Tyler, the Creator looks to the past to create something truly special with his sixth studio album Call Me If You Get Lost, featuring a wide array of artists and genres Tyler, the Creator has once again produced one of the cleanest albums of the year.
Tyler, the Creator is an enigma within the music industry, something truly unpredictable and fantastically which has allowed an extraordinary aura to be created around his image. He is a figurehead for many who feel like they can’t be themself, a positive image of hope and self-expression.
This is all due to the extraordinary man behind the mask, Tyler Okonma. Mr. Okonma is an incredibly intelligent individual, who throughout his years in the music industry, has created a remarkably interesting character, which not only connects to hundreds of thousands of fans across the world but is without a doubt uniquely him. Okonma allows for his music to be a part of him, with his discography showcasing his growth, as from album to album we see him use music as a vessel to express himself without having to censor himself.
This is why Tyler, the Creator’s most recent record Call Me If You Get Lost is incredibly fascinating. The 16 track record rocks in at just short of an hour at 52 minutes, however easily feel much less due to the simplicity of how each track flows into the next to create an easy listen. From the beginning of the record, we are presented with a return to the genre which brought Tyler to the dance, as we get chill west coast beats and the classic voice of ‘Gangsta Grillz’ DJ Drama hosting the album. A welcome return as Tyler comes back to his roots, what most would see as a middle finger to those expecting rap from his previous records, is something much kinder as a wiser Tyler welcomes back fans of old with open arms.
However, the beginning of the album begins a trend of songs that allow for us to see which side of Tyler is on the mic, that is a much more mature and wiser Tyler who is using his music to reflect upon his past. Tyler looks at the good and the bad but regrets nothing, the track ‘MANIFESTO’ showcases this perfectly with the line “Internet bringin’ old lyrics up like I hide the shit”. The excellence of lines such as these is although they are extremely blunt, show that he knows he’s not always been a model citizen and that he is always growing.
Restoring one’s roots is always an uneasy line to balance, as you have to manage your nostalgia with the expectation of your fans. However, Tyler does a terrific job of walking this tightrope, as the album jumps effortlessly from genre to genre.
Such as more hardcore and bombastic tracks such as ‘JUGGARNUT’ and ‘LUMBERJACK’ which allow for Tyler to let loose through these heavy and more horrorcore-inspired beats.
We then have more emotional songs with a focus on hard-hitting self-reflective topics, as songs such as ‘MANIFESTO’ and ‘CORSO’ look at Tyler’s previously mentioned wrong-doings and come to terms with them. These tracks are spotlighted through their rough lyricism yet upbeat west coast style beat, yet these tracks are undoubtedly some of the best throughout the record despite the odd pairing.
Finally, we have softer tracks such as the remarkable ‘SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE’, which rocking in at just under ten minutes balances a simple pop beat into a reggae-inspired track that tells the story of falling in and losing love. A terrific track that puts Tyler’s excellent storytelling ability in full focus and shows why he is one of the best songwriters of the last ten years.
However, undoubtedly the standout track is ‘WUSYANAME’, a soft and touching track that perfectly blends two generations of rap as Tyler features both Ty Dolla Sign and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. The three artists work together in perfect harmony to create a truly fantastic west coast love song in the vein of ‘California love’ by the late Tupac Shakur
Call Me If You Get Lost is another fantastic record from an excellent artist. This is an album with little to no fault, from absolutely excellent production and superb sampling of a multitude of different genres the album succeeds at every step. The album is another piece of concrete evidence on why Tyler is one of the most creative and important artists of the 21st century. All I can say is listen to this album, you will not regret it.
Words by Paul Dawson
Support the Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.