Tyler, the Creator, is a multifaceted artist known for his music, entertainment, and even fashion contributions. As he indulged himself in the beauty of music, he quickly became recognized in the 2000s for his unfiltered lyrics; he’s famous for keeping everything as real as possible. Over time, he became more respected, creating a world of R&B, rap, jazz, and pop through albums such as Igor, Flowerboy, and Call Me If You Get Lost.
Tyler’s most recent album, Chromakopia, explains what he’s learned about life and the messages passed down to him from generation to generation, hoping to inspire his fans to pass those same messages on. The album was released on October 28th, taking the world by storm, as its debut, St. Chroma, was released on October 16th, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
Chromakopia is about what a person experiences in their life, the lessons they learn, and how those lessons can be perceived. Tyler expressed through his work that everyone has their own way of seeing things. Most of these songs relay a lesson that Tyler has learned at a point in his life. Some of them describe his feelings as he entered the world of fame, songs such as Noid depict the pressure Tyler felt when he became famous.
In addition, St. Chroma explores the contrast of conformity and reality; it highlights the fact that a person will not always be uniform and the same as other people, and they’ll have their own unique personalities. The song also references how Tyler became who he is today, overcoming pressures to fit in and, instead, standing out amongst the crowd.
The album was inspired by the character Chroma, the Great, from the movie The Phantom Tollbooth. In the movie, the character’s purpose is to guide the main character to learn self-discipline and how to take responsibility for his own actions. This can be applied to Chromakopia, as lessons learned in life can change a person, not just in how others view them but also in how they view themselves.
Themes of confidence, self-preservation, pressure, love, self-awareness, and vulnerability can all be taken from the album. Tyler’s album was a way of teaching others the lessons and experiences he went through during the duration of not only his childhood but his entrance into the world of music and fashion.