American rapper and record producer Tyler Gregory Okonma, or stage name Tyler, The Creator’s hip-hop and seventh studio album, “CHROMAKOPIA” was released on Oct. 28.
Throughout the album, Tyler, The Creator touches upon his personal issues of overwhelming paranoia and intense struggles he dealt with as a kid. Compared to its emotional predecessor, “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” (2021), I felt “CHROMAKOPIA” took a more introspective and solemn approach to Tyler, The Creator’s storytelling. With 14 tracks that combine the different eras of the rapper’s life, “CHROMAKOPIA” features artists such as Daniel Caesar, Doechii, GloRilla, Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and many others.
Through lyrics like “gravity defying, ‘gainst the elements,” the sixth track, “I Killed You” perfectly captures the difficulties of combating those who look down on you to reclaim a sense of self. Meanwhile, Tyler, The Creator raps relentlessly to the constantly shifting beat from a push-and-pull rhythm to the heavy sounds of bongo drums and horns. Another song that stood out to me was the 11th track, “Thought I Was Dead (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Stanigold).” I particularly enjoyed how Tyler, The Creator’s raw and unfiltered rap style complemented a humorous marching band rhythm. The line “[they] runnin’ they mouth, keep it airtight” further reflects Tyler, The Creator’s rebellious nature, a trait everyone can resonate with.
However, not every track shared the same unrelenting force and brooding atmosphere as “I Killed You” and “Thought I Was Dead.” The fourth track, “Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown),” seemed to be the only hopeful break on the album. Lyrics such as “I love this girl though, I hit the gold mine” and “I’m only human, if it ain’t work, things change” felt playful but reflected Tyler, The Creator slowly falling back into the appeal of love. The addition of Teezo Touchdown in the chorus repeating the words “Keep falling,” also helped to produce a vulnerable and soothing tone.
Overall, I would rate “CHROMAKOPIA” a solid nine out of 10. The only minor issue I had with the album was the challenge of fully absorbing some of Tyler, The Creator’s personal messages and little stories. Otherwise, I enjoyed the album’s directness in addressing vulnerable topics of long-term commitments and the pressure of conforming to Western culture. Whether you are a devoted Tyler, The Creator fan, or someone who just listens to several genres of music, this album will definitely wake you up and energize you.
