Chromakopia

Tyler the Creator’s Chromakopia, released on October 28, 2024, blends jazz, hip-hop, and soul while exploring personal growth, family dynamics, and self-reflection. Acclaimed for its cohesive production and introspective lyricism, Chromakopia offers a raw, vulnerable look at life’s complexities, emphasizing growth, evolving relationships, and the ongoing journey of self-discovery.

The eighth studio album by Tyler, the Creator was released on October 28th, 2024. Written, produced, and arranged by Tyler, Chromakopia serves as a follow-up to his 2021 release Call Me If You Get Lost. The album features a multitude of artists, including Daniel Caesar, Childish Gambino, Solange, Baby Keem, and many more. Chromakopia showcases a blend of jazz, hip-hop, and soul, embracing eclectic instrumentation. This blend of genres is quite reminiscent of Cherry Bomb and Flower Boy, his fourth and fifth studio albums.

Tyler the Creator via his personal IG © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

During an exclusive listening event for Chromakopia, Tyler opened up about the meaning and concept behind the album. Originally, the album was written about his childhood and growing up in Hawthorne, Inglewood.

“I was born and raised in L.A., Inglewood, Hawthorne to be exact. This album originally started about growing up in these areas. I was like, 'Oh, shit, no one knows anything about me from before I was like 17…And I don't mirror what they expect, so ... But the album now has turned into me taking a bunch of shit my mom told me as a kid. Now that I'm 33 all of that stuff is like, 'Oh, that's what the fuck she was talking about. Oh, I'm not the guy that I was at 20. Like, oh shit, people are getting older ... Folks having kids and families and all I got is a new Ferrari.' And it does feel kind of weird. I'm gaining weight, I've got gray hair on my chest, life is life-ing. I don't know, I just wanted to kind of just write about stuff that I think about when I'm solo. And I'm happy y'all got a chance to experience it in my hometown. So thanks y'all for coming.”

The idea behind it was that the album is narrated by Bonita Smith, his mother, and so takes the form of a diary. The album provides an introspective into Tyler’s past experiences. Since its release, the album has received acclaim from critics, praising its cohesiveness, production, lyricism, and surprisingly a positive take on Chromakopia’s confusing nature.

Additionally to the album, the artist uploaded a behind the scenes video MASK IS OFF: CHROMAKOPIA. While relatively short, it provides a magnifying lens into the creative process behind the album - we see clips from composition sessions and instrumentation arrangements. 

The album includes 14 tracks, in which we get an insight into Tyler’s personal battles with the inconspicuous disintegration of naivety as he matures. The cover of the album features St. Chroma—the protagonist of the album, and also the name of the first track. Saint Chroma, Tyler’s Chromakopia alter ego, conveys a freer creative and individual spirit. As the story of the album progresses, the true man behind the mask comes to the surface.

“Darling, I” is my personal favorite of the album due to its composition, as well as the lyrics. Primarily, this song is a story of the artist's reflection on love, relationships, and self-awareness. Most prominently, Tyler discusses the concept of monogamy and his inner conflict of committing to one person forever:

"See, monogamy, that shit is not for me (Nah)
One option for everybody? Don't you lie to me (Don't you lie)
Too many rules, I’m too curious to try to be
Hidin’ things, feelin' shame build inside of me
’Cause honestly (Psh), T is not perfect
So how can I get everything from one person?
I'm at the altar, but I'm still searchin'
I’m only human, if it ain't work, things change
And nothing stays the same, I believe
Hmm, maybe lettin' go is a beautiful thing
Perfect for the time being, y'all ain't do nothin' wrong
Life is short, but forever is so goddamn long
I like alone time, I'm on my own time"

“Hey Jane” & “I Hope You Find Your Way Back Home” are two interconnected tracks on the album, touching on the topic of pregnancy and fatherhood. In “Hey Jane”, we receive a two-sided perspective on the situation—from Tyler and his partner. His fear of responsibility mixed with her fears about single-motherhood. “I Hope You Find Your Way Back Home” is a continuation of “Hey Jane”, in which he opens up about not being ready to father a child.

"See, that's my interest, so as of now, raising a child is not on my wish list (Nope)
Neither is being a safety net for bitches
I'm too selfish, contradiction (Ah)
Maybe I should before I'm too old and washed up like dishes (Washed)
Never bite tongue 'til a tooth sore"

Perhaps the most viral song of the album, “Like Him”, delves into the topic of Tyler’s complex relationships with his father. This has been a recurring theme in previous works before, most notably with the track “Answer” from Wolf (2013) and “Inglorious” from Bastard (2009). In contrast to his previous work on the matter, “Like Him” is a much more mellow perspective on the issue. His previous works reflected feelings of anger and aggression, whereas this track communicates acceptance alongside grief and wonder.

"You gave me love and affection
Attention (Go), protection
How could I ever miss something (Go)
That I'd never had?
I would never judge ya
'Cause everything worked out without him (Like what?)
Like him (Like what?)
Like him (Huh?)

Mama, I'm chasing a ghost
I don't know who he is
Mama, I'm chasing a ghost
I don't know where he is
Mama, I'm chasing a ghost
Do I look
(Huh?)

Like him
Like him"

At the end of the song, it is revealed that Tyler’s mother kept his father away from him, while he wanted to be part of his life. This emotional turning point of the album is what I believe inspired a more tolerant point-of-view on Tyler’s relationship with his father.

Many critics have labeled Chromakopia as the beginning of a midlife crisis, something which has become an increasing psychological state in younger generations over the newfound realities of adulthood. Personally, for me, I see it as a work of self-exploration, where we see the complexities that come with becoming your own individual and maturing. Tyler illustrates the contradictory nature of our relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners which we spend the majority of our lives figuring out, as they are ever-changing. Chromakopia has given us a vulnerable and raw side of Tyler, one which understands the intricacies of adulthood and never really having it figured out.