Tyler, the Creator Takes His Mask Off in ‘CHROMAKOPIA’

Social media posts hailed the return of Tyler, the Creator with his new album “CHROMAKOPIA” which was released Monday morning to allow his fans a full week to digest the album.  

“You are the light / Don’t you ever in your motherfucking life dim your light for nobody,” Tyler’s mother Bonita Smith tells him in the opening track “St. Chroma.”

“Rah Tah Tah” follows with Tyler’s fast-paced, spoken word rap style. The track fades into Tyler repeatedly stating he’s paranoid, only to end abruptly. 

Picking up where “Rah Tah Tah” left off, “Noid” features WILLOW and details Tyler’s fear of being stalked by fans now that he’s famous. The chorus adds an upbeat aspect to an otherwise sinister song. Sung in Nyanja, a Niger-Congo language, the chorus samples “Nizakupanga Ngozi” by Zambian band Ngozi Family.

“Darling, I” is the album’s first track to officially introduce Tyler’s falsettos, which contrast his deep rapping voice on previous records “IGOR” and “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.” The track questions the concept of monogamy and the meaning of freedom in a relationship.

“So how come I got everything from one person? / I’m at the altar, but I’m still searchin’,” Tyler raps.

“Hey Jane” opens with Smith warning her son about the risks of an unexpected pregnancy. The track follows Tyler and a woman named Jane navigating the idea of parenthood, switching between their two perspectives.

“I Killed You” brings back rhythmic marching sounds from “St. Chroma” with hand drumming. The track, which features Childish Gambino, describes killing off parts of one’s identity to free themselves from society’s expectations. 

In “Judge Judy,” Tyler thoughtfully responds to a letter he received from a woman named Judy. 

“Thank you for the moments I could grab before I left (Wait) / I hope you live your life, your truest self with no regrets… p.s. / Thank you for not judging Judy,” Tyler sings. 

“Sticky” features GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne on a traditional rap track. Heavy drumming is layered with clapping and whistle chirps as the artists each take on a verse. 

“Take Your Mask Off” is the turning point of “CHROMAKOPIA.” On the track, which features Daniel Caesar, Tyler addresses a gay preacher who hides from his identity, and a mother who feels her identity has been stolen by motherhood. The track fades out with a short piano riff. 

“I hope you find yourself (yeah) / And I hope you take your mask off (sad story, a-ha-ha, yeah),” Daniel Caesar and Tyler sing. 

Smith opens “Tomorrow” by begging Tyler to give her a grandchild who looks just like him. This intro sets the tone for a whimsical melody layered with a lyrical reflection on the concept of time. 

“Thought I Was Dead” is Tyler’s response to America’s toxic and racist music industry and the cut-throat treatment of artists who don’t constantly churn out new content and music. 

“White boys mockin’ this shit and y’all mad at me?” Tyler raps. 

Tyler’s new descant sound returns with nostalgic sentimentality for “Like Him.” Tyler puts on a child-like persona, calling out to his mom, questioning who his absent father is and wondering if Tyler looks like him. 

“Mama, I’m chasing a ghost / I don’t know who he is,” Tyler sings, backed up by a chorus of soprano voices. 

The song closes with Smith asking Tyler to forgive her for never knowing his father. 

“Balloon” returns the record to Tyler’s fast-paced rap. The track features DoeChii with a raspy, emotionally raw run of lines in the second verse. 

The album’s closing “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” ties together the artistry and themes of “CHROMAKOPIA.”

The track ends as the album begins with Smith telling her son to “keep shining” before Tyler chants “Chromakopia, Chromakopia.” Brass instruments fade out concluding the song and album on an eerily vacant note.

Tyler, the Creator cements his mark on the industry with “CHROMAKOPIA.” The record provides a soul-stirring celebration of love, freedom and individualism with a chrome-colored atmosphere and carefully crafted instrumentation.

“CHROMAKOPIA” is available to stream on all major platforms.