On October 28th, Tyler, The Creator released his eighth studio album Chromakopia. This fourteen song showcased a more vulnerable side of the artist that many aren’t used to, as he dove into the topics of paranoia from being famous, to the fears that arise from pregnancy, to his own past and issues with his father. In the words of Tyler himself:
“I’m at a different point in my life than I was when most of you met me, so to share these thoughts or feelings that I may/may not have lightly touched on before felt like such a release.”
Unlike most album releases, Chromakopia came out on a Monday morning at 5:00am CST. Even with this odd release time, Chromakopia still managed to gain over 85 million day one streams, with all fourteen songs taking over the top 14 songs on Spotify’s US Chart, making Chromakopia the biggest hip hop debut album of 2024, and in the top 20 of all time. Chromakopia also debuted number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, with 299,500 albums sold in its first week.
St. Chroma
“Can you feel the light? Inside? Can you feel that fire?”
St. Chroma was the first song on the album to be teased. The first half of the song was posted on all Tyler’s social media platforms on October 16th, and gained millions of views within the first hour. St. Chroma properly introduces Chromakopia, with Tyler looking back at his uprising and his path to success, before going further in the album and looking at what’s next in store for him.
At the time of writing, St. Chroma sits at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and is currently the highest streamed song on the album with over 74 million streams on Spotify.
Rah Tah Tah
“20 thousand on me, 100 thousand on me, 50 thousand on me, a couple thousand on me.”
Rah Tah Tah once again plays into the regular persona of Tyler that all his fans are familiar with. This more aggressive song starts with Tyler highlighting his fame and popularity, with lines such as “crib so damn big I need a diaper and a sippy cup.” Tyler also gives credit to fellow Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar, with the line “the biggest out the city after Kenny that’s a fact now.” Tyler, The Creator and Kendrick Lamar are known to have a close friendship, with Tyler appearing in the music video for “The Hillbillies” with Kendrick and Baby Keem, and also performing at Kendrick’s Pop Out Show in Los Angeles on Juneteenth 2024.
Tyler ends this song off by looking back on how he used to be “pressed on a carrot colored bus” and how that experience made him paranoid to this day, making the perfect transition into the next song on the album.
Noid
“Someone’s keeping watch, I feel them in my shadow”
Noid is the first song on Chromakopia that takes a turn from the usual vibe that Tyler gives into a more vulnerable song. Noid, released as a single a week before the release of Chromakopia, dives into the mindset of Tyler as a celebrity, and how he is paranoid of everything in his life. Tyler mentions how it’s hard for him to even buy a house due to the fear of people finding where he lives and breaking in, fear of neighbors wanting him dead, etc. Tyler also talks about the fear of getting into a relationship as a celebrity and becoming stuck in the relationship due to becoming a father. Noid reflects on a vulnerable side of Tyler that we as fans aren’t used to hearing, and starts the transition of Tyler almost using Chromakopia as a therapy session for himself and truly opening himself to his listeners.
Darling, I(ft. Teezo Touchdown)
“Darling, I keep falling in love. Forever is too long”
Darling, I continues with the anxious vibe of Noid, with Tyler reflecting on his love life and how he isn’t ready to truly settle down with one person. Tyler dives into the fact that a monogamous relationship isn’t for him, and how he wants to explore his options. Tyler believes that he gains different experiences from different people and that it’s impossible for him to continue those experiences with just a single person. Ultimately at the end, Tyler comes to peace with himself and says that if he doesn’t end up with someone forever, he’ll “be lonely with these grammys when it’s all said and done.”
Tyler, The Creator continues down this vulnerable path, sharing more of his personal thoughts with his fans, which can be easily missed due to the features and melodic beat. In fact, on first listen, many fans thought this was a love song due to the happy beat and tone of the song. Tyler sets the transition at the end of Darling, I into a slower beat, which transitions into the next song.
Hey Jane
“Hey Jane, I’m terrified, I’m petrified. I don’t wanna give my freedom up, or sanitize it.”
Hey Jane reflects on the fear and hard conversations that come from pregnancy. The song starts off with Tyler talking to a girl named Jane who just recently discovered that she was pregnant. Tyler first starts off by pointing out the good qualities of Jane and how they would pass over to their child, but then transitions into Tyler blaming himself and asking how he could be so reckless to cause this situation to happen. The first half of the song continues with this pattern, with Tyler trying his best to comfort Jane while also questioning himself and their relationship, which is a common issue that can arise in many pregnancies. Tyler ends his half of the song by reassuring Jane, saying: “look Jane, it’s your choice at the end of the day, just no I’ll support either way, no pressure.”
Hey Jane transitions into Jane’s point of view, with her talking to Tyler now. Similar to Tyler, Jane starts with pointing out the positives of Tyler and how their child would have the same characteristics as him. Jane then mentions how she wants to keep the child, with her being 35 and fearing that this may be her last time getting pregnant. Finally, Jane mentions how she would like to raise their child alone due to seeing the fear the baby is giving Tyler and how she doesn’t need that stress in her life, before she starts having her own stressful thoughts about how she doesn’t want anybody else to know and how she never wanted the pregnancy to happen in the first place. The song ends with Jane saying a similar line to Tyler’s final line, saying: “T, no matter the decision today, I just want us to be cool either way, no pressure.”
This song can be hooked back to Darling, I. Tyler reflects on the issues that can arrive from pregnancy and uses this as more of a basis on why he doesn’t want to settle down with anyone. Especially with his status right now, the stress of becoming a father and having to stop the experiences he previously mentioned would become too much for him, thus why he chooses to live a free romantic life.
I Killed You
“No finding out a couple knots was a map, we escaping them routes right on the scalp, b**** I killed you.”
I Killed You takes a step away from Tyler’s personal issues and goes into issues that African Americans face in this current day and age. To relay this message, Tyler uses examples of hair mainly seen in African culture. Tyler compares these hair styles to how African culture used to be in America, saying that the hair is being “killed” because African history in America is being erased. In lines such as: “berries and oils, your nature was so simple, but I guess the coils and kinks became an issue” showcase this idea that Tyler is witnessing African culture being criticized and erased around him. Tyler cements this idea towards the end of the song, with the line “talking bout my heritage, I would never kill you.”
Judge Judy
“I stuffed us in the phantom and wiggled through the streets. She said she never do this, but she think that I’m sweet, so I won’t judge judy.”
Judge Judy takes the transition away from Tyler venting about personal issues into a more positive mood of Tyler living his life. The song is about Tyler meeting a girl named Judy and them spending time together and discovering their sexual interests together with no judgment. This ultimately leads to the end of the song where Tyler receives a letter from Judy, in which she thanks him for the moments that they shared together. It’s revealed in the letter that Judy has actually passed away from a virus that spread to her head.
The entire song is a huge message on how you should live your life to the fullest, for life is short and can end at any moment, which is a message Tyler constantly shares with his fans. On top of that, the song is about sharing moments with someone close with no judgment on either side, for this can lead to experiences becoming better than previously imagined.
Sticky(ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne)
“Better find a mop it’s getting sticky in this b****”
Sticky once again transitions away from this vulnerable side of Tyler we’ve listened to in previous songs, and goes back to the Tyler his fans are used to listening to. With features from big artists such as GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, Sticky is about being true to yourself and standing up to anyone who tries to hate on your way of living. All four artists fit into the message of this song perfectly, with all growing up in different hoods and having to stand up for themselves their whole lives in order to reach their level of fame.
Take Your Mask Off(ft. Daniel Caesar and LaToiya Williams)
“I hope you find yourself, I hope you take your mask off”
Take Your Mask Off sees Tyler, The Creator looking back at his life and the persona he shows to others. For all of Tyler’s albums, he makes sure to create his own persona that goes with the album, such as his previous album Call Me If You Get Lost with his persona being a big artist bragging about his financial success and possessions, and his album IGOR showcasing a more nonchalant version of Tyler who mainly focuses grooving with the beat and going with the flow. For Chromakopia, Tyler’s persona is this paranoid figure with a mask on, in an attempt to hide his true self. During his album release party, Tyler explained the significance of the mask, saying: “this is the first album where everything I said is true. It’s so honest that I think I had to wear a mask of my own face to get some of that s*** out.” This song is a reflection of that, with Tyler wanting to go away from this fake persona he’s trying to play and “take the mask off”
Tomorrow
“But don’t you wait on me, I’ll be fine. Don’t you wait for me cause time got nothing right. I can’t worry bout tomorrow.”
Tomorrow takes the transition from Tyler looking back on his past to him questioning his future. Tyler looks at those around him such as his mother and his friends who have now settled down, meanwhile all he has is his fame and possessions, as shown when he says: “and all I got is photos of my rarri and some silly suits. Will I flip the switch and finally settle down? Or go the other way and keep my panties down?” With all of this though, Tyler doesn’t allow these thoughts to pressure him, for he still plans to live his life and not think too much about tomorrow.
Thought I Was Dead(ft ScHoolboy Q and Santigold)
“I’m a hypocrite, ain’t real, ain’t really. I’m a big troll ha ha I’m silly.”
Thought I Was Dead can be seen as a personal message to all of Tyler’s haters, mainly the beef he had with rapper Ian. Tyler has been open about his frustrations with Ian, calling him a “mockery to rap” and claiming that he makes fun of rap music, which he holds so dearly in his heart. Though not mentioned by name, it’s clear the lines “white boys mocking this s***, and y’all mad at me? Y’all can suck my d***” Ian was the target audience. Tyler also mentions people on social media who constantly pull up Tyler’s old lyrics: “pull up old tweets, pull up old t-shirts, all that I’ll moonwalk over that b****.” As a whole Tyler, The Creator sends to a message to haters of his that “wish he was dead” by saying he doesn’t care about their opinions and will continue to live his life as if they don’t exist.
Like Him(ft. Santigold)
“Mama I’m chasing a ghost, do I look like him?
Like Him is easily the most vulnerable song on Chromakopia. Tyler dives into his past issues with his father. Tyler’s father left his life early, which Tyler has brought up in multiple songs and interviews. However, the entire time, Tyler paints his father as a terrible person who abandoned him when he was young, but in this song he talks about chasing after his father despite not knowing him. It’s revealed in a voice memo of Tyler’s mom at the end of the song that she pushed his father out of his life, and she apologizes because he “always wanted to be a father.”
The song shows Tyler’s transition, from chasing after his father, to having a conversation with his mother about how she gave him all the love his father never did, to letting go of the thoughts of his father together. With this song being about an issue that has been in Tyler’s life since he was a kid, Like Him can easily be seen as the saddest song of Chromakopia, and the most vulnerable any fan has ever seen Tyler in his career.
Balloon(ft. Doechii)
“I been flying high, where is the pavement? Pray for me, can I get an amen?”
Balloon sees Tyler reflecting on his success and his ability to put distractions to the side to get to where he needs to be. Tyler talks about his work ethic, with lines such as “why I work so hard? My soul profits.” With Balloon being towards the end of the album, this song can be seen as Tyler reflecting back on all that he has vented about on Chromakopia and admiring the fact that he was still able to reach the level of fame he’s at today.
I Hope You Find Your Way Home
“I’m slipping, I’m slipping, I’m slipping away. I need a hand, can you squeeze the man.”
I Hope You Find Your Way Home marks the outro song of Chromakopia. Similar to Balloon, Tyler starts reflecting on topics he brought out in the duration of Chromakopia, even continuing where he left off on Hey Jade: “I almost had a mini me, I wasn’t ready. And she wanted it with me, I’m talking heavy. Then we had to guarantee ain’t no confetti.” Tyler also continues with acknowledging haters who hate on his success, with the basis being that they could never walk a mile in his shoes or live the life that he’s had.
The song, and thus the album, ends with another voice memo of Tyler’s mom crying and saying how she’s proud of Tyler and the man he has become, marking a beautiful ending to a beautiful album.
Chromakopia as a whole was a beautiful transition from the usual music us fans are used to hearing from Tyler, The Creator. Combining the beautiful melodic beats to the deep and vulnerable lyrics written by Tyler, Chromakopia leads you on an amazing story that can be related to and relistened to multiple times. As of right now, Chromakopia sits at Tyler’s biggest album, beating his previous album Call Me If You Get Lost. Loved by both previous and new fans of Tyler, I’d highly recommend giving Chromakopia a listen and developing your own opinion.
