Tyler the Creator has always been an enigma with honesty. His 2017’ album “Flower Boy” saw him transition from his previous edgelord persona to a jazzy introspection of his true feelings and growing away from his musical group, Odd Future. Meanwhile, 2021’s “Call Me If You Get Lost” turned to a braggadocious side of him, with more rugged production. His latest and eighth album, “Chromakopia”, returns to his honest side, with so much storytelling and diving into his thoughts that you feel like you’re in his brain.
A large majority of the storytelling tracks on the album involve Tyler’s experience with his childhood and relationships. “Hey Jane” compares the two perspectives of Tyler and his partner when she finds out she’s pregnant, exploring their panic of the situation, and their struggles of coming to a decision on what to do about the pregnancy. On the contrary, “Like Him” sees Tyler reflecting on the lack of his own father in his youth, and how he and his mother grew accustomed to life without him. Tyler’s mother also ends up taking the blame for his father’s absence, tying into another theme of distrust on the album, also seen heavily on “Noid”.
The album isn’t all somber though, there’s still some glimpses of his previous styles on here. “Sticky” is similar to “Call Me If You Get Lost”, featuring a great percussion heavy posse cut of Tyler, Glorilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, going back to the boastful style and great one liners. “Thought I Was Dead” is a great jumble of sounds that all seem placed together so well, with great delivery between ScHoolboy Q and Tyler.
Where I believe the best of the album lies though, is in the mix of soul and hip-hop. “Darling, I” blends the melodies of Tyler and Teezo Touchdown so well, with great production, and great lyricism: “Nobody can fulfill me like [music] does, So I’ll be lonely with these Grammys when it’s all said and done”. Another track that does this so well is “Take Your Mask Off”, with just such great instrumental blends that it’s completely understandable as to why Tyler loves to flaunt his self produced albums.
While the album does have a couple parts that drag (mainly “I Killed You” and “Tomorrow”), Chromakopia easily meets the high standards that are set for Tyler albums. Even though he gives up his honesty for a few moments throughout the album “Jack of all trades… who ahead of me? Must be God instead of me,” he’s proved enough to where it can be seen where he’s coming from.
