Tyler, Creator’s Chromacopy charts an artist’s journey of self-discovery

On his seventh studio album, Chromakopia, it’s a multi-hyphenate Tyler, the Creator opens the curtain. Across 14 tracks, born rapper Tyler Okonma explores the anxieties that include age and fame, interweaving them along with his own wisdom and a few that come through fastidiously placed vocal messages.

Tyler is a jack of all trades, excelling in a range of industries resembling music, fashion and tv. Just like his hero Pharrell Williams, Tyler is thought for his unconventional fashion sense because the founder of luxury brands Golf Wang and Golf le Fleur, in addition to for his television work on the adult Swim comedy series “Loiter Squad.” He cemented his role as a countercultural tastemaker and controversial rule breaker along with his first mixtape, 2009’s Bastard, and continues to push the boundaries of music – it’s no surprise that his latest release continues to interrupt barriers.

“Chromacopy” starts strong with “St. Chroma” — an introduction to the brand new masked figure on the album cover — with heavy military rhythms within the background of each Tyler and R&B singer Daniel Caesar vocal. At the start, a relaxing female voice is heard: “You are light. It’s not up to you. It’s in you.”

“I never had any doubts in myself,” he raps. “And if I ever tell you that, I’m (expletive) lying.”

As an entire, the album “Chromakopia” represents two-time Grammy Award winner when he turns thirty. In this latest era, he seeks understanding in all elements of his life, just as he seeks to grasp himself.

Not the whole lot is as clear as on “Like Him,” by which Tyler explores his similarities to his estranged father.

Featured Stories

“Give me love and tenderness / Attention, protection (Go),” he sings within the second verse. “How could I ever miss the chance (Go) / that I never had?”

On Sunday night at an album release party in Inglewood, California, Tyler outlined a mission statement of sorts for the album. “Oh, I’m not the guy I was when I was 20,” he said. “I even have gray hair on my chest. Life is life. I just wanted to write down concerning the things I take into consideration when I’m dolo, which is brief for the slang term “solo dolo,” which implies “alone.”

Rather a lot of thoughts: “Hey Jane” details the fear of pregnancy at the highest of a dream production, “Take Your Mask Off” tells the story of various characters afraid to live in the reality. It’s as much about Tyler, the Creator himself, because it is about them. “I hope you find yourself,” he says. “I hope you take off your mask.”

Lead single “Noid” is geared toward celebrities and tackles the paranoia and strange parasocial relationships that include fame in a claustrophobic, transgressive setting. The choir samples the 1977 song “Nizakupanga Ngozi” by the Zambian rock band Ngozi Family.

But the album isn’t only about deep introspection. Tyler is as brash as ever on “Thought I Was Dead” and “Rah Tah Tah,” each of which feature deep bass that reverberates through the listener’s bones.

His funny and outrageous personality can also be not hidden. This will be clearly heard in songs resembling the cheerful “Sticky”, which features Lil Wayne, GloRilla and “Sexy Red” and “Balloon” featuring Doechia.

The entire album, as indicated on the “Chromakopia” cover, was written, produced and arranged by Tyler Okonma. It’s an all-too-early mid-life memoir that many thirtysomethings will discover with: an album that encompasses the whole lot he’s achieved, fears and hopes for the longer term ahead.