8/10
“You are the light. It’s not on you, it’s in you. Don’t you ever in your motherf*cking life dim your light for nobody.”
This is just one of the many pieces of advice that Tyler, the Creator’s mother, Bonita Smith, offers him on CHROMAKOPIA, his seventh studio album that debuted at #1 on the Global Spotify Top Artist Chart.
While prior albums like IGOR and Flower Boy raised the bar from earlier releases, CHROMAKOPIA is by far his most mature release yet. Most of his albums have been centered around alter egos and fictional storylines, but this project focuses on Tyler directly, who is referred to as “T” throughout the tracklist by himself and other characters. The album shines a light on Tyler’s evolving thoughts as he grows older, with topics of fearing fatherhood, paranoia, and societal pressures come together to create an introspective album.
Opener “St. Chroma” features stunning vocals from Daniel Caesar and introduces the scope of the album perfectly. We see the most confidence from Tyler here, particularly in lines like “Give a f*ck about tradition, stop impressing the dead,” emphasizing his commitment to stay authentic.
The music video for “St. Chroma” features Tyler in a mask, highlighting the theme of unmasking seen throughout the project. On later track “Take Your Mask Off,” Tyler sums up this theme by critiquing the masks other people wear to fit in, ultimately confronting his own mask and revealing his vulnerabilities.
One of those vulnerabilities is his fear of fatherhood, which Tyler explores on “Hey Jane,” written as if a couple is exchanging letters about their unexpected pregnancy. The alternating perspectives between Jane and T help capture the fear, love, and doubt each of them uniquely experiences. Similar fears come up on “Tomorrow,” which opens with Tyler’s mom begging him for a grandchild. Tyler makes it obvious he’s afraid of leaving his music career behind to start a family, while also scared that he’s not living his life right. The melody of “Tomorrow” is especially captivating; the rhythm varies from smooth to urgent in the rap sections, adding layers of emotion to Tyler’s worries about the future.
CHROMAKOPIA becomes even more personal on track 12, “Like Him,” featuring Lola Young. Much of Tyler’s earlier music was based on his resentment toward his father for never being in his life. On “Answer” from Wolf, for example, Tyler rapped about hoping to talk to his dad but having no luck. “Like Him” is where Tyler learns that his mom was the one who was keeping his dad from him. This reveal creates a very emotional tone, bringing lots of value to vulnerability expressed on CHROMAKOPIA and making for one of the album’s best tracks.
Though the album finds Tyler opening up lyrically like never before, CHROMAKOPIA isn’t particularly innovative for his musical style. The smooth collision of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop over bright chords is nothing new from past releases. As Tyler has consistently pushed the boundaries of modern music, it’s disappointing that he was unable to add something new with this project, even if it sounds good.
While the album is entirely produced by Tyler, it hosts a variety of features, including Teezo Touchdown, Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne, and Sexyy Red. The choice of features is always intentional, as each artist can be easily recognized for their unique sound and each of those unique sounds adds to the song it’s own. I would’ve never imagined Sexxy Red on the same album as Daniel Caesar, but the contrasting styles on CHROMOKOPIA work to create a lively, never-boring project.
On CHROMAKOPIA’s lead single “Noid,” Tyler samples “Nizakupanga Ngzo” by Zambian band Ngozi Family. This is one of the few moments where Tyler deviates from his usual style, adding a rock infusion. The track successfully captures Tyler’s feelings of paranoia as he vents about his lack of privacy from fans. With a chaotic mashup of instrumentals, background vocals, and rapping, the song evokes the sense of unease he vividly describes in it. The distinctive sound on “Noid” sets a high expectation for the rest of the album, which it often meets, though never with the same intense rock sound found here.
On the final track, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home,” Tyler wraps up the album with the song’s title as a repeated mantra, reassurance, and plea, emphasizing his desire for both himself and others to live their lives being true to themselves. The song is a beautiful reflection on the growth and challenges of adulthood, tying together the overarching theme of self-discovery on the project.
What makes CHROMAKOPIA impactful is Tyler’s ability to open up about his fears and insecurities during a time when many artists face criticism for lacking authenticity. As Tyler is growing up, he’s taking us along with him, and his rawness invites listeners to reflect on their own growing up too.
