The sound of the ocean played in the Intuit Dome as eager fans waited to listen to the yet-to-be-released album, CHROMAKOPIA. When fans heard the fadeout of a revving engine, they knew: Tyler, the Creator had just arrived. The house lights dimmed and the arena was illuminated by a glowing green stage. Fans’ screams filled the venue as they heard Tyler’s mother’s voice, “You are the light. It’s not on you, it’s in you”.
With “chromakopia” repeating almost nine times in the intro of “St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Caesar)”, Tyler, the Creator rhythmically marched onto stage. From every seat in a packed arena, fans watched the artist in his persona, Saint Chroma, start his lively performance. Fans were greeted by heavenly vocals, an energy-filled bass drop, and verses in track one that foreshadow the next thirteen. It was now the first listening of Tyler, the Creator’s most raw album; an exploration of the complexities of his life pressures using his mother’s lessons.
Transitioning to the next track, “Rah Tah Tah”, Tyler channels the energy from the previous song into a confident beat. He differentiates himself from others as a successful, self-reliant artist only surrounding himself with unwavering energy. The song’s heavy bass moves the arena as Tyler cements himself as an icon in the industry. Then, seamlessly moving into his next song “Noid”, the artist explores the paranoia he faces as he rises higher into stardom. Integrating a sample from Ngozi Family’s “Nizakupanga Ngozi”, Tyler discusses his hardships with obsessive fandom in a graduated-like version of his song “Colossus” from his 2013 album, Wolf.
The next track, “Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown)” begins with his mother’s advice for hesitation in his love life. Using catchy pop melodies, Tyler opens up about his struggles with dating and commitment, touching on music being his only fulfillment. The song slows down to another piece of advice about honesty and transparency; a foreshadowing to the next song, “Hey Jane.” In a mellow beat, fans listen to a conversation between Tyler and the character, Jane, after the conception of an unexpected pregnancy. Tyler explores the intricacies of the situation; being a supportive partner navigating through external and internal pressures alongside both of their anxieties.
In track six, “I Killed You”, Tyler switches to an observation of the culture around him accommodating to standards enforced by a white majority. The artist speaks on his identity as a Black individual being pushed to assimilate to whiteness. Through the song filled with analogies relating to Black hair, Tyler comes to an embracing of his identity. Then, he slows it down into the next song, “Judge Judy”, where fans listen to the story of Tyler’s intimacy with his late lover. In the song’s second verse, the artist calls back to “DOGTOOTH” from his 2023 deluxe album, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, with fans bursting into excitement. The song emulates Tyler’s respectful and nonjudgmental nature and serves as a symbol of gratitude for the memories of a past relationship.
Track eight enters with whistles and fills the arena with a sound inspired by southern college bands. The crowd bursts as they recognize the features packed in the song. In the energizing “Sticky (feat. Glorilla, Sexyy Red, & Lil Wayne)”, Tyler, alongside his features, responds to tight situations with assertiveness and self-confidence. The invigorating track fades into a calm and transitions into the beautiful “Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams)”. Tyler portrays his difficulty with opening up through three unfulfilled characters; a good kid who joined a gang, a gay preacher, and a suburban mother who left her dreams to start a family. He motivates these characters to live unrestrained, yet tussles with his own struggles to do so. The mask Tyler wears, both metaphorically and literally, provides him comfort while he reveals his bare self. Fading out into the next track, “Tomorrow”, the artist switches the tone and reveals his fear of aging. He describes his pressures as he interacts with others; feeling burdened by expectations brought on by a socially constructed timeline of life.
Pumping up the energy once again, Tyler expresses his undoubtable perseverance through negativity in “Thought I Was Dead (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold).” Recognizing the track from a teaser released the day before, fans all over the arena erupt in cheers. With an addictive chorus, the song embodies resiliency and persistence in the absence of self-doubt. The next track contrasts the previous with an intense and emotional instrumental. “Like Him (feat. Lola Young)” is a phenomenal track that encapsulates the aching and yearning for an absent parental figure. In this track, Tyler grapples with resentment as he confronts a life-changing confession from his mother. The artist learns about his father’s desire to be present and is overcome by feelings of longing and despondency. Then, to completely shift the tone once again, track thirteen follows with light-hearted fun. “Balloon (feat. Doechii)” is a representation of Tyler’s reconciliation with life and the release of stress. Tyler and Doechii reinforce their self-assurance with a playful beat and vibrant, contagious lyrics.
After almost fifty minutes of performing and sweating his passion out, Tyler, the Creator finally takes off his mask and reveals his face to fans. “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” is a testimonial to Tyler’s life journey; being raised by a single mother, facing setbacks as a Black person and artist, contending with adversities in dating, and coming out as the renowned artist we know today.
With innovative sounds and honest unveilings, CHROMAKOPIA emerges as yet another extraordinary piece of art. Tyler, the Creator has proven himself once again as one of the most iconic and groundbreaking pioneers of his generation.
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