With its extremely short notice, Monday-morning drop time and rumors of Frank Ocean features, Tyler, the Creator and his highly anticipated newest album “Chromakopia” have made waves in the 2024 music scene.
“Chromakopia,” Tyler’s eighth studio album, showcases the musical skill that he has picked up throughout his time in the industry, as well as his growing maturity as he navigates his early thirties.
The album combines elements of all of Tyler’s past albums, from “Bastard” to “Igor” to “Call Me if You Get Lost.” Tracks like “Judge Judy” feature the dreamy synths and contemplative lyrics that decorated tracks in his fifth and sixth albums, “Flower Boy” and “Igor.”
In contrast to these ruminative songs, tracks like “Rah Tah Tah” act as victory laps that call back to the confident style of “Call Me if You Get Lost,” and tracks like “Noid” have compositions similar to the eclectic and brooding nature of “Wolf” and “Cherry Bomb.”
“Chromakopia” seems to have a large focus on growing up, a topic that is intriguing to pair with Tyler’s often playfully immature and joking personality. Many tracks mention topics such as having kids, settling down, and aging, to which he displays varying opinions.
“Like Him” is a particularly riveting track, as it revisits Tyler’s experience with his absent father through older eyes, almost in direct response to “Answer” from his album “Wolf.”
Overall, “Chromakopia” is a beautifully introspective yet fun album that presents itself as a culmination of Tyler’s entire music career. It’s definitely worth a listen.