The highly anticipated release of Tyler, the Creator’s seventh studio album, “CHROMAKOPIA,” arrived on Oct. 28, 2024. The versatile artist announced the album’s release just months after posting a now deleted tweet saying he wouldn’t release music in 2024. Promotions in the form of teasers on social media, releases of album merchandise, announcement of a world tour, and even trucks branded with the album’s name traveled across the US. The cryptic hints left in music videos released on the official album’s Instagram page led many fans to develop theories about possible alter-egos appearing in the album and possible connections to Tyler’s previously released music.
The album spans across many genres, including Tyler’s intense, expressive rap, elements of R&B, and more. While the artist’s characteristic rap styles are still prevalent, the genre-bending music creates the narrative of his exploration and discoveries of his artistry and creativity. The tracks feature a variety of worries people experience, especially those approaching middle age, suggesting that along with his self-discovery, deep worries follow. Each of Tyler’s albums feature alter-egos; this album’s protagonist being St. Chroma, heavily inspired by “The Phantom Tollbooth” character, Chroma the Great. The book character was known in his fictional world for conducting an orchestra that returned color, which connects with “NOID”’s music video shift from a black and white color scheme to a colorful view. This album could be connected with other items of Tyler’s discography through its portrayal of resilience and the disconnect between St. Chroma and the other alter-egos.
The album itself combines a variety of familiar sounds from Tyler’s discography, with the addition of experimental additions to the music. It opens with the song, “St. Chroma”, which perfectly previews the journey the album represents and the combination of intense rap and soothing R&B tunes. The resounding footsteps that begin the track along with building whispers excite the listener for what is to come. His signature aggressive rapping is shown in “Rah Tah Tah”, “Balloon”, and “Sticky”, the lyrics boasting of his accomplishments earned through his almost 20 year long music career. “NOID”, which was released as a preview to the album details the paranoia the artist has developed, especially from crazed fans. The song teeters on the edge of chaotic sounding in the beginning, straying away from Tyler’s typical style. However, the synths combined with the electric guitar and drum usage pieced together into a unique track that connects the listener to a fraction of the chaos experienced by the artist. The second half of the song sounds similar to tracks on “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST”, which is a bit disappointing because of the experimental image teased by the beginning. Despite the familiarity of this song, the lyrics communicated the paranoia experienced by Tyler, which is referenced in a previous song, “Colossus”, about a crazed fan. The rap in “I Killed You” explores the complexities of conformity and desires to embrace your true self, sharing a theme with “Take Your Mask Off”. The smooth beats and lyrics tell the stories of a closeted priest, a lost mother, and unsuccessful rapper, all of which are hiding behind a mask. The story told in “Hey Jane” and “Judge Judy” is vivid, with an almost desperate hope seeping into Tyler’s rap as he retells two relationships, one a failed fling with a tragic ending, and an unexpected pregnancy between surprised parents, respectively. The appearance of Tyler’s mother is frequent throughout the album, with snippets of her voice carefully placed in most songs, and especially highlighted in “Tomorrow” as he worries again about fatherhood and the lack of substance his material possessions hold. “Like Him” was a beautiful ballad, expressing Tyler’s conflicting feelings towards his absent father, which is a stark contrast to the narrative he painted around his father in previous songs. His worries about meaningful experiences is present in “Darling, I”, where he dives into his lack of commitment and genuine relationships, while still desiring a true connection. The closing track re-opens the artist’s thoughts on becoming a father and he reflects on the long journey both behind and ahead of him.
The album was an absolutely stunning story for its listeners, with his songs telling a journey of growth and introspection. It incorporated the artist’s typical song stylization, along with experimental synths and electric instruments that brought the sense of a new era. The diverse catalog of songs along with his impeccable storytelling blend to create meaningful insight into the beloved artist’s life.
