CHROMAKOPIA- album review
By Lucy Scothern
November 20, 2024
Image credit: @feliciathegoat Instagram
With nearly 15 years since the release of his debut album, Tyler, The Creator’s 8th addition to his collection, “CHROMAKOPIA,” is making waves on music charts across the globe. Even with an unconventional Monday release day, the album topped the Billboard 200 Chart as his biggest album release streaming week to date. The artist, formally known as Tyler Okonma, also bagged himself his first ever UK No. 1 with previous bests coming from his 2019 album, “IGOR” and 2021’s “Call Me If You Get Lost,” both peaking at No. 4.
The 2-time Grammy award winner put out 14 new songs with an array of big-name features including Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, Lil’ Wayne and Sexyy Red; a testament to his established position in the music world. Fans and onlookers have watched Okonma transform from a 19-year-old, raised by a single mother and hailing from Hawthorne, Calif. to a cultural icon, rapper, producer, director, fashion designer and creative icon.
It’s no secret that the rapper’s edge and willingness to push boundaries has been commented on over the years, with the more controversial lines in his earlier albums getting him temporarily banned from countries like the UK.
University of Maryland students shared their thoughts on the new album, showing an inclination towards Okonma’s older works.
“My favorite album is ‘Wolf,’” Cliff Carty, a senior kinesiology major, said. “I think he's trying to do too much different stuff at this point. He's making music less like he used to, just for the sake of switching it up.”
The same sentiment was echoed by senior mechanical engineering major, Eric Albright. Albright rated the album “probably a four,” as the only song he “really liked was St. Chroma,” Albright said his favorite album was also “Wolf,” explaining he wanted to see “more controversial stuff.”
Nevertheless, the charts and ratings from around the world don’t lie. The evolution of Okonma’s music from his early days of gritty “horrorcore” to his current smoother, more soulful sound littered with layered instrumentals and vocals has been a long process. Whilst there has been such a change with the sound of the music he creates, his fanbase has nonetheless grown.
We were introduced to Okonma’s softer side through the 2017 album “Flower Boy,” exploring themes of love, loneliness, and self-reflection. “CHROMAKOPIA,” however, epitomizes the journey Okonma has made to open up and lay his soul bare.
Through songs like “Like Him” and “Tomorrow” Okonma explores familial issues like coming to terms with his father’s absence and wondering if his own time has passed to settle down and start a family. Furthermore, he incorporates his unique style into the album, playing into characters on “Hey Jane” and “I Killed You,”whilst then going on to express concerns about his lack of commitment to romantic relationships on “Darling, I.”
Whilst students at this university may be longing for the artist’s days of shock-value rap, Tyler, The Creator’s listeners seem to be truly loving the new insights into his life and the style in which he chose to portray them.
The 2-time Grammy award winner put out 14 new songs with an array of big-name features including Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, Lil’ Wayne and Sexyy Red; a testament to his established position in the music world. Fans and onlookers have watched Okonma transform from a 19-year-old, raised by a single mother and hailing from Hawthorne, Calif. to a cultural icon, rapper, producer, director, fashion designer and creative icon.
It’s no secret that the rapper’s edge and willingness to push boundaries has been commented on over the years, with the more controversial lines in his earlier albums getting him temporarily banned from countries like the UK.
University of Maryland students shared their thoughts on the new album, showing an inclination towards Okonma’s older works.
“My favorite album is ‘Wolf,’” Cliff Carty, a senior kinesiology major, said. “I think he's trying to do too much different stuff at this point. He's making music less like he used to, just for the sake of switching it up.”
The same sentiment was echoed by senior mechanical engineering major, Eric Albright. Albright rated the album “probably a four,” as the only song he “really liked was St. Chroma,” Albright said his favorite album was also “Wolf,” explaining he wanted to see “more controversial stuff.”
Nevertheless, the charts and ratings from around the world don’t lie. The evolution of Okonma’s music from his early days of gritty “horrorcore” to his current smoother, more soulful sound littered with layered instrumentals and vocals has been a long process. Whilst there has been such a change with the sound of the music he creates, his fanbase has nonetheless grown.
We were introduced to Okonma’s softer side through the 2017 album “Flower Boy,” exploring themes of love, loneliness, and self-reflection. “CHROMAKOPIA,” however, epitomizes the journey Okonma has made to open up and lay his soul bare.
Through songs like “Like Him” and “Tomorrow” Okonma explores familial issues like coming to terms with his father’s absence and wondering if his own time has passed to settle down and start a family. Furthermore, he incorporates his unique style into the album, playing into characters on “Hey Jane” and “I Killed You,”whilst then going on to express concerns about his lack of commitment to romantic relationships on “Darling, I.”
Whilst students at this university may be longing for the artist’s days of shock-value rap, Tyler, The Creator’s listeners seem to be truly loving the new insights into his life and the style in which he chose to portray them.