The Birth of an Icon: Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator is one of the my personal inspirations. He is one of the few examples of what a succesful multipotentiate (someone with many interests and creative pursuits, and the ability to excel in multiple fields.) looks like. Beyond his artistry, I also feel is a Self-Actualized person reaching the pinnacle of his own being. I respect him for the hard work he has put in and how he has never let fear hold him back.
In celebration of the release of his latest album"Chromakopia", I would like to share with you a analysis of his catalogue I wrote 2 years ago for a music appreciation class I took. Thanks for reading and don't forget to always shine! Also Listen to the album!!!
Originally written May 1, 2022
Throughout the history of pop culture many have come to worship and even deify celebrities, but a select few have garnered a legacy that inspires other to be great. From Michael Jordan to the late rockstar Prince, these individuals will go down in history as icons of their fields. A new icon has emerged in the music industry, and his name is Tyler Okonma also known as Tyler, the Creator. Tyler was born In Los Angeles, California raised by his mother where he spent exploring music and the arts in school as a gifted student. From a young age his mother trusted him to live on his own which played a huge part in him becoming independent and driven. His foray into music began online where he eventually created the group Odd Future, which included notable artist such as Syd, Frank Ocean, and Earl Sweatshirt. Much controversy grew around the group, but through it all Tyler the Creator remained steadfast on his goals and worked against the grain to become one of our generations most influential artist.
Going into Tyler, the Creator’s discography we see him develop as not a musician and as a person each album. One trait that remains consistent through most of his albums is his storytelling. His track Bastard shows this in its beginning at 00:18-44 with the character TC being his therapist. This track is very simple in its composition with a piano melody and synths, while other tracks have a very subtle use of percussion throughout the album. This is in extreme contrast to the normal structure of rap where percussion is normally highlighted. The lyrics in his album Bastard and Goblin are very vulgar, which you could say shows his maturity at the time being only 18. The albums also can be seen a part of an overarching story as Tyler and his therapist TC return in Goblin. A track from Goblin called “Window” at 6:22 shows Tyler’s exquisite way of visualizing with his music. You feel the emotion in his friend’s voice as he shoots them which makes the audience experience the violence thus having a potent impact on the listener.
Tyler’s transition period into more mature and dynamic music began with his fourth album Cherry Bomb. The entire album was produced by Tyler himself and unlike his previous albums doesn’t have and overarching theme which explains why the album is all over the place. The most notable song DEATHCAMP is very fast paced and lacks air to breathe making it very simple and lacking any notable song structure. In contrast tracks like Find Your Wings and my personal favorite Fucking Young/Perfect show Tyler’s skill in producing stellar music. In Fucking Young/Perfect we immediately are introduced to his growing lyricism with him singing with Charlie Wilson. The track also highlights his use of transitions starting at 2:21 bleeding into the second song Perfect at 4:05.
Tyler’s fifth album Flower Boy finishes his transition into creating more emotional driven music with his lyricism reaching new heights. His love of music composition and producing is very apparent in many of the tracks using synths and strings to highlight the brighter themes with spacing in between movements of his tracks to create very full songs. The song See you again (feat. Kali Uchis) is the most notable example of a full song with layered transitions and special moments. When he sings “I wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind” It is layered with an elegant melody and these twinkling bells highlighting the spark of emotions and the innocence of it all.
His following album IGOR would dive deeper into this type of production, with Tyler stating in an interview with HOT 97 “Igor is just Flower Boy double downed”. “Earfquake” one his most universally acclaimed tracks does just that diving fully into a lyrical experience. The songs chorus at 0:23 although not the strongest vocally has this texture of vulnerability to it that can only be done by his vocals. The song is layered superbly with supporting chorus vocals at 2:06, adding to the value of his emotions as pleads “Don’t leave.” The album is also very focused in comparison to Flower Boy as the theme of his unrequited love develops throughout the album. His final track on the album “Are we still friends?” samples Al Greens “Dream”, using the emotion from that song to end his album with and intensity like no other track 4:02. It’s questionable to even say this album is rap as Tyler himself even after winning Rap Album of The Year, felt slighted as his work was something more than that category.
Tyler’s Recent Album Call Me If You Get Lost is truly a return to his roots of hardcore rapping. This album maintains his stellar production, mixing rapping with his matured lyricism. The Song WUSYANAME samples th e90’s R&B group H-Town’s “Back Seat” using its melody to add a familiar groove to the track. At 0:27 the background itself is almost overpowering as Tyler’s volume fluctuates in comparison to the background vocals and booming melody. The track Wilshire in comparison to his development over the years is compositional very simple with it being an a 8 minute long loop, with his rapping being the soul of the track. At 5:56 you can hear him rapping about his feelings towards his friend’s girlfriend, as it continues it highlight not only his rapping skills but his emotions in a way he hasn’t done before.
The reason I chose to discuss Tyler the Creator is because I am inspired by his willingness to create even if he is seen as an outcast. He makes music for himself to express who he is, and I truly can relate to that type of expression. Being raised in a single parent household and being gifted I truly understand that sense of being misunderstood and growing to be more unique and independent because of it. He recently stated on his tour:
“When I say Call Me If You Get Lost, I don’t mean when you don’t know what to do. I mean when you call me, I want you to be telling me the shit that you on, the shit that you doing, you out in the world getting lost doing your shit.”
I resonated with these words as I agree that talking about our problems will never solve them but getting lost in our goals can. Other than me relating to his music and philosophy on life I appreciate his versatility as a creator. He has created shows, music videos, and even has in own clothing brand called “GOLF”. His success shows me that we all have a choice in where we want to be in life and that we don’t have to box our desires away to be successful. I know he may not be your icon but to me he is and always will be mine.
Sources
Blanchet, Brenton. “Tyler, the Creator Discusses Meaning of 'Call Me If You Get Lost' Title, Releases Album Vinyl.” Complex, Complex, 6 Apr. 2022, https://www.complex.com/music/tyler-the-creator-call-me-if-you-get-lost-title-meaning#:~:text=%E2%80%94%20SHAD%C3%98%20(%40____shado)%20April,getting%20lost%20doing%20your%20shit.
“Tyler, the Creator.” TeachRock, 4 Sept. 2020,
https://teachrock.org/traceitback/tyler-the-creator/.
HOT 97 interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn4kg3cMcfk&t=1279s
