When I first listened to “Chromakopia,” there were about a hundred million thoughts floating through my mind, though one of them really stood out to me. Would this album live up to the hype? After almost 3 years since the release of his last album, “Call Me If You Get Lost”, Tyler the Creator’s “Chromakopia” was already being hyped up as a potential AOTY (Album of the Year) recipient by some across the music sphere, and I was really interested with how the reception of the album would come across, as I don’t really listen to a lot of Tyler the Creator’s music. In the end, though, I succumbed to the hype, and decided to give it a listen.
Focusing on themes of the pain that come with stardom, personal issues and more, “Chromakopia” is a step in a new direction for Tyler the Creator, far removed from the man we once knew. In this album, Tyler attempts to face his issues while dealing with a sort of midlife crisis directed from the issues with his father in the past.
The album is complex, weaving multiple different perspectives, features and characters. We follow the character of St. Chroma through some of the songs, though Tyler the Creator’s mother, Bonita Smith, narrates much of the album during key interludes and introductions to several of the songs, littering key life lessons and parables that Tyler the Creator takes to heart as a child growing up in west LA.
There are 14 tracks in the album, though several stand apart from the rest. The headliner of the album, “St. Chroma”, is probably the one of the strongest tracks in the album. Ethereal notes, synth and a haunting beat permeate the song, as his mother’s advice to not “dim his light for nobody” is really the standout moment of the song.
Another standout track is “Rah Tah Tah,” which focuses on his paranoia as he attempts to navigate his stardom with mental health issues. During this song (and counterpart song “Noid”) synths screech, and his voice almost seems to crack under the pressure of millions of eyes on him, hoping, aching to produce new and better music. He also references other industry giants such as Usher and Kendrick Lamar during this song, claiming that after them, he’s “the biggest rapper out of LA.”
Arguably the best track in my opinion was “Like Him.” Through the haunting and untuned piano and the fantastic blended voices of Tyler the Creator and Lola Young, any listener can start to feel the expression of the aching and loss that he felt as a child growing up not having a father figure, and his mother’s apology to him for not doing enough to raise him by herself.
The sound of “Chromakopia” is fresh. Multiple features, including the likes of Lil Wayne, Playboy Carti, Teezo Touchdown and Schoolboy Q are both interesting and invigorating to listen to due to lyrical quality and variety. Unfortunately, some of the songs without them fall into repetitive mediocrity and tracks such as “Judge Judy” and “Hey Jane” fall flat and are frustrating to listen to.
While Chromakopia didn’t live up to the massive hype the album gathered, in my opinion, “Chromakopia” is an experience that you shouldn’t miss out on, especially considering the lack of good rap albums that have come out this year. Overall, it’s a strong 8 out of 10, so make sure to give it a listen.
