Whether you’re a huge fan or not, many people know of one of the most controversial artists of the decade: Tyler, the Creator. His discography of music has showcased his unique creativity and individualism within the music industry. As he dropped one of the most anticipated albums of summer ‘19, many people are beginning to appreciate his sound through this album, known as “Igor.” Tyler completely stepped out of his normal comfort zone for this album, with beautiful piano chords and heartfelt lyrics in each of the songs. He even embodied an entirely new look, personality, and aesthetic that connects to Igor, to portray his growth as an artist in the most creative way possible. Because of his raw creativity in this project, Tyler, the Creator snagged his very first No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200.
Before the actual album released, many people were anticipating what it would sound like, since he is known as an unpredictable artist who experiments with new sounds in every album. In 2016, Tyler previously dropped “Flower Boy” which showed his transition into a brand new sound and persona. Comparing the raunchy, hardcore albums like “Goblin” (2011) and “Wolf” (2013), Igor exhibits Tyler’s growth as an artist. He explained in an interview about Igor that he “had finally created a project that expresses how much he has grown emotionally, mentally, and creatively over the years.” Igor is an album of pure heartbreak but in the prettiest form. With songs like “Earfquake,” “Gone, Gone” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” he created a masterpiece that’s both relatable, but still true to his unconventional ways. The album is full of features from notable artists, such as Charlie Wilson, Solange, Playboi Carti, Pharrell, and many more. Do you know what’s the best (and my favorite) part about Igor? It was produced, written, and arranged all by Tyler himself. Isn’t that insane? After sky-rocketing through the charts with pure originality, Tyler gained a bigger fanbase and even more love from other artists and celebrities.
The most unique aspect of Tyler as an artist is that he creates a persona that is an embodiment of each of his albums. With Igor, he claims his goal was to give a mysterious, but flamboyant look, that is similar to the structure of the album. Through many trials of experimenting, he essentially threw on a blonde wig and variations of custom made suits and decided that is what Igor would look like if it were an actual person. At all of his shows and guest appearances, he is always in full Igor attire.
I, myself, was able to experience Igor first hand at one of the shows of the Igor tour. I was completely blown away by how much thought he put into every detail of Igor. Being that I have following Tyler since the very beginning when he was just a misunderstood teenager with a dream, it was refreshing to witness how much he has blossomed. With all of the beautiful visuals and eccentric sounds throughout the show, Tyler has obviously evolved not only in his music but as a creative individual entirely.