Tyler the Creator released his new album Chromakopia on October 28, 2024, on all streaming platforms. 

On October 16, Tyler released a snippet of a new song called “St. Chroma” on Instagram, X, and Youtube along with a video where a line of people walk into a box labeled “Chromakopia.” The next day, Tyler confirmed that he would be releasing an album called Chromakopia. An Easter egg is that the video snippet was in black and white, and the word “Chromakopia” means fear of color.

Tyler then released a single from the upcoming album titled “Noid” on October 21. This song is about paranoia and Tyler’s fear of other people and of being watched. “Noid” shows that Tyler is deeply insecure about the people around him.

“Thought I Was Dead,” another music video, was released to social media on October 26. In this song, Tyler calls out people who criticize rap stars, specifically Ian. He also emphasizes that the rap game is tough, and if you make a statement, you have to back it up. The song reflects Tyler’s anger toward the industry for the chaos and unpredictability of the previous months. He believes that artists attacking each other will only harm the genre as a whole.

Release

On October 28, 2024, Tyler released Chromakopia. The first song is “St. Chroma.” A snippet was released earlier, and this song expands on that snippet. At the beginning, the song states, “You are the light. It’s not on you. It’s in you. Don’t you ever in your… life dim your light for nobody.” It shows that you have to care about yourself if you want to help others. Throughout the song, Tyler talks about light, lighting up the world, and putting the world in color. There is very good production on this song, and the beat drop is amazing.

The second song on this project is “Rah Tah Tah.” In this song, Tyler shows that he is accomplished in the industry. He talks about how he is now one of the top artists. He states that he is the best in L.A. after Kendrick Lamar. This shows respect, acknowledging that he isn’t at the top of the food chain.

The next song on the album is “Noid,” which was discussed in the opening of this article.

Next is ‘Darling, I,’ a song about Tyler’s dating life. In this track, he reflects on his future plans, revealing that having kids is not one of them. He has stated this many times before. He would prefer to be on his own, rather than having children to deal with. 

“Hey Jane” is the fifth song on the track list, and it dives deep into personal topics. The song tells the story of Jane, a woman Tyler got pregnant, who feels both excited and nervous about having a child. Tyler is fearful of how his mom will react, while Jane is considering moving away and rejecting Tyler’s material support. She even mentions the possibility of abortion. The song is well-written, showcasing immaculate storytelling.

“I Killed You” is the sixth song on the album where Tyler primarily discusses the theme of murder—but with a purpose. He wants to kill someone to protect his identity, ensuring that his life remains private and safe from anyone trying to ruin it.

“Judge Judy” has two meanings right from the start. Tyler makes use of both the show’s theme and the law aspect, while also addressing the broader idea of judging people. This track features the most singing you’ll hear on the project. Tyler reflects on how he judges others for no reason, which deeply bothers him.

“Sticky” is the eight track on the album and features Lil Wayne, Glorilla, and Sexy Red. Lil Wayne stole the show with his verse, but it was cut off early. This track was more of an experiment for Tyler because he doesn’t normally make Trap tracks like this one. This is one of the most popular songs on the album, but I personally don’t like it. I don’t really know why, but the production is not to my liking.

“Take Your Mask Off” is arguably one of the most important songs on the album. This song talks about how you need to take the mask off to see the true self. He gives an example about how you could have three children and be married but be gay. It features one of the best stories on the project. It shows you need to be your true self and not hide.

“Tomorrow” is a song where Tyler reflects again on having children. He admits that he wouldn’t do it now because he is too selfish, and he thinks it would be too much work. What stands out in the song is how often he brings up children, showing it must be something that is on his mind and is probably something he is actively thinking about a lot.

“Thought I Was Dead” was mentioned earlier in the article, but let’s focus on ScHoolBoy Q’s verse. In it, he shows his dominance in a way similar to Tyler. This was one of the best features on the album, and his voice flows very well with Tyler’s and the beat.

“Like Him” is the most emotional song on the album. The 12th track has Tyler speaking about growing up without a father. This obviously impacted him, and he talks about it in the song. In the song, he acknowledges that he is nothing like his father, and we can see that in his words. There’s also a glimpse of the vulnerable child within Tyler as he talks about his dad.

“Balloon” is a beautiful song. The rapping and singing mesh so well along with Tyler talking about children. He says he doesn’t want any. The Doechlii verse was also my favorite feature on the album. I think this is one of the strongest tracks because of the production.

“I Hope You Find Your Way Home” is the final track on Chromakopia. It is a reflection on his views, insecurities, and his thoughts on having children. What I want to point out here is that he has a narrator on several of his albums. You can hear it at the beginning of this track and others. The narrator this time is his Mom. This really hit home about how deep this album is.

Review

For me personally, this project is a complete success for Tyler. He dove deep into his life and showed his insecurities. He shows how nervous and scared he is about various aspects of his life, particularly when it comes to revealing his true self and dealing with paranoia. Songs like “Take Your mask Off” and “Hey  Jane” really dive deep and have amazing story telling. This album rivals Call Me if you Get Lost as Tyler’s second best album. I would recommend it to anyone. In all, I give this album a 8.6/10.

Works Cited:

• Tyler the Creator. (2024). Chromakopia [Album] Odd Future Record Label