Tyler the Writer’s ‘Chromakopia’ Is His Maximum Original Self But

Bro, the entirety I assumed I knew was once long past. I assumed I had a seize on s–t. The songs that’s been out 3 weeks went up greater than the vintage data.”

It’s an early Tuesday afternoon in mid-­November and Tyler, The Writer remains to be in disbelief. Only a few weeks previous, he’d launched his new album, Chromakopia, and the reaction was once in contrast to any in his complete profession. “It’s been a f–king crack in my truth, for this album the place I’m simply crying about being 33 like a b–ch.”

3 days prior to our dialog, he’d carried out a collection in large part devoted to the album at Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, a two-day track pageant in Los Angeles that he began in 2012 and continues to curate. This yr was once the tenth version, a triumphant second for an match that started with seven acts and now appears like a smaller, extra walkable Coachella for locals — entire with track and meals and rides and merch and trendy picks from Tyler’s line GOLF — within the Dodger Stadium parking zone.

At Flog Gnaw, Tyler took the degree atop a delivery container, dressed in a inexperienced go well with are compatible for a bellhop in a rather bizarro Emerald Town, a bust-like masks with cutout holes for his eyes and an Afro with two peaks and a valley between them — an ensemble with hints of Janet Jackson circa Rhythm Country (no less than from the neck down), and which Tyler described to me as each “Captain Crunch” and “a homosexual dictator.” It’s the uniform of the nature he’s taking on for his new album, each haunting and militant, the newest regulate ego the Hawthorne, Calif., local has assumed. After appearing the primary 4 tracks, he paused to thank the ones within the target market for his or her love — and allow them to know that Chromakopia was once No. 1 at the Billboard 200 for a 3rd immediately week. Simplest Taylor Swift and Sabrina Wood worker did 3 immediately weeks in 2024. “To try this, at my tenth carnival, in my f–king town, what are we speaking about?” The group cheered for him and themselves: In combination, they did it.

Tyler launched his album on a Monday as a substitute of the usual Friday; he sought after other people to start out their week with Chromakopia as a substitute of in the course of the night time as their weekend started. The verdict mirrored 3 distinct aspects of his character — striking the track over the entirety, rejecting trade norms and a self belief that, without reference to the day of the week, his lovers will display up. “The hope was once that individuals listened actively, no longer along hundreds of different issues that pop out each and every Friday,” says Jen Mallory, president of Columbia Data, which has been freeing Tyler’s track since 2017’s Flower Boy. “In fact, shortening the discharge week isn’t an instinctive thought in nowadays’s marketplace, however whilst you ship the ingenious T did along the album — visible trailers, traveling bulletins, reside occasions and extra — it was once plain. And the completely huge reaction signifies that his speculation was once greater than right kind.”

“I stored telling n—as for a year-and-a-half, ‘­No matter I put out subsequent, I’m striking that b–ch out on a Monday,’ ” Tyler says. “I’m no longer doing that silly Friday s–t. We’re striking that s–t out on Monday and everybody’s going to find out about it.” The plan labored, with Tyler hitting the highest spot that week, even whilst handicapping himself with a shortened gross sales week. Simplest Beyoncé, Swift, Wood worker, Travis Scott, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar had larger first weeks in 2024. “I knew other people would have an interest,” he says with a confusion that he’s embracing. “However I didn’t be expecting this.”

Following his brief Flog Gnaw speech, he ­transitioned into songs from his catalog. However at the same time as lovers loved his previous subject matter — belting each and every phrase of “Dogtooth,” moshing to “Lumberjack” — there was once a palpable eagerness for Tyler to get again to the brand new album. The other is most often true at gala’s; an artist’s devoted essentially in attendance to look their favourite convey the hits to existence. However that Saturday night time, Tyler was once appearing for individuals who hadn’t grew to become off Chromakopia since its unencumber 20 days prior. And as he marched thru his 8th studio album, the group was once proper with him, screaming alongside to each and every lyric, ­ad-lib, chant — even Tyler’s recordings of his mom that seem all the way through the album and rang out as though she was once the voice of the midnight California sky.

Tyler and Sexyy Purple traded verses and threw ass on the crowd all over “Sticky,” a large a laugh tune constructed round horns and whistles and beating at the cafeteria desk. “I sought after one thing for the drill crew on the f–king pep rallies,” Tyler instructed me, “one thing for the band to play at halftime.” His want got here true prior to his efficiency; Jackson State College’s Sonic Increase of the South broke it out previous within the day in its matchup in opposition to Alabama State. He introduced out ­ScHoolboy Q — whom Tyler describes as certainly one of his few actual pals within the track trade — for “Concept I Used to be Lifeless,” and, 10 mins later, he carried out “Balloon” with Doechii and Daniel Caesar, fueling a “Doechii, Doechii” chant and thanking Caesar for his assist in completing Chromakopia. The affection and appreciation was once at an all-time top, each within the crowd and onstage.

“I’ve pals that’s been to about each and every display,” Tyler says after Flog Gnaw is over, “they usually had been like, ‘That’s the loudest crowd I’ve ever heard.’ ”

I used to be ready for the adoration Tyler will get in his town as a result of I noticed him in June on the Kia Discussion board in Inglewood, up the road from the place he grew up. It wasn’t even his display — this was once The Pop Out: Ken & Pals, Lamar’s first live performance since his red meat started within the spring with Drake. “I wasn’t even intended to move — I used to be in Atlanta running in this album,” Tyler explains. “However I landed that morning and couldn’t pass over this s–t. And I don’t even get FOMO in any respect, n—a — I’ll fall asleep. However I’m cool with Kenny and Dave [Free] and Tim [Hinshaw] from Unfastened Lunch. So I went house, showered and ran immediately there.”

He carried out two songs, together with “Earfquake” from his 2019 album, IGOR. Apparently everybody on the Discussion board knew each and every phrase. “I really suppose I’m higher at my R&B making a song s–t as a complete than my rap s–t,” he tells me. “And the ones are typically my largest data.” And when Tyler screamed “Say what!,” the capability crowd was the Southern California Group Choir, belting, “Don’t leeeeeeeeeeeeeeave, it’s my fault.”

For years, Tyler has persisted to complicate what a pop superstar can include. He’s taken on other personas, other seems, rapped about various things and assists in keeping getting larger and larger. However as he’s turn into certainly one of fashionable track’s maximum dependable and admired mavericks, he’s existed outdoor of the L.A. hip-hop zeitgeist. Town wasn’t a number one identifier for him, no less than in comparison with a Lamar, a YG, a Vince Staples. However he’s central to the present historical run of Los Angeles track, in addition to the group that makes L.A. some of the particular hubs for hip-hop.

“I’m in reality from town,” he says. As he continues to speak about house, his accessory will get thicker and thicker. That love for Los Angeles is why he began Flog Gnaw within the first position: “Out of doors of sports activities stuff, it felt like L.A. didn’t have one thing that was once its personal factor.” With this yr’s delusion lineup — together with Staples, Kaytranada, Playboi Carti, André 3000, Erykah Badu, Denzel Curry, Faye Webster, Blood Orange and Syd — Tyler’s want to no less than moderately right kind this got here true. “I’m satisfied that Flog Gnaw has other people from town feeling like that is theirs,” he says a bit of coyly. “A minimum of that’s what it appears like once a year.”

“I’m no longer who they had been presented to at 20. I’m no longer even who I used to be a yr in the past,” Tyler says, sounding a bit of pissed off on the perception that he most likely might be. “Once they’re like, ‘I need the previous model,’ I are aware of it’s as a result of they’re nonetheless there. However I’m no longer. And I’m OK with it as a result of my identification doesn’t leisure in a model of myself.”

I first noticed Tyler, The Writer carry out in 2012 on the Hammerstein Ballroom in Midtown Big apple. His rap collective, Abnormal Long term Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), had turn into a web-based sensation over the previous few years — no longer only for its transgressive track, but in addition for antics that felt just like the Black evolution of Jackass — and there was once a degree of buzz across the display, each from the rap-fan concertgoers and the younger track bloggers keen to look if the phenomenon would translate offline.

Whilst some within the target market expected conceivable appearances by means of erstwhile individuals Earl Sweatshirt and Frank Ocean, it was once Tyler, the group’s de facto chief and leader provocateur, who outlined the display. He’d most commonly been recognized for his 2009 debut album, Bastard, and the Abnormal Long term mixtape Radical that got here the next yr, each notable for his or her unique manufacturing and surprising lyrics. However Tyler’s true superstar flip got here in 2011 on Past due Night time With Jimmy Fallon, Abnormal Long term’s first nationally televised look. Previously, Tyler tweeted, “I wish to scare the f–k out of previous white people who reside in heart f–king The united states.”

He stored his phrase, as he and fellow Abnormal Long term rapper Hodgy Beats carried out “Sandwitches” from Tyler’s 2nd album, 2011’s Goblin, subsidized by means of The Roots. They wore ski mask and raced across the degree find it irresistible was once a hardcore display because the digicam now and again panned to scattered lawn gnomes and this one creepy white lady floating across the band, her lengthy darkish hair overlaying her face like she was once in The Ring. Tyler ultimately left the degree, ran to Fallon’s table and completed the episode at the host’s again. It was once a cultural reset — an plain TV second.

Like many at that 2012 Hammerstein display, I sought after to really feel that Fallon power in actual existence. And whilst Tyler did mirror it there, my very own takeaway was once very other: Sure, he was once the chief, a real frontman, however much more so, he was once head cheerleader for each and every Abnormal Long term member. When Frank sat on the piano and sang “White,” Tyler went to the facet, pulled out a Polaroid digicam and began taking pictures. As Earl, in his first efficiency in two years, driven thru his verse on “Oldie,” Tyler introduced their complete workforce onstage to again him — a wall of improve, a visualization of a musical and cultural motion that deserved consideration.

Tyler, The Writer loves to like issues. He’s partial to the perfect order, a high quality that continuously will get misplaced all over a climb to the highest and a trait of his that hasn’t wavered to at the present time. After I arrived for our first of 2 conversations for this tale, a few days prior to his Flog Gnaw efficiency, Tyler was once status along with his longtime managers, Christian and Kelly Clancy, obsessing over one thing on his telephone. Somebody had despatched Tyler a Pharrell Williams efficiency clip, one he’d been trying to find for the decade, and his temper was once a mixture of Christmas morning, profitable the lottery and finding buried treasure. His enthusiasm was once entrancing: a celebrity whose inspirations nonetheless made him really feel like a bit child.

“Those who had been the North Famous person for me, in case you generalize it, they had been all the time left of heart,” Tyler says. So it’s no surprise that he made up our minds to musically and aesthetically practice go well with. “If I’m 12 and other people in class are like, ‘That’s bizarre, that’s wack,’ I’m like, ‘However the n—as on my partitions will suppose it’s cool. And y’all can’t evaluate to them. So f–k y’all.’ ”

That mentality is a part of what makes him a unique artist. He isn’t shackled by means of the worry of failure, the motive force that stifles creativity. The opposite driver comes from his mom, Bonita Smith. “I were given hugs at house,” Tyler proudly says. “I’m very fortunate and thankful to have grown up in a space stuffed with love, with a cheerleader that was once like, ‘Be your self,’ ‘Do what you need,’ ‘F–k what they believe,’ ‘I’m your good friend.’ ” On Chromakopia’s first observe, “St. Chroma,” she says, “Don’t you ever, for your motherf–king existence, dim your gentle for no one.” The combo of her affect, teenage rise up and the blueprints left by means of his favourite artists gave him a self belief that turned into foundational. “I haven’t any selection however to be opinionated and don’t care if I glance dumb as f–k. Despite the fact that I alter my thoughts tomorrow.”

Chromakopia, like maximum of Tyler’s discography, tells the tale of his existence within the provide. “The entirety is self-indulgent to me,” he says about making songs, as a result of he’s no longer doing it to be relatable or appease an target market or some former model of his fandom. Few artists have as truthful and combative of a dating with listeners as Tyler. He’s repeatedly vacillating between inspiration and frustration. He loves gazing other people reply to his tweets about favourite lyrics and songs, what grew on them, what they hated to start with. As it’s no longer about whether or not you favor his track or no longer — it’s that he craves true engagement. “Expound on that f–king concept, b–ch,” Tyler says of the critiques, the feedback, the takes, the loss of articulation about why you favor or dislike one thing. “If I used to be president, the very first thing I might do is take podcast mics clear of n—as.”

It may be dangerous for artists to desert the sound or material that gave them preliminary reputation, a choice that some lovers deal with as a betrayal. However this album, just like 2017’s Flower Boy, 2019’s IGOR and 2021’s Name Me If You Get Misplaced, is a time tablet, a front-row seat to the existence and thoughts and present ingenious headspace of Tyler Okonma. On Chromakopia, he explores subject matters starting from monogamy (“Darling, I”) to unplanned pregnancies and fatherhood (“Whats up Jane”) to the trimmings of reputation that run all the way through the album. “It’s other people announcing that they are able to’t relate to the tune,” Tyler says of “Noid,” the primary unmarried. “In fact you’ll’t. That’s why I made the tune, since you don’t know what it’s like to not move outdoor and no longer personal your self, other people stealing from you, voice-recording you, following n—as house, other people looking to lure you — no one looking to lure y’all n—as. I’m a catch.”

The album is deeply private. “I’m an excellent extrovert, however I’m an excessively personal particular person with my existence,” Tyler says, “so striking some of these things on wax was once so much for me.” The day after Chromakopia’s unencumber at a display in Atlanta, he went additional: “It’s so truthful that I feel I needed to put on a masks by myself face to get that s–t out.” He faces the ones fears at the album’s aptly titled emotional top level, “Take Your Masks Off,” and when he carried out it at Flog Gnaw, by means of the tune’s conclusion, his masks was once long past.

Tyler does have a degree of adulthood that may come from rising up in public, which, as he issues out, he did: “I’ve been well-known and financially solid since I used to be 19, by myself since 16.” And now, at 33, he’s a veteran, making track about growing old and what it appears like. “I instructed my homie, ‘That is the 30s album,’ ” Tyler says. “This album is more than likely s–t that individuals undergo at 24, however I’ve lived a distinct existence. N—as round me are having youngsters and households and in reality being adults and I’m over right here like, ‘I feel I’m going to color my automotive red.’ That feels loopy, however it’s all I do know.”

And the reception to Chromakopia makes it transparent that quite a few Tyler’s listeners do percentage his worries, anxieties, dilemmas. “Persons are connecting with the phrases in some way that feels larger than me,” he says. “I’ve by no means hit other people at this stage.”

After I ask him concerning the album’s nearer, “I Hope You To find Your Method House,” he lighting up. “I feel the way in which you finish an album is so essential!” he exclaims. From Kevin Kendricks’ neck-tingling synthesizer to Tyler’s personal background vocals along Daniel Caesar and Solange Knowles to his grand finale of a rap verse, it’s a mirrored image and a solution, one full of hope for our respective trips forward. “I knew that’s how I sought after to finish it, with the synth, simply letting n—as sit down there and consider regardless of the f–k simply took place,” he says, obviously extremely joyful with the way in which he landed the airplane.

However for Tyler, uncertainty concerning the long term could also be a supply of pleasure. He’s these days dipping his toe again into performing, along with his first characteristic movie, the Josh Safdie-directed, Timothée Chalamet-starring Marty Superb, at the horizon. “That is the place I’m at 33; who is aware of what I’ll be making at 36,” he says. “My 30s had been such a lot iller than my 20s. I’m excited for us to be 43 years previous and notice the place we’ve taken it. I don’t know what the f–k I’m doing at that time, possibly bald — with one braid and a hanging earring, making gospel, telling everybody concerning the zucchinis.”

No matter it’s, he’s excited, as all the time, by means of the unknown. “I’ve by no means no longer caught to my weapons. Any model y’all see me in is probably the most truthful model at the moment,” Tyler says. He’s brash and impressive and uncompromising about his artwork, however it’s additionally transparent how thankful he feels. “I’m so blessed and lucky. 13 years in and my newest s–t is my largest. Occasionally it’s like, ‘What the f–k, it will’t be actual.’ However then it’s additionally like, ‘I instructed y’all.’ It’s gorgeous.”

This tale seems within the Dec. 14, 2024, factor of Billboard.