CHROMAKOPIA

 

CHROMAKOPIA 

I have a list of albums to write about that I have been following for each week but with the release of Tyler, The Creator’s new album happening today, I decided to cover this one instead. Tyler has entered a new stage of his life and is beginning to question himself and his choices. This feels far more personal than his previous albums. CHROMAKOPIA is a great high-concept album with many layers. Here he introduced a new persona to add to his many alter egos that make up his discography and identity. This is something that I’ve always admired about his music, how he attaches himself to his art in a way I haven’t seen other rappers do. 

The persona for this era is presumably referred to as St. Chroma which is also the name of the opening track. A military motif can be heard in the form of chants as well as the military uniform featured on the album cover. This character is inspired by Chroma the Great, a character from the children’s novel The Phantom Tollbooth. It took me embarrassingly long to realize that most of the songs seamlessly transitioned into the next. This is a choice I’ve always been fond of in albums, making the listening experience feel more cohesive. Noid is a deeper look at Tyler’s distrust of others as a result of the fame he’s achieved. I believe this track serves as a direct callout towards parasocial relationships between celebrities and their fans. A lot of fans feel entitled to all parts of a public figure. It is a really interesting perspective to think about as most of us will never fully understand what it is like to lose yourself to the public in that way. The track also features voice notes from his mother with lessons she taught him growing up. 

Darling, I was one of my favorites, covering the expression of love and commitment. He is open about his desire for an emotional connection. Even with this sentiment he is fearful of the idea of being together forever. The conflicting feelings on this track are well articulated as he takes a very vulnerable stance on love. Sticky was such a fun listen. Despite claims that Tyler wouldn’t have any features, this song brought together Lil Wayne, Sexy Redd, and Glorilla. I felt this song didn’t really fit with the tone of the rest of the album but I appreciate its inclusion regardless.

Take Your Mask Off directly criticizes those who aren’t true to themselves and take the moral high ground against who they truly are. The perspectives we are given are that of a homophobe who turns out to be a closeted homosexual and a housewife, bitter about how her life turned out. Both of them are living a lie, he encourages them to remove the mask and live authentically. He then shifts the focus onto himself, saying he’s not above what he is calling them out for. The title of this song may be a direct reference to the album cover, as he is wearing a mask too. Tomorrow is a glance into the passage of time. I would have preferred it to be longer as I really loved it. This and Hey Jane seem to be an introspective into parenthood and the sacrifices of the self. Parenthood is a prevalent theme that is present in quite a few of the songs. There’s a fear there that if it isn’t prevented, he is destined to repeat the mistakes his parents made. 

Like Him is a clear standout track amongst the others. This isn’t the first time he’s released a song about his absent father but I feel this one contains so much depth. Every part of him is described to be someone else’s. This loss of self in the eyes of his mother is something that weighs heavily on him. The instrumental is beautiful, containing so much raw emotion. It is heartbreaking imagining how it must feel to be compared so closely to someone you don’t even know. The song ends with a voice note from his mother, taking fault for him never having the chance to meet his father. I think this is one of the best songs that Tyler has released. 

I see CHROMAKOPIA as a glimpse beneath his mask, as he’s beginning to embrace his true self. The storytelling about his upbringing on this album is a major highlight. Tyler, The Creator has created an immersive album that is sure to resonate with many people. Musically, the album is strong and feels like a great follow up to his previous album Call Me If You Get Lost.