Tyler, the Creator’s latest album, “Chromakopia,” is a remarkably diverse and enjoyable collection of music. This album seamlessly weaves together various elements, including hip-hop, jazz, and experimental soundscapes, setting it apart from many other releases in contemporary music. The album showcases its diversity by featuring 13 different artists, each contributing their unique musical styles and genres.
The attention to detail is evident in every song, with some songs embracing experimental techniques to highlight Tyler’s innovative approach to music production, while others adopt a more traditional format, focusing on strong melodies and memorable lines. Tyler uses layered instrumentation to set the scene and captivate his listeners, using a variety of techniques that differ from one song to the next. For instance, in the opening track, “St. Chroma,” Tyler explores themes of personal growth and artistic evolution. The song begins with a striking contrast of steady drums accompanied by a flute, which contributes a hopeful atmosphere that complements the lyrics. As the song unfolds, the tone shifts, and Tyler’s lyrics become more serious, this is marked by increasingly erratic drum patterns and the introduction of more experimental soundscapes.This not only ensures a smooth transition to the next song but also adds to the emotional depth of “St. Chroma.”
Similarly to his past albums, Tyler’s lyrics explore themes of identity, self-acceptance, and personal growth. In the song, “Like Him,” Tyler talks about how his mother points out the resemblance he has with his father. A big part of Tyler’s career is the fact that he doesn’t know his dad because he left. He’s made numerous songs about how angry and hurt he is. In “Like Him,” he references all the things he has in common with his father, according to his mother. This song is one of the saddest on the album, at the end there is a voice note from his mother talking about how his father wanted to be there for him but she wouldn’t let him. This contradicts everything Tyler has believed about his dad and the fact that he included it in his song shows how vulnerable he is with his music.
Additionally, “Chromakopia” was very collaborative and showed Tyler’s willingness to expand his music to other artist’s fan bases and genres. The variety of features complemented his unique style without overshadowing the vision of the album. The song “Sticky” has three features, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne. This song undoubtedly has the best features on the whole album, with each artist adding their own flair, which helped to enhance the song and the album as a whole.
“Chromakopia” is a diverse and wonderful addition to Tyler, the Creator’s discography. The experimental soundscapes and thought-out lyrics show his artistic vision and skill. While this album and Tyler’s music may not be for everybody, it’s still an album that can be played at any function. I give “Chromakopia” a 5/5.
