also lets us get to know her thoughts, feelings, and mistakes.

I want to get deeper into the growth of Tyler as a person through his music. Tyler the Creator is known to have vulgar, hateful and violent topics in his earlier albums such as Wolf (2013), This album used to define Tyler the Creator’s musical personality, but as the years went by there was a notable change in style and topics. Little by little Tyler started to get much more personal, letting his artistic ability flow, but also becoming much more peaceful than his past persona. This album is honest and a peek into Tyler the Creator’s maturity. Filled with chaos, fun, fear, sadness, happiness and more, CHROMAKOPIA is a pivotal highlight in Tyler the Creator’s career and personal life, and I can’t wait to see what other things Tyler the Creator will create and share with the world in this new path.