Long-time Tyler, the Creator fans know that he typically drops an album every two years. When “Call Me If You Get Lost” was released in 2021, and the deluxe version in 2023, fans were expecting a new album in 2025. But one thing Tyler knows how to do is keep fans on their toes, and he does it well.
Tyler released a part of the opening track of “Chromakopia” called “St. Chroma” on Oct. 16 and announced the album's release date the next day by tweeting, [@tylerthecreator] “CHROMAKOPIA: OCTOBER 28TH.” This album shows how consistent he is with his music style yet switches it up on his fans in the best way.
Tyler, the Creator’s eighth studio album, “Chromakopia,” wastes no time getting experimental. Tyler’s mother narrates the album, and her voice can be heard throughout multiple songs. “St. Chroma,” which features Daniel Caesar’s angelic background vocals, starts the song by saying, “Can you feel the light inside? Can you feel that fire?” These vocals are followed by a beat drop that can only be described as “nasty” but in the best way.
This beat drop sets the precedent for the rest of the album. I have a stank face and nod my head to every song during every listen without fail. The transitions from one song to the next are flawless, despite them all having different tempos.
Something that fans can agree on is that the features on this album are phenomenal. Everyone brings their own flare to the table, but they all mesh together so well. I feel like we haven’t had really exciting features like this since “Flower Boy” in 2017.
A highlight of this album for me, and many other fans, is “Sticky” featuring GloRilla, Sexxy Red, and Lil Wayne. This song reminds me of a high school lunchroom. It sounds like everyone in the lunchroom banging on tables and having their friends freestyle a verse. The end of the song has an amazing brass section, which reminds me of a school marching band joining in. I cannot listen to this song without having a smile on my face.
With this track being in the middle of the album, I think it serves as a great last fun song before the album gets into its more serious topics. For example, “Like Him,” which features Lola Young, acts as part two of Tyler’s song “Answer” from his third studio album, “Wolf.” The “Chromokopia” track, narrated by his mother, discusses his absent father in his younger life. Even though he resents him, he still wants a relationship with him, which is seen musically.
Overall, I think this album is so fun. The best way to listen to this album is by walking to class with headphones on an autumn day and taking the time to digest the lyrics, which I think is a big difference compared to his previous album, ”Call Me If You Get Lost”—that should only be listened to with your friends in a backyard on a hot summer day.
This album has high wins but there are also some misses. Not that they are bad, but they are not as memorable as the others, so I would give the album a 7.9/10. I think this is a great Tyler project, but nothing will top “Igor” for me. That whole era, and the album as a whole, is a work of art and will be unmatched. However, “Chromakopia” is a lyrical masterpiece that I think fans have wanted for a while and will be a very memorable album for Tyler.
Madison McKernan is a writer for The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at madison.mckernan@student.shu.edu.
