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CHROMOKOPIA is an album by Tyler, The Creator dropped on October, 28th of 2024, and placed No. 1 on Billboard only two weeks after release! The first album Tyler has released, since Call Me If You Get Lost in 2021, has features like Daniel Caesar, Glorilla, Lil Wayne and more. On this well-awaited track, Tyler speaks about his devouring paranoia, family history, and romance. This album has a little bit of everything for everybody- but is it worth the listen?
St. Chroma ・ featuring Daniel Caesar, the song begins with a hopeful feel and then descends into an inaudible whispering with a rhythmic stomp. Then, the chorus begins with a hopeful uplifting type of feel. Tyler then throws the song into an upbeat rhythm that’ll make you want to jump! This song gives me a very church choir feel with the chorus, then a hype beat while Tyler raps. This song is almost like a peak into Cherry Bomb without the storyline. I definitely would recommend it if you're into upbeat rap. I’d rate this an 9/10!
Rah Tah Tah ・ This song is most definitely a more upbeat song, with barking as ad libs. This song has a typical rapper vibe with lines like “Crib so damn big I need a diaper and a sippy cup” and “Twenty thousand on me”. I personally don’t mind the rapper esc vibe, and it’s different from the Tyler I usually listen to so I can appreciate it. This isn’t my favorite on this album, but I would recommend it to people who are into drill and rap. At the end of Rah Tah Tah, Tyler mentions the next track.. 7.5/10
Noid ・ begins with a very different kind of entrance than I’ve heard from Tyler. He gets into his feelings of paranoia, and how he doesn’t feel at peace. In the chorus, Tyler samples Paul Ngozi, a musician from Zambia. Ngozi says “Pobwela panyumba panga, uyenela ku nkala ndi ulemu Chifukwa, ine sinifuna vokamba, kamba Vokamba kamba vileta pa mulomo (Wotangozi, wotangozi)” Which, translates “When you come at my house, please be respectful. Because I don’t like talking too much. Talking too much breeds gossip”. I feel this was very fitting to the beat and the song in general. Then he continues talking about how he cannot trust anybody, how he feels watched, how he has no privacy and wants simply to be left alone. I really like this song, it shows us a view of fame and the truth of the inside. I also like the Nyanja, it adds a tribal feel and fits wonderfully. I’d recommend this to anybody who likes the upbeat style and tribal atmosphere. This song gets a 9/10.
Darling, I ・ is placed number 1 on the rating by Billboard, which is very reasonable. This song really gives us a piece of 2017 Tyler and Flower Boy. It begins with a piece of advice, and Tyler then contradicts. Tyler states his view on love, and how he cannot just stay with one person because he wants to experience all kinds of love. This song really reminds me of SWEET/ITHOUGHTYOUWANTEDTODANCE which is a song I really like, and if you like that song too I’d heavily recommend Darling, I. I’d rate this song a 9/10.
Hey Jane ・ which is in the form of a letter and begins with hinting on the whole piece. This song discusses an unplanned pregnancy, which, who seems, to be Jane. Tyler really goes in on the reality of beginning a family with a woman who Tyler hasn’t really gotten to know. Then, it goes into Jane’s perspective, which was an amazing move on Tyler’s behalf. After really getting to know this piece, it truly gives me goosebumps. Besides the song’s storyline, it doesn't really have much to offer. It does have a great story about the realities of how it feels to be in this situation. Otherwise, I do not believe that this great story is executed into this song well. Considering that, this song gets a 7/10.
I Killed You ・ This next song is actually about hair. I Killed You highlights the relationship of Black people and their hair. “[Black people] navigating a world that often frowns upon natural styles. This pressure leads many to “kill it” by cutting it all off, capturing the struggle between self-identity and societal expectations.“ (GENIUS) It begins with a childish kind of beat, which reminds me of The Wheels on the Bus. That beat ends shortly after and is replaced with this interesting percussion style beat. This song is definitely not my favorite- I liked the lyrics and the story but again I do not think it was executed well. 7/10
Judge Judy・which features a reference from Dogtooth. At first sight, you might be assuming Judge Judy may be referring to the show- but in depth not at all! Tyler uses Judge Judy as a play on words to reference not judging and learning to accept his partner and her lifestyle. I really like the calm beat and Flower Boy-like style. I’d give this song a 9.5, for the storyline and the overall vibe.
Sticky ・ At first listen it’s quite the surprise with the features. I’m not sure if there’s much of a storyline here, but it is often compared to kids at a lunch table making a beat. I was shocked hearing Sexyy Redd’s adlib about midway through shortly after Glorillas verse. About ⅔ in, there’s this trombone sounding tune with the lyrics. It reminds me of the school band- which I’d love to hear from the Titans band. I personally really liked this song and the school band-like feel- although I did not particularly like the features, besides Lil’ Wayne’s. It’s like 6ix9ine in Swervin’ by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. I’d give this song a 8.5/10.
Take Your Mask Off ・ This song features Daniel Caesar and LaToiya Williams. This song centers the façade of people and their lifestyles and how people “have a mask on”. Tyler says “I hope you find yourself, I hope you take your mask off” referencing the hope that people will find themselves and not pretend. “You ain’t a thug, you was in drama club, you’s a actor.” This song encourages you to be yourself, executed perfectly! I really like this song, in the music front and the overall message. 9.5/10
Tomorrow ・ This song is about Tyler, The Creator’s mother wants a child from Tyler and how he is getting old. Tyler talks about his stress, and not to worry about the future but to worry about tomorrow. He uses a sad, depressive tone until about halfway through the song where he switches up his tone. I feel like this song is forgotten as a piece of CHROMOKOPIA, but I do feel as if it is necessary to the transition and flow of the album. I like this song for those reasons. 9/10
Thought I Was Dead ・ featuring ScHoolboy Q, and Santigold. I am inferring the meaning of the song is about his career and how people thought his career was over but now he’s on Billboard for this album! I mean it’s okay, it’s definitely underrated but it does not place higher than Tomorrow for example. 8/10.
Like Him ・ featuring Lola Young, this song is about Tyler’s father and starts off with Tyler’s mom comparing Tyler to his father and how Tyler looks like him. In fit B This song is regularly compared to Answer by Tyler, The Creator released in 2013 which shows his feelings towards his father during that time. The great difference between “But sucks you ain't give a **** and consider a sperm donor now” in 2013 and “It was my fault. Not him, 'cause he always wanted to be there for you” in 2024. This revolutionary change in this relationship was a great addition to this album. Not only does it have unpredictable themes of grief and loss, but also great vocals and a catchy tune. All in all, this song is a great song and I completely recommend it to anybody interested in Tyler's art. 10/10
Balloon • This song starts off with a childish-like tune, almost like one you’d hear as a ringtone. I honestly really did not like it. The artist featured is Doechii, and her verse was awful. It almost reminds me of Aliyah’s Interlude. The verses in between the beginning and the feature weren't too bad. The placement was terrible as well- in between two meaningful songs, with emotion. That, the beginning and the feature ruin it for me altogether. 2/10
I Hope You Find Your Way Home • This song absolutely topped this album off. This song, like Take Your Mask Off teaches us to be ourselves. To find our way home is a metaphor to find ourselves and our truth. Not only that, it references many songs in the album, with verse like “Almost had a mini me, I wasn't ready
And she wanted it with me, I'm talkin' heavy” which can reference Hey Jane and Tomorrow. I love this addition, the placement of the song is perfect, the moral is great, but the music part itself isn’t all that great. Overall, this song gets a 8/10.
Overall, Chromokopia is a great album and I would definitely recommend it to anyone, especially if you want to get into Tyler I’d recommend Darling I or Take Your Mask Off depending on the person.
Other listeners have said:
“Honestly, pretty fire I'm not going to lie to you, it would be better if Frank Ocean was on it, but besides that it's pretty good and my favorite song has to be either Like Him, Thought I Was Dead or Judge Judy. It's a pretty chill playlist when you're on a car ride, nothing too crazy nothing, too quiet, but it's pretty good. I give it an 8.”
“Chromokopia was fire because Daniel Caesar was on the album. 10/10”
“I think Chromokopia is album of the year. I liked majority of the songs on the album. I liked some of the more emotional songs, and I liked it because it was different from some of his previous albums. Overall, a 9/10”
“I rate it an 8 because I like it :) “
