Chromakopia
Stand-Out Tracks
Rah Tah Tah
Hey Jane
I Killed You
Sticky
Take Your Mask Off
I Hope You Find Your Way Home
A couple of months ago, I was explaining to my boyfriend that I am not a fan of Tyler the Creator. We were in the car, he was driving and I had probably taken over the music. Dogtooth was in our current rotation and it was probably what sprung the topic. “I like some of the Tyler songs, but I wouldn't call myself a fan”. We had listened to Call Me If You Get Lost and it's deluxe The Estate Sale, together from top to bottom. I could never find myself relating to a full Tyler Body of work. I beat the brakes off Earfquake and Who Dat Boy, but Tyler has never been one of my go-to's.
This album, however, is for the late twenty or early thirty-somethings. With themes of home-building being a constant lyrical motif. Whether he's talking about locking the doors and protecting his coveted assets or ruminating if he's ready to have children. This provides the perfect stage for me, someone only a little younger than Tyler and who couldn't get into him before, to relate to him. Tyler is using his insecurity about what he should be doing versus how he is doing as the vehicle for this album’s message.
Hey Jane, brings about a tone shift from the first half of the album. The first few songs feel like you can only go up. Hey, Jane pulls up and slows things down, reminding you and Tyler as the narrator that things are happening outside of you and it's time to come back down to earth.
Judge Judy, brings about a tongue-in-cheek, “corniness” that Tyler pulls off in a way that I haven't identified with since Roses by Outkast. This “corniness” serves to play into how Tyler and those who identify with his lyrics aren't there yet, maturity-wise despite adult themes. We're all just out here d*ckin around.
Another perfect swag track to add to his repertoire is Sticky. Tyler fully embraces the “bitch track” (a la RuPaul) by declaring I'm that n*gga and that b*tch. He also does that by putting some of the hottest women in rap on the song. I damn near jumped out of my skin when I heard GloRilla. Sexyy Red, not so much. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by her. She was used to her strength, as a seasoning and not a main ingredient. Both GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s verses were tight and didn't overstay their welcome. No notes. Then Lil’ Wayne comes in and I'm jumping for joy. The 12-year-old in me that grew up with the Carter 3 is appeased. Sticky is a new favorite!
The narration over certain songs and transitions kind of reminds me of a mother or older sibling. Doling out sometimes misguided advice. The voice being peppered throughout the album is almost like a voice in the listener's head. The voice prescribes their virtues but also says how proud they are and how much they love you.
Balloon Ft Doechii is another great collab track and plays to the vibe both artists are on right now. The song embraces the queer and dance elements that Doechii has been utilizing for Alligator Bites Never Heal while seamlessly fitting into Chromakopia.
Balloon flows into the album's final track: I Hope You Find Your Way Home which serves as the cathartic roll credits on the album and perhaps the Call Me If You Get Lost era also. The song ends with the barking that Tyler has been adding to his songs as of late. As well as by calling out the album title Chromakopia, the same way as the album's first track St. Chroma. This perhaps is ushering us toward whatever Tyler has in store for the future.
I'm sad I didn't get the Doja Cat collab that Coachella had me convinced would materialize and the album was desperately needed (if only because the eras are so similar and it would make me happy). I think I'll be looking forward to whatever Tyler may do next. Maybe I am a fan.
Related Energy
1. Verbatim- Mother Mother
2. URRRGE!!!!!!!!!- Doja Cat ft. A$AP Rocky
3. Behold a Lady- Outkast
4. Sever the Blight- Hemlocke Springs











