Chromakopia (2024) is the newest studio album from Tyler Okonma, better known in the music world as Tyler, the Creator. It’s his eighth album overall and a return of sorts – his first album in three years since the release of Call Me If You Get Lost in 2021.
One of the main themes of Chromakopia are worries about commitment. The lyrics glide across instrumentals comprised of many historically Black sounds and predominantly-Black timing signatures with origins in African music. These styles culminate in mesmerizing soundscapes in songs like Sticky and Thought I Was Dead, which, with the rest of the songs on this album, create a thrilling listen with many ranges of emotion.
The theme of commitment continues through multiple tracks, such as Hey Jane, where Tyler talks us through finding out a girl he was in a relationship with is pregnant: “Hey Jane, I’m terrified, petrified. I don’t wanna give my freedom up, or sanitize it,” and, “Wow, I’m disappointed in me, this ain’t like me. How can I be reckless? This ain’t my lifestyle.”
In the same vein, Tyler shows concern about having kids before his body loses the ability to have any, seen in the line “These jet black strands are turning gray. I’m gaining weight, I’d rather rest. The thought of children, it brings me stress because time is changing.” The song also features voice lines from Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, saying that she wants him to have a child before she passes away, saying “I’m gettin’ old and I need a grandchild, please. Just one.”
Relationships aren’t the only thing that he shows hesitancy to devote himself to. In the sixth song of the album, I Killed You, Tyler speaks on his change in hairstyle over the years. From blonde bangs to leopard print to his newest haircut that resembles a half-pipe, Tyler is no stranger to change. In I Killed You, the lyrics are seemingly speaking directly to his hair in lines such as “Just as beautiful. I didn’t mean to. You’re so beautiful.”
In the song Take Your Mask Off, Tyler opens with three verses about other people living a life that they don’t want to lead: a gang member, a preacher, and a mother. In the fourth verse, Tyler confronts himself, talking about all of the things that he lied to other people about, from his family to his fans. Lines like “keep runnin’, you’ll be cramping in the foot” show his desire to become someone he is able to be proud of, ending this verse with “Take your mask off and tell ‘em the truth, let’s talk about it.”
In all, Chromakopia serves as a great showcase of introspection. With Tyler at the head of music for the foreseeable future, the industry seems to be in good hands for a long time to come.
