Tyler the Creator: Chromakopia - REVIEW

 Ayo, what up y'all, what's poppin'? Ya boy Denzel's in the building, n we got that fire-hot rundown on that mad hyped up Chromakopia album by ya man Tyler the Creator. Word, this album got the streets talkin' heavy b—Tyler had big rigs with his promo plastered on 'em rollin’ coast-to-coast, secret hotlines with cryptic voicemails, wild costume gigs, man did everything but start up a church sewing circle, an' believe me, if that got him some shine,  son woulda gone and done it too. But finally, we here at release day, and we gonna see if all that hype was worth it. If you’re a diehard Tyler fan, this that joint that's gon’ be rewritin' the game n takin' us to church. Even if you just love the culture, this one’s got you lookin’.

Now, full honesty? Tyler ain’t usually my cup of tea. That "Call Me If You Get Lost" joint was mad nice, that’s the only release of son's that I really vibe with, but let’s see if this one changes that up. I’m rooting for the guy to go big, though, so let’s run it.

1. St. Chroma ft. Daniel Caesar -

Right out the gate, we got a spoken intro, and Tyler gettin' all whispery wit' the intro an' the album name—think I saw this in some promo clip for the album. Whisper game kinda edgy, got me like, "What’s up with all this mystery?" All I be hearin' is "What da fuck, how da fuck..." But then we hit this melodic hook, and boom, the beat switches up, takin' me somewhere. Real smooth start, smooth verse, nice rhymin' b. Seems like we on a personal trip with Tyler on this one. Good start.

Beats - 8/10
Lyrics - 7/10

15/20

2. Rah Tah Tah -

Ayo, ayo, this joint goes hard right from the jump! This the Tyler I’m here for, namsayin'??? My man’s rappin' over a beat that makes you wanna wild out on the freeway, runnin' over trees n' mess. He got bars too—"Know me and crack don’t share daddies, but we really twins." That’s clever, kinda funny too, son's got jokes. Got a little jumbled near the end in that fourth verse, but still fire. Hope he keeps this energy up.

Beats - 9/10
Lyrics - 8/10

17/20

3. Noid -

So I think this was the first single son dropped a couple weeks back, word. Starts with some vocal effects, kinda trippy vibe with a guitar. Someone's yellin’ in a language I don’t know, but Tyler ridin’ this beat like he’s on some next-level trip. Different vibe, but it works.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics - 7/10

13/20

4. Darling, I ft. Teezo Touchdown -

Anotha spoken intro here, real IGOR-esque. Word up, Denzel ain't really feelin' the first part here. Second part tho', Tyler being able to get ANY KINDA FLOW over that cotton candy beat—ya just gotta respect it. Line that hit me: "Nobody could fulfill me like this music shit does, so I'll be lonely with these Grammys when it’s all said and done." That ish bit deep, but yo, that mix kinda messy.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics - 8/10

14/20

5. Hey Jane -

Ayo, this one be on some personal kinda tip, a kinda self aware sorta vibe. Tyler's up in here talkin’ about gettin’ a girl pregnant accidentally. Then son gets the second verse on an' he's rapping from the girl's perspective. Dayum. This track real emotional, man. This one made me feel for the characters, Tyler bringin’ that storytelling talent in hard.

Beats - 8/10
Lyrics - 8/10

16/20

6. I Killed You ft. Childish Gambino -

This beat low-key all weird and skeletal. I kinda do vibe wit' it tho'. Tyler’s story tellin' again, but yo, this talkin' about killin' some chick, I ain't thinkin' it's literal, gotta be metaphorical here, word. Feels a bit repetitive, but it hits.

Beats - 7/10
Lyrics - 6/10
13/20

7. Judge Judy ft. Childish Gambino -

Oh no, now we got Tyler tryin’ to sing. Yo Tyler son, miss me with that hook. Ya gonna tell me your whole song's like built round that kinda hook? No, no, no, nah, we ain't feelin' this one b. That hook's mad cringe, and cause of that, the story don’t land right. Spoiler for y'all, Tyler's rappin' about a girl named Judy, n how she into bad stuff n crap, but we shouldn't "judge (action verb) Judy". Nah, that ain't it. Normally, Denzel would be up in here sympathisin' n stuff but this ain't done right. Feels mad awkward, b.

Beats - 4/10
Lyrics - 5/10
9/20

8. Sticky ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne -

Jus' when we was hopin' this tape gonna be good yo, all I see is Sexyy Red and Wayne, and I’m thinkin’, "Where’s this goin'?" But it’s better than expected—hook kinda funny, GloRilla got a decent verse, Sexyy Red’s was...let’s say messy. Wayne shows up with an okay bit. Tyler closes it clean, but this track got too many voices crowdin’ it. Weird sort of track, overloaded wit' all them commercialized kids hangin' out in the first half yo. Ain't feelin' this, but I won't be offended if it plays again.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics - 7/10
13/20

9. Take Your Mask Off -

This beat be soundin' like it got that hold music vibe, kinda just there, namsayin'? It's kinda deep though, Tyler's callin’ out hypocrisy in rap and church. Talkin' about the pedo priests n all that sicko mess. Verses build and I think Tyler's maybe even callin' out himself an' his own hypocrisies by the end. Cool, but not groundbreaking. I still kinda vibe wit' it tho'.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics - 8/10
14/20

10. Tomorrow -

Guitar kickin' in and this joint puttin’ me to sleep, real talk. Gotta respect the creative reach, but gimme an album with just straight up rap one day. This flow’s kinda misfired, whole song feels like a miscarriage, like a McRib without the rib, nahmean?

Beats - 3/10
Lyrics - 6/10
9/20

11. Thought I Was Dead ft. ScHoolboy Q -

Ayo, the homie ScHoolboy Q's on this? Aight, this joint's gonna get mad interestin', fo' sho'.

We got energy right from the top. Per usual, son's rhymes ain't too groundbreakin' or nothin', but ScHoolboy Q still holdin’ it down. Dayum, Tyler’s verse just went in an' stole it with that tight breath control—"Y'all wanna take what I got, but y’all do not got what it takes!" Fire. Great track!

Beats - 8/10
Lyrics - 7/10
15/20

12. Like Him -

Xylophone intro, kinda soft. Might be about his dad? Feels like Sunday church music, like sumthin' they be playin' at altar call. Not my thing, sorry.

Beats - 4/10
Lyrics - 5/10
9/10

13. Balloon ft. Doechii -

Doechii comes in, and it’s wild. Beat’s annoying but Doechii’s verse picks it up—still not a fave, but it does the job. Sista was spittin' mad hard flows on that second part. The ending's kinda goofy, but yo, she spazzed on this joint. She cleared Tyler, no question y'all.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics - 7/10
13/20

14. I Hope You Find Your Way Home -

Album closer got that mellow vibe, like we full circle on track one. This feels like classic Tyler. Real introspective, I dig it. Ayo, this is that track that y'all can give someone who wants to know who this Tyler boy is n' what he be about. Finely done track.

Beats - 6/10
Lyrics- 8/10
14/20

Final Score: 184/280 - 66%

Overall this Chromakopia tape's kinda like an audio safari through Tyler’s mind—ya in this auditory jungle, an' ya got ya lions, ya got ya elephants, ya got ya big floofy flowers, ya got ya poison tree frogs, an' ya got all that mess that be hangin' out there. Word, there's a lot to appreciate, but notice what I left out in all that - trees. There ain't that many really big TREES to this stuff, AKA solid songs that's gonna stand as classic. Word, this thing be feeling half-baked in some places. Not gonna lie, features didn’t do much for me or Tyler besides Q and Doechii. This album’s solid for Tyler’s ride-or-dies, but I’ll be holdin’ a few cuts on the playlist and passin’ on the rest. The ScHoolboy Q joint clears, so does "Rah Tah Tah" an' "Hey Jane". Don't get me wrong now, son ain't noways stupid or lazy, Tyler did his thing, it just ain’t all for me. If it’s for you, grab it; otherwise, keep it movin’. Peace fam!