By Gabby Bonds
Elm Staff Writer
On Monday, Oct. 28, Tyler, the Creator released his eighth studio album titled “Chromakopia.” Anxiously awaited by fans, the album features 14 songs and lasts around 53 minutes.
Rather than releasing his album on a Friday, as has been traditional in the music industry since 2015, “Chromakopia” was released on a Monday morning at 6 a.m. The timing was a strategic decision that he made to encourage fans to actively listen to the album in its entirety.
“If you put it out during that week, that commute to work or to school, you really have the hour to really dive in” Tyler, the Creator said in an interview with Nardwuar last year.
According to Microsoft Network, “Chromakopia” opened with 212.55 million streams and debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart just four days after the album’s release, making it Tyler the Creator’s best album streaming-wise.
Aside from the statistical success of the album, “Chromakopia” tells a moving story of the role that Tyler, the Creator’s parents have had in his life, as well as how they have influenced his outlook on relationships and having children of his own.
The artist got fans theorizing about the album 12 days before its release when he posted an Instagram teaser trailer for the first track, “St. Chroma.”
According to Distractify, “many suspect that Tyler is making reference to Chroma the Great, a character from ‘The Phantom Tollbooth,’ a widely popular children’s book by Norton Juster.”
In “The Phantom Tollbooth,” Chroma the Great is an orchestra conductor whose music brings color to the world, a sentiment that is reflected in both the “St. Chroma” video and Tyler’s overall work.
In traditional Tyler, the Creator style, “Chromakopia” features sometimes smooth, sometimes sharp but always fascinating transitions between songs. This aspect makes listening to the album in full and hearing these transitions all the more rewarding.
Standout storytelling songs from the album include “Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown),” “Hey Jane,” “Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne),” and “Like Him (feat. Lola Young).”
“Darling, I” has a catchy melody and chorus, reminiscent of previous Tyler, the Creator pop hits such as “See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)” or “EARFQUAKE.” Despite the fun tune, the lyrics describe Tyler’s reluctance to commit to a relationship, a likely consequence of his own father’s absence in his life.
“Hey Jane” features Tyler, the Creator rapping from both his and “Jane”’s perspectives after learning that she is pregnant with his child. Although both panicked and unsure of how to feel or what to do, Tyler, the Creator describes his support for Jane “either way.” Both characters admit, “If it was bound to happen to me, I’m lucky it’s you.”
“Sticky” is an exciting roller coaster of a song that gradually builds in intensity. Although each feature leaves their distinct mark on the track, their combined efforts make this invigorating to listen to.
“Like Him” is a slow, mournful song describing Tyler, the Creator’s lack of and longing for a relationship with his father. He repeats “Mama, I’m chasing a ghost, I don’t know who he is” and “Do I look like him?” in a pleading tone.
The songs also feature excerpts of Tyler, the Creator’s mother speaking in which she describes various lessons or stories to him.
However, the biggest twist in the album’s story comes at the end of “Like Him,” when Tyler, the Creator’s mother confesses that his father always wanted a relationship with him and that it was her who prevented this from happening. The narrative differs from everything that Tyler, the Creator has written and rapped thus far and came as an immense shock to fans, undoubtedly even more so to him.
The vivid story that Tyler, the Creator paints through “Chromakopia,” as well as the twist described at the end, makes this album worth listening to in full at least once.
“Thank you to everyone who has listened, skimmed through, put it on repeat, turned off, loved it, hated it, grew on, grown off, related to, was foreign to, anything,” Tyler, the Creator said in an Instagram story on Nov 7.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Tyler, the Creator broke records with his new album, which explores his relationship with
his parents.