CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator’s highly anticipated album dropped on October 28 and featured the likes of Lil Wayne, Sexxy Red, GloRilla, Daniel Caesar, and many others. The project has garnered massive amounts of attention because Tyler’s most recent project, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, was a masterful creation by the artist and a massive hit.
Tyler, The Creator broke away from his former group Odd Future with his 2009 mixtape. The group included notable members such as Earl Sweatshirt. CHROMAKOPIA remains number one on the Billboard album chart, above Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet. The album was first teased through promo clips, including an excerpt of “St. Chroma.” The marketing for the album does not stop there, as before the release of the highly anticipated album, bright green trucks have been traveling across the country to promote the project. The truck is carrying a green shipping container with the album’s name on it, unique marketing for an album. Through a series of pop-ups around the country, the artist has many on the edge of their seats, wondering where he will stop next.
One of these pop-ups was in Philly, as Rosa Cartagena from The Philadelphia Inquirer reports in the article “Tyler, the Creator bought $4,000 worth of cheesesteaks at Shank’s to promote new album CHROMAKOPIA.
“Part of a nationwide promo tour, the truck stopped at Shank’s, the legendary luncheonette in Queen Village. From noon to 3:30 p.m., a DJ played the album on a loop…while hundreds lined up for cheesesteaks, hoagies, and fries, courtesy of Tyler, the Creator…”
“St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Caesar)”
Shreya: 9.5/10
Bennett: 9.5/10
“St. Chroma” provides a good introduction to the album’s vibe as a whole. Through its unique, whispering intro, “St. Chroma” immediately intrigues the listener and sets a distinct vibe for the rest of the album. Guest Daniel Caesar provides the song with almost angelic vocals that make listeners want to play the song on repeat. The loud marching and quiet whispering juxtapose each other in the background to create an interesting contrast in sound that furthers the enjoyable listening experience.
Shreya: 7.5/10
Bennett: 7.5/10
“Rah Tah Tah” immediately introduces catchy lyrics and commits to the flow of the album. In the second track, Tyler employs his chaotic energy, as seen in the quick flow of the song. This contributes to the assertion of his aggressive lyrics and themes presented such as dealing with fame and expression of his confidence. His experimentation with overlapping vocals and use of his vocal range contribute to the fast rhythm that is presented. The intense bass and simple lyrics also further the fast rhythm and the pace of the lyrics expressed. The song’s ending acts as a transition into “Noid,” the song that follows it. Altogether, this song is catchy and is a great listen when you are just vibing or trying to get hype.
“Noid”
Shreya: 8/10
Bennett: 8/10
“Noid,” the first song to be released off the album, sets the tone for the rest of the album to follow. Intense and captivating, I found myself listening to the song a couple of times to really soak in the meaning and the feeling of the song. First off, the sample that repeats throughout the song is absolutely amazing, I couldn’t get enough of it. A Zambian song from a 70s rock band called Ngozi Family, “Nizakupanga Ngozi” is the first track off their album 45,000 Volts. “Noid” is intense, speaking about the stressors of fame and being paranoid when it comes to fame and the downsides of it. The music video even features a cameo from Ayo Edebiri, which I thought was interesting. The song is very heavy and there’s always something going on, which emphasizes the chaos of fame. Overall, I enjoyed the song, but I would say the song requires your full attention to appreciate it. A great song with a great sample, “Noid” is perfect to dance or jam to when you have your full attention on the song.
“Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown)”
Shreya: 10/10
Bennett: 10/10
Through dreamy vocals and an initial calm beat, “Darling, I” establishes an atmosphere that enhances the overall listening experience. The consistent layering of vocals and simple instruments contributes to the vibe, making the listener feel like they are ascending. In this song, he expresses his perspective and experiences with relationships and love. This song reveals his opinions on what should be acceptable about relationships. In addition to this introspection, through the repetition of the lyrics, “Darling, I keep falling in love,” Tyler, The Creator furthers the vibey, dreamy atmosphere. Throughout the song, mainly in the rapping sections, the instruments are mostly cut off. This emphasizes what the lyrics expressed but then he immediately brings them back, which maintains that dreamy feel. Overall, it is an extremely good song that is perfect for various situations like listening to it in the car, with friends, or alone with headphones on.
This song is popular among students at Rancocas Valley, as senior Benson Try mentioned that “Darling, I” was his favorite song on the album and complemented the production. “It’s like if God were on earth and he was a music artist, he would produce this masterpiece of a song,” Try said. “The beat is amazing, and overall, it’s a really catchy song.”
“Hey Jane”
Shreya: 7.5/10
Bennett: 7.4/10
“Hey, Jane” is a song that possesses immense storytelling qualities. The quiet beat and simple instruments contribute to the overwhelming feeling and stress when dealing with any unexpected situations, specifically an unexpected pregnancy. Tyler reveals his character by expressing his support for whatever Jane’s decision is regarding the pregnancy. In this song, Tyler parallels his and Jane’s perspectives, exemplifying an even more panicked feeling in Jane’s position. Through this song, Tyler continues the approach of this album by singing and expressing his viewpoints about various life experiences. Overall, the reflective, extremely well-delivered lyrics and the complimenting instrumentals effectively contribute to the illustration of the narrative.
Shreya: 9.4/10
Bennett: 9.3/10
Featuring an outro from Childish Gambino, “I Killed You” speaks about natural hair and how unhealthy the expectations of Western society are that it causes a rift between someone’s identity and what society thinks they should do. The “you” in this song refers specifically to natural hair in the Black community. The song has a driving beat and rhythm, and the instrumentation is a little lighter than other “Noid,” but gets heavier as the song progresses into the interlude. After the interlude, the song still has the driving beat but less instrumentation. I enjoyed the song because it was different compared to the other songs that I had listened to off the album, and I like the fact that it speaks to issues with society. The outro from Childish Gambino was also a plus as well. “I Killed You” resonated with Rancocas Valley students, such as junior Zhe’ana Evans.
“‘I Killed You’ is my favorite song because it talks about Black people’s hair and has good representation,” Evans said.
Shreya: 9.3/10
Bennett: 9.5/10
“Judge Judy” is an extremely catchy song with its repetition of lyrics and relatively slow beat. Tyler uses harmonizing, overlapping vocals to further the calm rhythm. Besides the beat, the lyrics also contribute to the song’s message of exploring love and relationships. I think Tyler’s choice to keep the instruments simple really helped emphasize the lyrics and story, which continues the story-telling aspect of this entire album. In general, “Judge Judy” is perfect to listen to when just vibing.
“Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne)”
Shreya: 7.4/10
Bennett: 7.5/10
“Sticky,” a catchy song featuring big names, is a track that has a virality factor that no one can deny. While it wasn’t my favorite off the album, I definitely will say that it’s probably the catchiest behind that of “Darling, I.” Featuring three other artists alongside Tyler, The Creator, each of them sang a verse and were featured very well in the song. I didn’t think any of the features stood out as unnecessary or disconnected at that point, which I think is an accomplishment because features can sometimes feel like add-ons. The song instills a sense of confidence in the listener with lyrics about self-esteem and being ready for what’s in the future.
The song was even spoken about here at Rancocas Valley, with that of junior Morgan Smith, who enjoyed listening to the song for a different reason. “It is supposed to sound like kids rapping around the table, so that is why the verses are short and the changes are kind of chaotic. I like the symbolization of it.” Smith said.
“Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams)”
Shreya: 9.6/10
Bennett: 9.7/10
“Take Your Mask Off” is an extremely underrated song on the album. The song deals with the various masks that individuals wear in everyday life, each verse covering a different “mask” that one wears. A mix of the dreamy almost R&B or jazz instrumentals carried throughout the album and introspective lyrics, “Take Your Mask Off” curates a truly beautiful listening experience that any music-lover will appreciate. The chorus is beautifully layered and the features feel truly integrated in the song and not like an add-on, which is impressive in itself. The song is perfect for listening on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon or evening, upbeat with a touch of vulnerability.
Shreya: 7/10
Bennett: 7/10
“Tomorrow” starts the song with a sense of sadness, when clips of his mother’s voice are heard regarding her expectations about his future. His voice is a little strained and distressed, emphasizing the stress he feels about his future. The harmonizing background vocals really add to Tyler’s emotive lyrics. They make you feel like you are ascending, but Tyler’s stressed lyrics bring listeners back to the distress he feels. Additionally, Tyler introduces jazz characteristics to close up the song. This song really holds true to the vulnerable aspects of the album and it is a great song to listen to when you are contemplating.
“Thought I Was Dead (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold)”
Shreya: 7/10
Bennett: 7.4/10
With features like ScHoolboy Q and Santigold, “Thought I was Dead” upholds the catchy vibe. The layered vocals, beat and creative lyrics play a part in expressing the theme of self-reflection and the declaration of his mentality. The fact that there is so much going on is aligned with the album’s unorthodox production, creating a sense of flow and cohesiveness. “Thought I was Dead” furthers the chaotic, vibey feel, creating an even more immersive listening experience. This song is perfect right before a sports competition or when you are just vibing, which is true for a lot of the songs on this album.
Shreya: 10/10
Bennett: 9.8/10
Emotional and moving, “Like Him” follows how the absence of a father can affect a person. Reminiscent of the last verse of “Take Your Mask Off,” Tyler, The Creator can be seen to be singing lyrics that are rooted in poignancy. Personally, the ending was my favorite part along with the outro because it wrapped the song up perfectly. Exploring the realization that you look like someone you never knew, the raw lyrics hit hard and craft a listening experience like you’ve never heard before. The song is on repeat for me and I can’t get enough of it. Over the course of the song, the instrumentation gets heavier, starting off really light with the vocals really high, and eventually, the instrumentation arrives at its culmination, a beautiful ending that anyone could appreciate. Perfect for late-night listens and emotional days, “Like Him” earns a spot on anyone’s playlist right now.
Shreya: 7.9/10
Bennett: 7.8/10
“Balloon” starts with a rather playful beat and introduces various ad-libs, making it kind of sound comical. Tyler’s flow changes constantly, such as in the beginning where he raps but slows it down to transition to Doechii’s feature. Doechii’s feature compliments Tyler’s lyrics and flow in “Balloon.” I believe that this combination was needed, their styles go well together, and it is truly evident in this song.
“I Hope You Find Your Way Home”
Shreya: 7.3/10
Bennett:7.4/10
A continuation of the story from “Hey Jane”, the song speaks to being unprepared and not wanting to have a kid. It’s continuing the vibe from the other songs and what’s standing out from the song is the lyrics. The background beats and production is very similar to the rest, but the lyrics are masterful and further the narrative that it put forth in a previous song. There’s nothing really standing out from the beat, which is why the rating isn’t as high because the lyrics are what’s carrying the song. However, I believe that it is a good wrap-up for the album because it continues the album’s tone. Unique in its narrative and standout lyrics, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” is perfect for listeners who are looking for an interesting experience when listening to their playlists.
Shreya’s Favorites:
- “Darling, I”
- “Like Him” (tied)
- “Take Your Mask Off” (tied)
- “St. Chroma”
- “I Killed You”
- “Judge Judy”
- “Noid”
- “Balloon”
- “Rah Tah Tah”
- “Hey, Jane” (tied)
- “Sticky” (tied)
- “I Hope You Find Your Way Home”
- “Tomorrow” (tied)
- “Thought I Was Dead”(tied)
Overall Album Score: 88/100
Bennett’s Favorites:
- “Darling, I”
- “Like Him”
- “Take Your Mask Off”
- “Judge Judy”
- “St. Chroma”
- “I Killed You”
- “Noid”
- “Balloon”
- “Rah Tah Tah”
- “Sticky”
- “Hey Jane”
- “Thought I was Dead”
- “I Hope You Find Your Way Home”
- “Tomorrow”
Overall Album Score: 89/100
