Tyler, the Creator’s album, Chromokopia, is not only the greatest album released in 2024, but it’s his greatest album he’s ever produced.
Released on October 28th, it holds features from other great artists throughout its tracks. In this masterpiece, Tyler explores self-discovery with his new hidden identity, St. Chroma, struggling to find his true self.
Chromokopia showcases Tyler’s ability to maintain uniqueness and stay true to himself, even when it’s hard. In the song “Take Your Mask Off,” he calls for authenticity and embracing oneself, even though it’s difficult to resist fitting in. The journey he takes listeners on throughout Chromokopia demonstrates why this is the best album of the year.
The Long Wait
The last time Tyler, the Creator released an album was in 2021, not counting the Call Me If You Get Lost extension in 2023. We’ve waited three to four years for his return, and Tyler didn’t disappoint, opening strong with the track “St. Chroma,” establishing his new identity and beginning the story of his efforts to find his true self and break the façade of “St. Chroma.”
A New Identity
Tyler’s album sometimes takes us through feelings of aggression and excitement with songs like “St. Chroma,” “Rah Tah Tah,” and the strobe-like effect of “Noid” blasting in my ears. These first three tracks tell the story of Tyler’s experience with fame so far—feeling he needs an identity to hide his true self, yet pushing through. “Noid” focuses more on the paranoia that fame and expectations bring.
Love and Loss
In the middle section of the album, Tyler starts to give up on the show he’s putting on, slowly removing the mask to find out who he is by looking into his past. Starting with “Darling I,” “Hey Jane,” and “I Killed You,” Tyler opens with “Darling I,” allowing himself to be vulnerable through relationships. In the other two tracks, he reminisces about a past love, with bittersweet nostalgia for a person who made an impact on him. He concludes this section with “I Killed You,” a darker track about confronting his negative side, moving on, and “killing” that part of himself to make room for change.
Take Your Mask Off
With the start of the second-to-last section, Tyler undergoes a metamorphosis, finally ready to embrace the change he needs. Beginning with “Judge Judy,” Tyler confronts the criticism he faces, contrasting “Noid,” as he fights the expectations placed on him by fame. Throughout this section, the songs build up to “Take Your Mask Off,” focusing on the grittiness of his career. Here, Tyler calls for authenticity, showing his frustration with the mask that keeps him trapped in paranoia and expectations. He’s ready to shed the façade we know as St. Chroma.
Tomorrow: Shedding the Façade
From “Tomorrow” to the last track, “Find Your Way Home,” Tyler lives outside of his shell. “Tomorrow” opens with hope, touching on his future ambitions and outlook on life. Tyler speaks on rebirth, recovery, and resilience, expressing a comeback mindset after setbacks. “Like Him” is, in my opinion, the best song on the album; he reflects on comparison and the desire to stand out while being compared to others. This song explores Tyler’s yearning for originality and self-exploration. Tyler ends the album with excitement and happiness, then fades into a heartfelt goodbye, wishing well to the parts of himself and people who held him back, reflecting his journey of personal growth.
I Hope You Find Your Way Home
Chromokopia is a pure representation of our universal need to find who we are. There are parts in each person that need to be shed, lost, or changed for the better; it’s all part of being human. Tyler’s album provides an audible experience of this change, with lyrics that teach resilience, nostalgia, and letting go of past selves. This album delves into the complexities of being human and personal transformation in the unique art form Tyler has mastered, making it the best album released this year and one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever experienced.
