As frontman of the Odd Future collective, founder of Camp Flog Gnaw festival and clothing brand Golf Wang, Tyler, The Creator is something of a polymath. But his core talents lie in the crafting of lyrically charged, musically impactful projects. His own artistic development is fascinating to hear across 15 years of albums, so let’s dive into it.
Bastard (2009)
Tyler, The Creator’s self-released mixtape marries homegrown, minimalist production with acerbic, aggro lyrics. Framed as a session with his therapist, Bastard depicts a tortured psyche plagued with thoughts of suicide and violence. The project marked him as one to watch on the online indie space while establishing his irreverent, no-holds-barred style.
Goblin (2011)
With continued controversy around Tyler’s aggressive lyrics, it is perhaps this same media discourse that helped propel him to fame. Despite a disclaimer in the beginning of ‘Radicals’ urging the listener not to take what he says seriously, outlets like Fox News put a lot of stock into the musings of a 20-year old edgelord. ‘Her’ on the other hand contradicts with insecurity thinly veiled by misogynist outbursts. Sparse production throughout makes room for creative use of reverb, a weirdly lush ambience for such coarse lyrics.
Wolf (2013)
Tighter production makes for a more refined record. Tyler’s vocals sit better in the tracks, and we start to hear some of the RnB and soul influences that will only grow in future albums. The therapist character continues his meandering dialogue with an array of personas, a creative way of depicting the violent impulses that start to wear thin on this project.
Cherry Bomb (2015)
A good portion of critics and fans take Tyler’s third studio album to be a step down compared to his earlier material. The abrasive subject matter lost its glamour to many in his audience, with some finding the production tough on the ears—perhaps these were the growing pains necessary to veer away from his previous minimalism. Collaborations with Syd, Roy Ayers and Kali Uchis see the album borrow from jazz, soul and Death-Grips-esque distortions; the title track sounds like it’s being blasted through an overloaded soundsystem. While it feels cluttered at points, Cherry Bomb chews on many influences that Tyler later refines.
Flower Boy (2017)
Flower Boy distils the chaos of his prior album into a project that arrives lush, emotive and cohesive. Tyler continues to pick his collaborators well. Rex Orange County and Estelle in particular weave their tasteful melodies around lyrics that dive deep into loneliness, boredom and fragility. It comes together in a heartfelt display of vulnerability, this time without the puerile misogyny of his prior work.
Igor (2019)
With no frontline collaborations, Tyler’s narrative skill comes to the fore. A twisted love triangle provides a framework to explore yearning, loss and repair, knitted together with intricate production. ‘EARFQUAKE’ was originally pitched to Justin Bieber, later Rihanna. Both should be kicking themselves now; the song has over a billion Spotify streams and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Soul samples merge with beguiling piano during ‘A BOY IS A GUN*’, signalling the continued influence of the 70s on Tyler’s sound.
Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)
Revisiting the style of his earlier work, Tyler draws on the mixtape aesthetic that defined Bastard. This allows for a playful mix of style and form, as well as a chance to examine the past. Addressing the impact of his nascent material in ‘Manifesto’ he describes being cancelled online before it was even a thing, and his combative response to the criticism. Guests like DJ Drama and Pharrell Williams widen the creative licence that Tyler allows on this record, less confined by an overarching story.
Chromakopia (2024)
An existential, contemplative project, Chromakopia sees Tyler opening up beyond his struggles as an artist. Addressing fatherhood and its attendant anxieties, he unflinchingly explores his inner world, no longer needing a smokescreen of edgy, polarising lyrics. The stark cover art reflects the mask Tyler wears in public life, a shield against scrutiny and judgement from an ill-informed public. In Chromakopia, Tyler addresses this on his own terms, in his own irresistible style. For a full review see here.
Tyler, The Creator’s discography begins squeamishly brash, a hard pill to swallow. He plays a gamble with disturbing imagery, but in the end it reveals a protective insecurity, a barrier that’s broken down in later projects. His experiments with style, story and sound have been uniquely realised in spectacular live shows. We will have to wait and see what he has in store for his 2025 UK tour:
Birmingham, Utilita Arena Birmingham – 17th May
London, The O2 – 17th May
London, The O2 – 21st May
Dublin, 3Arena – 24th May
Manchester, Co-op Live – 27th May
Glasgow, OVO Hydro – 30th May
Words by Ben Browning
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