Can you feel that fire?: Tyler, the Creator’s new album Chromakopia

Madeline Santos, Staff Writer

Song One: "St Chroma"

“St Chroma” is the opening song introducing Tyler's new album with an inspirational message from his mother saying don't ever dim your light for anybody. Tyler starts repeatedly saying “Chromakopia” with an aggressive whispering voice and constant stomping in the background, which made me wonder what will come next. Towards the end, Daniel Caesar is featured, adding life to this album; he made me enjoy this song even more, boosting the introduction song's beat and vibe. “Can you feel the light inside? Can you feel that fire?” is the most popular song lyric in the whole album, and I can even find myself repeating the lyrics in my head. Together, these artists created a strong melody, which made me add “St. Chroma” to my music playlist.

Song Two: “Rah Tah Tah”

“Rah Tah Tah” is an upbeat rap song from the start compared to the previous song “St. Chroma.” It has a sense of distorted, aggressive beats, which is Tyler’s signature style and was what pulled me into listening and enjoying this album. He also has hints of humor scattered throughout the song talking about Zendaya and also bragging his “crib is so damn big, I need a diaper and a sippy cup.” These lyrics kept me wanting more. His signature style is very prominent in this song and “St. Chroma” reeled people into his new album, which I find very intriguing.

Song Three: “Noid”

“Noid” is short for paranoid, which has a deeper meaning as the song raves about how he desires privacy. This is a common topic amongst famous people, and I’ve noticed everyone in the spotlight can relate to these lyrics. Tyler talks about the paranoia of being a public figure and constantly having eyes following him. Celebrity culture and the dark side of fame are the main themes of “Noid” and include heavy-feeling lyrics, which sent shivers down my spine. The music video visually highlighted the struggles and fears Tyler experiences with obsessed fans, offering a perspective for myself and other listeners on the consequences of public exposure.

Song Four: “Darling, I”

“Darling, I” is a complete switch from “Noid.” It has less heavy, upsetting lyrics, and a high beat peppy sound but a deeper meaning. I found this song relatable for many people–the fear of committing to someone could seem terrifying. Love is a recurring topic in “Darling, I” and shows the importance of balancing love and self-awareness, which is a common topic. In the lyrics, “Ooh, I got a problem, I don’t know if I can change / Ooh, they wanna turn me down, but it’s just my brain / I can’t sign the dotted line / Just how long is forever?” it shows he isn’t able to be committed to one person. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the melody and lyrics this song brought. It offered a different perspective on love.

Song Five: "Hey Jane"

“Hey Jane,” is about unplanned pregnancy and the stages the mother and the father go through. I’ve never experienced this, but I have watched it happen in multiple movie plots. From singing “Still in shock” at the beginning of the song to ending with “Just know I’ll support you either way, no pressure,” it brings up the discussion of reproductive freedom, which is a large topic in the United States. Tyler brought relatability and real-world struggles into one song by integrating snappy, chill instrumentals in the background. This song is my favorite song in the album since it ties in with how women should have a choice about what happens to their bodies. It’s a powerful song that I constantly have on my mind.

Song Six: "I Killed You"

“I Killed You” has a nursery rhyme feeling in the first couple of seconds, which I thought was a playful, silly tone until it quickly switched to instrumentals going up and back down, making me guess what Tyler was going to do next. “I Killed You” highlights the struggles of beauty standards and how these standards can kill one's natural selves. I could relate to the lyrics of never being able to see myself as beautiful or perfect in any state, but especially my natural one; constantly having the desire to change myself. Childish Gambino's appearance in the song also serves as a highlight to the importance of embracing natural beauty and to send the message that I, and everyone else, are not alone in experiencing these insecurities about our natural forms.

Song Seven: "Judge Judy"

“Judge Judy” has a soft tone and isn’t overwhelming. This song also contains lyrics from a past song “DOGTOOTH,” which made me nostalgic. The lyrics tell a story about a previous romance with a girl named Judy. Not only does this song talk about the physical attraction of first meeting her, but also the acceptance of other sides of her, hence the lyrics, “I won’t judge Judy.” Personally, this song made me happy and gave me a deeper understanding of accepting all sides of someone, even the things about them that aren’t perfect. I think this song pairs perfectly after listening to “I Killed You.” Childish Gambino was featured again in this song, elevating the chorus and mixing in nicely with Tyler's voice and finishing off the story.

Song Eight: "Sticky"

“Sticky” starts with whistling and cheering, has a harsh melody, and reminds me of “Rich Baby Daddy” by Drake. For me, this song smoothly transitioned into GloRilla’s part, blending in perfectly with the beat and adding her personal touch. After her feature, she fades out in harmony with Tyler, then Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne. The overall vibe of this song would be perfect to play at a party since it’s filled with high beats and catchy lyrics. This song overall has a combination of powerful, known singers talking about their self-worth and ignoring anyone who hates them, which I believe is a beautiful message after listening to “Noid.”

Song Nine: "Take Your Mask Off"

“Take Your Mask Off” has another calmer tone which gave my ears a little rest after “Sticky.” Tyler’s album has a pattern from high-energy songs to soft melodies—a perfect balance to the album. This song suggests that being your authentic self is what is best instead of hiding behind a mask—yet another theme that I resonate with. “Take Your Mask Off” is a truthful song featuring Daniel Caesar and LaToiya, creating another tune that is easy on the ears. Not only is this song easy on the ears, it’s another one of my favorites, leading me to add another song from Chromakopia to my playlist.

Song Ten: "Tomorrow"

“Tomorrow” starts with another couple of lines from Tyler, the Creator's mother, Bonita Smith, explaining that she wants a grandchild from Tyler. I can relate to this—I am nowhere close to becoming a mother or starting a family—but my family does still bring in the pressure of creating a family in the future. Although there is humor on the surface of that quote, the meaning goes deeper. The fear of society's expectations of transitioning into parenthood is real. Almost everyone expects someone to create their own family, and that pressure can be overwhelming.

Song 11: "Thought I Was Dead"

“Thought I Was Dead” is a bright song, with complex lyrics that I think fits Tyler’s style perfectly. He talks about his desire for privacy and to be out of the public eye similar to“Noid,” which I thoroughly enjoyed. This track provides an eccentric, energetic rap that reels his fans and new listeners in, including myself.

Song 12: : "Like Him"

“Like Him,” is one of the most popular songs in Chromakopia, garnering popularity through its catchy melody and help through TikTok popularity. I’ve seen countless edits of this song and “Like Him” related videos on my feed constantly. “Like Him” talks about Tyler asking his mother if he reminds her of his father. Despite having a father figure in my life, this song had an emotional appeal to me. The emotional impact of Tyler’s voice and lyrics are very strong in creating a memorable piece in this album.

Song 13: "Balloon"

“Balloon” begins with a lively tune and keeps that catchy tune throughout the song. This song explains the feeling of detachment. “Balloon” also features Doechii and she delivers a certain flow to the song making it more enticing and bold than before. After her feature, I started listening to more of her songs. Her voice is so captivating in “Balloon” that it made me want to listen further.

Song 14: "I Hope You Find Your Way Home"

“I Hope You Find Your Way Home” is the last song in the album. This song was the perfect way to close his album. I was able to follow the steps of all the songs embedded into this one song, which combined all the emotions perfectly. It is a softer tune at first, but as the song progresses, it becomes more intense just like the order of his songs switching from calm to powerful. The ending left his listeners with a message of him trying to redefine what “home” is, which left me content with what I listened to but still with a sense of emptiness.

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