Tyler, the Creator Enters His Most Personal Era With “CHROMAKOPIA”

After three years of anticipation from fans, Tyler, the Creator has finally released his eighth studio album, “CHROMAKOPIA,” and with it comes an entirely new era.

With the release of his new album, Tyler, the Creator is back on the music scene. Photo by vagueonthehow via Flickr.

Tyler, the Creator has been labeled many things throughout his illustrious career as a musician. One of the most apropos traits of the multifaceted artist is his creativity.

Tyler emerged from a three-year-long album hiatus with an entirely new era, dropping a video on his YouTube channel titled “St. Chroma,” a minute-and-a-half long video that shows Tyler in a mask of his own face, followed by multiple men in similar masks, whom he leads into a container that he ultimately blows up by the end.   

Tyler’s always had an eye for cinematography and has said in the past that he wants to get into film; the video for “St. Chroma” fully displayed this, not only being an exciting look into his upcoming album, but also being a platform to show off his eye for the camera.

Judging from the video, it was clear that this era was going to be much darker for the artist, especially given his colorful and energetic foray into pop music aesthetics with 2019’s “IGOR,” and the laid-back and breezy sophistication of 2021’s “Call Me If You Get Lost.” 

Many of Tyler’s fans were questioning where he’d go next, both as a musician and an artist, especially for someone who puts a weighty significance into creating distinct eras for his albums.

“CHROMAKOPIA,” released on Oct. 28, is Tyler, the Creator at arguably his most personal. The album begins with “St. Chroma,” the video teaser, with loud, thumping drums and whispered vocals from Tyler, ultimately transitioning into an interesting meditation on individuality, with a wild beat drop and vocals from Daniel Caesar to boot. The song also introduces the album's central character, “Saint Chroma,” who’s featured on the cover.

“Rah Tah Tah” is something you’d hear on 2009’s “Bastard” or 2011’s “Goblin,” a total throwback to his earlier work. The track is chaos incarnate, with Tyler rapping aggressively over an eerie beat, making references to Usher, his longtime friend and collaborator Lionel Boyce and Kendrick Lamar. 

On “Noid,” the album’s only single — with a music video attached to it — Tyler is at one of his most vulnerable points, rapping about being paranoid that he’s being stalked, fans taking photos of him and the fact that he can’t be comfortable in his own home, due almost entirely to his fame.

Tyler’s trademark chords and pianos make up the backbone of this song, which also features a spoken-word verse from his mom, Bonita Smith, who tells him to be careful with who he trusts. 

“Darling, I” sounds like a B-side from “IGOR,” and it’s “CHROMAKOPIA” at its most cheerful and upbeat, with its driving, guitar-driven beat being a due reprieve from the heavy first three tracks.

Tyler reflects on his feelings about freedom, love and commitment, ultimately believing that commitment and monogamy may not be his thing, given how much he loves new experiences. Teezo Touchdown’s vocals on the hook is also a nice touch to an already fun song. Interestingly enough, the song also samples Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg’s 2004 song “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”

“Hey Jane,” much like “Wilshere” on “Call Me If You Get Lost,” is almost akin to a man in a confessional, as Tyler talks about an unexpected pregnancy from both his and his partner's perspective. The subdued and quiet approach on this song feels intentional, as Tyler takes perfect care of his word choice on this track.

“I Killed You” is another fairly stripped back and quiet track that focuses entirely on the relationship between Black people and their hair. The track features additional vocals from Childish Gambino as well.

The album’s midpoint features the song “Judge Judy,” a chill track that tells the story of a girl Tyler hung out with, who ultimately passed away from cancer. Tyler is incredibly loose with this song’s chorus, and the end of the song features production that you may hear on something like “RUNNING OUT OF TIME” or “GONE GONE/THANK YOU” off of “IGOR.”

This is a perfect segway into the boisterous banger that is “Sticky.” The track, which features surprise features from GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne, is probably the hardest song on the whole album, the beat driven totally by bleacher-stops and gang vocals, repeating “It’s getting sticky” over and over. The song takes multiple twists and turns, with the inclusion of horns, chants and sweet piano chords in the back half.

“Take Your Mask Off” is classic “modern era” Tyler, totally encapsulating the sound he’s been honing since 2017’s “Flower Boy,” as he weaves together multiple vignettes, all focusing on “taking your mask off” or revealing your true self. The track is a beautiful inclusion to an already pristine start of the second half.

On “Tomorrow,” Tyler shows off his vocal chops, as well as his rapping, over an acoustic instrumental, as he contemplates whether he should put his music career on hold to start a family. The title, “Tomorrow,” is a reference to waiting until tomorrow to figure it out.

“Thought I Was Dead,” featuring ScHoolboy Q, further solidifies Tyler’s ability to craft a banger, as he and Q act like mercenaries sent out to eliminate all of rap’s “culture vultures.”

“Like Him,” another piano-backed track, is as soulful as the songs get here, as Tyler fully analyzes his relationship with his father, who he doesn’t have a relationship with. Tyler fully shows off his abilities as both a musician and producer on this track.

“Balloon” has arguably the craziest beat on the entire album, starting with this cartoony, child-like beat that progresses into an anthemic banger featuring Doechii, who doesn’t waste a second of her verse.

The album's closing track, titled “I Hope You Find Your Way Home,” is a fitting conclusion, as Tyler raps over an airy beat, further reflecting on his thoughts about having a child — a major theme on the record.

“CHROMAKOPIA” may not be Tyler, the Creator’s most ambitious, or even distinctive album, but it’s his most personal, getting down to the nitty-gritty of his character, his ambitions, his future and both his professional and personal life.

All that we can ask from an artist is to share an important piece of themselves in everything they make, and Tyler, the Creator has done that tenfold with the “CHROMAKOPIA” era.