CHROMOKOPIA: A Personal Album Review

On Oct. 28th at 6 a.m. EST, artist Tyler, the Creator broke two unspoken rules. 

1. You don’t drop an album on a Monday.
2. Tyler, the Creator only releases an album every two years. 

While the reviews and conversation surrounding his recent drop are still ongoing, there seems to be a consensus that the wait was worth it.

My opinion, as neither a hater of his music nor an avid listener, is that CHROMOKOPIA is a star-studded album, sometimes catchy and sometimes weird, flowing brilliantly into itself for all 14 songs. Tyler, the Creator who’s known typically for his album’s eclectic imagery and storytelling, has lived up to his name. His teaser for the first track on the album “St. Chroma” was released two weeks prior to the drop garnering hype and speculation on the features (no Frank Ocean, sorry) and the details of this new persona,  a masked character who Tyler plays in the video and, as we now know, appears on the album cover. 

But while I still don’t quite know what “Chromokopia” actually is, here’s my honest, yet completely subjective review of Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMOKOPIA.

#1 St. Chroma 

Features: Daniel Caesar

Runtime: 03:17

My rating: 10/10

Favorite lyrics: “I ain’t never had a doubt inside me and if I ever told you that I did, I’m f**kin’ lyin’”

The first track of the album, “St. Chroma” was inspiring. Beginning with a plea to never let anyone dim your light, the low, daunting whispers of Daniel Cesar and Tyler, the Creator made sure we knew they were unparalleled individuals. The message was nothing short of inspiring and I left this song thinking I could do whatever I wanted. The dramatics of this song, from the whispering to the heavy stomping beat, to the building melody made this one of my favorite tracks on the album. “Can you feel that light inside, can you feel that fire.” Yes, actually, I can.

#2 Rah Tah Tah

Features: N/A

Runtime: 02:45

My rating: 7/10

Transitioning immediately from “St. Chroma” into “Rah Tah Tah,” Tyler quickly changes up the speed of the track. I enjoyed the song, to a degree. The beat was enjoyable, but not necessarily dynamic. There were a few changes to the pattern, but overall I didn’t feel this was anything too special. However, I did enjoy his transition into the next song Noid, ending with “I’m paranoid now ’cause ni**as weird and really bums. I’m—”…

#3 Noid

Features: No features, but background vocals by WILLOW and Paul Ngozi.

Runtime: 04:44

My rating: 6.5/10

…“Paranoid” or Noid, speaks to Tyler’s struggles with parasocial fans and their clear lack of respect for his privacy. Subsequently this paranoia transformed into fear. Many artists have spoken out or dealt with the effects of dealing with insane and attached fans. That being said, I felt no clear connection to this song, necessary as it was. 

#4 Darling, I 

Features: Teezo Touchdown

Runtime: 04:13

My rating: 7/10

This particular song has seemingly been a fan favorite, having the second most streams on the album of those tracks not released early (currently, fourth most streams on the album). Speaking of his inability to stay in love with one person (“Darling, I keep falling in love”), I can foresee people taking the chorus out of context. Overall, I thought it was alright. 

#5 Hey Jane

Featuring: N/A

Runtime: 04:00

My rating:  7/10

While this isn’t one of the songs that made it to my playlist, I enjoyed the storytelling aspect of this song. It’s the form of a message from Tyler to a woman in the first half of the song and then this woman to Tyler in the second half. They’re discussing what to do as she has seemingly become pregnant and both individuals struggle with coming to terms with this, and what they will decide to do with the baby. Hey Jane  is also the name of an online abortion healthcare provider, pointing to the potential outcome. I think there are a lot of pro-choice undertones as well as just a look into the reality a lot of people face, which I vehemently appreciated. 

#6 I Killed You

Featuring: No features, but includes vocals by Childish Gambino.

Runtime: 02:48

My rating: 9/10

A first listen of this song had me bobbing my head to the beat, but a readthrough of the lyrics (which I did for each song for this review), heightened this song to a nine for me. The premise of the song talks about the beauty of natural hair and how many African Americans grow up learning to hate their hair, killing it with heat and treatments as a means to fit in. To make such an important topic so catchy is a feat in itself.

# 7 Judge Judy

Featuring: No features, but includes vocals by Childish Gambino.

Runtime: 04:29

My rating: 5/10

Unfortunately, this song was very forgettable for me. Though it gets a couple of points for the message: not judging women for what they do with their bodies.

#8 Sticky 

Featuring: GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne

Runtime: 04:15

My rating: 10/10

Favorite lyrics: All of GloRilla’s verse.

Made with the old-school vibe of hopping on a homemade beat, with the slap and claps on a lunchroom table, Sticky is so fun. Tyler gathers an old name and new ones to make the catchiest song of the album. My only complaint is it’s not longer. 

#9 Take Your Mask Off 

Featuring: Daniel Caesar, LaToiya Williams

Runtime: 04:13

My rating: 7.5/10

Finally referencing the mask from the cover, this track seems to be an intimate reflection of Tyler’s own shortcomings as well as potentially other unnamed individuals. Though who else, exactly, this song is targeted towards, the message is clear: be your authentic self, always. This is another track that I was able to appreciate the lyricality and messaging despite my neutral feeling of the musicality and for that, I ranked it as such.

#10 Tomorrow

Featuring: N/A

Runtime: 03:02

My rating: 4/10

Scared for the future and worried about growing up, I can relate heavily to this song, yet that’s where my positive review ends. It was just another forgettable song in my opinion. 

#11 Thought I Was Dead 

Featuring: ScHoolboy Q, Santigold

Runtime: 03:27

My rating: 8.5/10

The album takes another quick break from sentimental storytelling and stops taking itself so seriously. Back again is the taunting arrogance of a do-it-all rapper. Yet, it works. My first listen through of this song had it as one of my favorites, though I began to find it a little more repetitive after further listening to it.  I am a big fan of the chorus, however. 

#12 Like Him 

Featuring: Lola Young, includes vocals from Bonita Smith and Baby Keem

Runtime: 04:38

My rating: 8/10

Back to the sentimentals, Tyler sings about the grief of not knowing his father. The synth-heavy outro is certainly the highlight of this song, reflective of some of his more popular past tracks: dreamy and mellow.

#13 Balloon 

Featuring: Doechii

Runtime: 02:34

My rating: 10/10

Favorite Lyrics: “ F*ck them regrets, call them and get all that weight off your chest”  “I air this b*tch out like a queef”

I heard someone describe this song as a victory lap and I couldn’t agree more. It reminds me of the type of song found in the  conclusion of a movie – where we know the main characters won and everyone gets a happy ending. Beginning to wrap up the album, Tyler and Doechii gift us with this absolute upbeat banger. 

#14 I Hope You Find Your Way Home

Featuring: N/A

Runtime: 04:29

My rating:  7/10

A hopeful wrap-up, and a shout-out to his mother, the final song on CHROMOKOPIA is like a warm hug goodbye, like amicably leaving a relationship you both grew from. Not a save, but certainly gets a salute from me. 

Final CHROMOKOPIA rating: 7.6/10

As an occasional listener, I can’t speak to the overall story of the album, nor many references to his past work, but I can say that I enjoyed a handful of songs, and could appreciate the rest from afar. Whether you’re a fanatic, a hater, or rather neutral when it comes to Tyler, the Creator, you should give CHROMOKOPIA a listen and decide for yourself.

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