TYLER THE CREATOR

Maturation Through Music

Tyler the Creator has been a polarizing figure in the music industry for the better part of a decade now. His music not only served to challenge the listener with controversial subject matter but provoke a new sound that led a new age of hip hop during the early to mid 2010s. Tyler had created a brand associated with challenging what was expected out of music while marketing himself as a youthful, carefree persona immune from the introspective depth of his peers.

A chaotic and rebellious figure to say the least, it was believed his style would fade off as a byproduct of his generation.

All that changed with the release of FlowerBoy.

2017’s FlowerBoywould begin one of the most prolic three album runs in rap history as Tyler masterfully transitioned both his style and concepts into some of the most mature subject matters we’ve seen in modern rap. The contrast of his previous works makes it more staggering but even when stacked up with other headliners like Kendrick Lamar and J Cole, Tyler’s messaging still feels refreshing and nuanced in comparison.

Not to make light of his prior work, with 2015’s CherryBombstill standing the test of time in this humble writer’s opinion.

FlowerBoy.IGOR, and CallMeIfYou

GetLostdo a magnificent job reflecting an internal change that completely contradicts what was previously known of its creator and subverts what was expected from any album in the genre. The listener bears witness to the vulnerability, loneliness and confusion seldom artists are able to either experience or talk about, making the works sound like the progression of a person rather than unassociated volumes of music.

This trilogy dives into separate characters who have been victims to isolation or abandonment for a variety of reasons and tell their individual stories of how they handle it. IGOR specifically takes the perspective of an alter ego who can’t handle the abandonment of his partner who denies their relationship in favor of another partner.

Each new entry into the narrative Tyler crafts feels enriching and personable, far different than the ostracization that rap fans are often met with in popular songs of the genre. Whereas money, fame, and relationships are used as social credit for many modern rappers that garner them praise, Tyler opts to use them as compensatory muses to toggle with the loss he feels. Knowing that despite his status and acclaim, that isn’t enough to capture what he really wants in his life, an unrequited love.

The vulnerability offered gives an unexpected quality to each new record released, making the listener connect with the themes presented because it reflects aspects of themselves in its messaging.

From a technical side, these past 3 albums have been Tyler’s most daring and successful as a producer. From the California meadows of FlowerBoyto the traveling countryside of CallMeIfYouGetLost, the beat production is unmatched giving elevating accompaniment with the synths and chords. The diversity and range of Tyler's musical ability can be praised continuously, but the thematic central points of his. work takes unmistakable mastery to complete. Although no work is perfect, most recognizably many of the core illustrative beats in Tyler's story telling become somewhat redundant in a few instances. But the perspective shift of how this similar story concludes or affects the central focus of the album is what makes it interesting. Runs in music, especially in rap are rare nowadays. With great demand comes an audience skeptical to see if you can achieve their unrealistic standards. Many fall prey to the unexpected brilliance of their first work or fail to evolve what made them iconic in the first place. Through all his previous faults and aimlessness Tyler has done well to achieve a discography rivaling the trilogies of both Graduationand Good KidMAADCitywhich stand at the apex of hip hop. Hopefully this consistency and narrative orientated musicality can continue into his future works to without a doubt propel him to one of the greatest musicians of our generation.