Kylie Firmin '26
Chromakopia is an album written and produced by Tyler, The Creator. This album takes the listener on a journey that is emotionally stimulating. Chromakopia is his eighth album, and following his highly praised CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST and the deluxe CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, there was a lot of anticipation regarding this album.
The release of Chromakopia signaled a routine change in Tyler, the Creator’s musical direction. This album is almost an hour long, and each song takes you through a heart wrenching story that will leave you thinking about it.
The weeks prior to the drop of Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator dropped videos hinting at the album drop. One of these included “St. Chroma”, the first song on the album. Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, narrates at the beginning of the song.
Smith says, “You are the light. It’s not on you, it’s in you. Don’t you ever in your motherfucking life dim your light for nobody.”
This, as a start of the album, sets the stage for something to come. The ‘light’ that she speaks of does not initially make sense, but reveals itself gradually as you listen to each song until you realize the light is in each song as well.
“Hey Jane” being the fifth track on the album serves as a narrative. In this song Tyler explores pregnancy; he examines the complex emotion of a person entering fatherhood. He experiences and battles with love and responsibility.
Throughout the song Tyler explores different perspectives of fatherhood, and “Hey Jane” serves as a clear improvement in Tyler’s lyrical abilities. These lyrics look into his own emotions, and being able to do so sets the bar high both for this album and also for other artists who attempt to reach this level of lyricism.
One of Tyler’s best songs lyrically, “Like Him”, dives deep into Tyler’s emotions, and background relating to his father, whom he never knew. In this song he reflects on his past feelings regarding his father.
Through these raw emotions he is able to display how he has matured, contrasting his anger that he felt regarding the topic in his youth.
Chromakopia has highs and lows when it comes to energy. For example “Judge Judy” is playful, and low energy, whereas “Sticky”, featuring GloRilla, Sexxy Red, and Lil Wayne brings the energy up, with stomp-and-clap production. This track also provides a much needed contrast to the narrative rich tracks that Tyler had provided thus far.
Another powerful track on Chromakopia is “Take Your Mask Off”, which essentially unmasks to the listener (and Tyler) the insecurities that he faces. Tyler looks in the mirror and evaluates himself. He evaluates his life, personal struggles, and fame.
The beat brings listeners in, and then Tyler uses the song to display his self-criticism. He says in the song, “Your respect won’t get give ‘til we postin’ your death.” These self-critiquing tracks show a level of maturity within Tyler, and that this album is his most self-aware and introspective to date.
The last track on this album, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home,” in contrast to “Take Your Mask Off”, is where Tyler takes back his courage, and pride.
Filled with more encouragement from his mother, Tyler emerges as a proud reimagined version of himself. He embraces his flaws with struggles and all. With this last song he recreates a warm, familiar sound reminiscent of his other albums and projects.