Tyler, The Creator has done it again. With the release of his 8th studio album, Chromakopia, Tyler has shocked the world again and has gone number 1 on the hot Billboard 200. It was released on October 28th, 2024, and has been everywhere ever since. The album contains 14 songs with multiple features varying from GloRilla, Daniel Caeser, Lola Young, and Schoolboy Q. Its lead feature “Noid” is the start. “St. Chroma,” featuring Daniel Caeser went number 7 on the charts. The album was originally about when Tyler grew up in Hawthorn, California but turned into things he was told as a kid by his mother.
The album starts with “St. Chroma” and we hear Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, talk in the end. Smith describes him as the light and never lets anyone dim it. We continue to hear Smith throughout the album but the song “Like Him” feat. Lola Smith is what has everyone shocked. In the past, Tyler has told people he’s never really known his dad. He assumed his father didn’t want to be a part of his life and gives him some credit because he believes if his father had been a part of his life we may not know who Tyler is. In the song, we hear Smith again, and this time we find out that Tyler’s father wanted to be a part of his life but Smith refused him. Blaming her actions on being young and to be forgiven along with not blaming his father. This song has had TikTok in an uproar but so has the popular song “Sticky”.
“Sticky” is the 8th song on the album going number 10 on Billboard Hot 100. It features GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne with Solange Knowles being background vocals. The song samples “Get Up Offa That Thing” by James Brown and “Get Buck” by Young Buck. The song has been all over my TikTok feed and instantly puts me in a good mood. There have been 3 popular dances made from this song. One dance is over GloRilla’s verse, the second is after Sexxy Red’s, and the most popular is over the iconic trumpet verse which has 2 different versions. The song is an instant hit among listeners, especially the trumpet verse. Everyone has talked about how high school and college bands should perform the song during pep rallies and games. People are most psyched for when HBCUs perform the song and what they will present.
My favorite on the album is “Rah Tah Tah” with the hyped beat to the lyrics. The song is heavily influenced by Southern and West Coast hip hop. Tyler talks about the pressure of fame and his paranoia. He mentions Zendaya, Lionel Boyce, and Usher. In the first verse, Tyler says that Zendaya is his favorite and that someone can have her hit him up. He mentions Usher by referencing Usher’s song “U Don’t Have To Call” and saying he’s him on a Tuesday. Tyler then mentions his good friend and fellow Odd Future member Lionel Boyce’s turn to acting in the FX show “The Bear” (great show by the way). The song is playful and so unserious. My favorite line is “Hey T, why you actin’ hard? I’m like “Baby, please I ain’t tough, I just thumbs up, like I’m scrollin’ feed.”.” It’s my favorite not because it’s unserious but, also relatable.
When interviewed Brenna Gaines (12th) said that she loves the album. “I think it is very creative and tells so many stories despite some of the songs being silly or upbeat.” Gaines said, “They have a lot of super deep meanings and it’s so cool to understand them.”
Gaines said her favorite songs are “Like Him” or “Thought I Was Dead.”.
Overall, the album is great. It takes a few listens to understand it but, once you do, the album becomes a deep-meaning, emotional, and fun album. My rating is 9/10, and I highly advise everyone to give it a listen.
