When it comes to artful hip-hop and aesthetic eras, Tyler, The Creator is a paradigmatic pioneer if there ever was one. Not only is his musical catalog equally polarizing and fascinating but his musical trajectory has been nothing short of revelatory, visionary, and beautifully mature.
Chromakopia supplements such a catalog as a wonderful Frankensteinian monster of a project with its charcuterie board of braggadocio, mystifying melodies, and even ballads. Even with its fairly quick rollout, this project quickly garnered aesthetic acclaim and hype with its noticeably desaturated grey art cover. What was also a head-turner was how Tyler, The Creator released it on a Monday morning, citing that he wanted fans to have the whole week to truly absorb the album.
Clever and chromatic, Chromakopia cycles through hip-hop and R&B flavors while sticking to familial themes, emotional insights, and aging uncertainty offered through spoken word wisdom from Tyler, the Creator’s mother, Bonita Smith. Introducing this new era of musical majesty is the synth-heavy St. Chroma, the name project’s wonderfully enigmatic protagonist. As is customary with Tyler, The Creator intros, this one beautifully embodies a musical vision that is anything but monochrome with rhythmic whisper-rapping and angelic harmonies from Daniel Caesar.
Yet, this exuding confidence fluctuates with more paranoid and chaotically cynical tracks.
Noid reflects just that: shadowy insecurity when “things feel out of order,” and constant fear of who’s lurking nearby. Its shaky rock flavors and sampled chanting from the Ngozi Family help to create an eerie ambiance. Tracks like Rah Tah Tah and the pep rally-esque Sticky spin things to pure chaotic braggadocio with sprinkled distrust and insecurities.
Of course, Tyler, The Creator goes off course once Darling, I graces the tracklist with its Flower Boy-like elegance. Aside from being a sweetly sentimental slice of R&B, it is a flowery reflection on commitment and exploring past monogamy even when he is “ feelin’ shame build inside of me.”
Tyler, The Creator continues this insightful momentum on Hey Jane and I Killed You, arguably the most socially conscious tracks on the album. Hey Jane is soft, subdued R&B that tackles pregnancy scares and abortions. While he anxiously ruminates about not being able to raise a child, he thoughtfully considers what his partner “gotta deal with all the mental and the physical change, All the heaviest emotions, and the physical pain.”
Ultimately, he respects her choice above all else, and honestly, the feminist lens was super refreshing. I Killed You, meanwhile, is a jarring return to dark whimsy with twinkly undertones on self-identity and social commentary on Black hairstyles.
For such a thunderous album, it’s even more jarring hearing beautifully devastating ballads like Tomorrow and Like Him. Whether he’s apprehensive about aging or “chasing a ghost” of his absent father, Tyler, the Creator taps into visceral sadness that balances the more chaotic musical moments.
Like Him yearns for a father even when “everything worked out without him.” Ultimately, the gut-wrenching apology from his mother in the outro is what cements this track as one of Tyler, The Creator’s most authentic ones and a mature spin on an older track like “Answer.”
Balloon inflates the energy again as a quirky comeback to chaos. Tyler, The Creator, and Doechii bounce off each other strangely well as they rap about lofty ambition and success. Their oddball deliveries really make the track infectiously catchy and fun.
What goes up (like a balloon) must come down and synth-symphony I Hope You Find Your Way Home accomplishes this mellow return to reality. Cycling back to family and home, Tyler, The Creator reflects on his disorderly yet introspective journey throughout the album and his continued search for growth. By the end, it echoes Chromakopia and completes this perfectly chrome-plated world.
Not only does Chromakopia incredibly exceed expectations but it may signal an end to hip-hop’s dismal drought this year. In a chaotic continuum of fun musical passages and thoughtful themes, Tyler, The Creator strikes creative chords and isn’t afraid to get weird or uncomfortable. And when this album gets weird, it gets weird (cue the barking sounds in Rah Tah Tah).
Even star-studded collaborations like Childish Gambino, Daniel Caesar, Lola Young, and Doechii enhance the project’s versatility. While I wasn’t crazy about Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne’s verses on Sticky, GloRilla delivers a lively, bombastic cadence. Of course, the addition of the spoken word guidance from Bonita Smith really makes the project and emphasizes growth and connection. Tyler, The Creator’s prismatic vision feels so fulfilled on this album and it is more than deserving of its flowers.
Rating: 8.5/10
Favorite Track(s): St. Chroma, Rah Tah Tah, Darling, I, I Killed You, Like Him, Balloon, I Hope You Find Your Way Home
Least Favorite Track: Judge Judy
