LILLY GOODMAN, STAFF WRITER
Album cover from albumoftheyear.org
“Chroma” meaning color, and “kopia” meaning abundance — Tyler the Creator’s new album, “CHROMAKOPIA,” is conceptually radiant.
Tyler’s eighth studio album is 14 tracks long, running just under an hour. The album was released on Oct. 28, 2024, a Monday, rather than the typical tendency of Friday album drops. With narrations by his mother, the concept for the album was inspired by the lessons from his childhood processed later in his life. From the dark corners of his mind to vaunting lyrics about celebrity culture, “CHROMAKOPIA” covers various topics.
Featuring Canadian R&B singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar, “St. Chroma” sets the stage as the album’s opening track. Blending haunting whispers with echoes of a battle anthem, Tyler draws listeners into a competitive-feeling environment. Caesar’s entrance amplifies this energy, infusing the track with an extra layer of ambition atop its intense core. His soulful harmonies build tension and create a sense of urgency moments before a punctuating bass drop. Despite its brief runtime of just one minute and 25 seconds, “St. Chroma” brims with intricate and diverse notations — making it an impactful introduction to the album.
The second track, “Noid,” unfolds in two parts and hints at the influence of “21st Century Schizoid Man.” With its driving guitar riff and erratic drum beats, the song instills a sense of unease, perfectly capturing the theme of paranoia. Despite the complex lyrics, the track maintains a slightly upbeat feel.
WILLOW delivers a peaceful interlude following a Swahili verse by Paul Ngozi, and she returns in the post-chorus, layering intensity and depth with Tyler. Ethereal vocal interruption adds a moment of calm before launching into part two. Here, a narration from Tyler’s mother shifts the track’s tone from rock to digital rap. Tyler’s rapid listing of paranoid thoughts mirrors the haunting echoes of his mother’s voice, dragging the song from innocence to anxiety. A bass drop eradicates any lingering innocence, while the outro’s backing vocals recall the bridge’s peace, now fatigued rather than hopeful.
Opening with his mother’s voice, “Tomorrow” reflects on the pressures of a social clock. In a playful voice memo, Tyler’s mother shares her wish for grandchildren. A nylon-string acoustic guitar, paired with slightly off-pitch vocals, gives the intro a raw feel. Layered background harmonies soon soften this. Unlike the rest of the album, this track has a tranquil atmosphere. A percussion addition enters alongside the rapping verses in the middle of the song, where he prefers youth over adult responsibilities. Observing his friends’ lives leads him to deeply consider his mother’s hopes. An orchestra adds a fleeting sense of complexity, followed by mellow brass tones that quietly close the song.
In “CHROMAKOPIA,” Tyler takes listeners on a vibrant journey through the contrasting layers of his life — memories of childhood and the intensity of fame. The album’s themes blend his introspections with cultural critiques, offering an array of sounds and styles that keep listeners engaged.
With powerful guest features, layered production and his mother’s narrations grounding the concept — “CHROMAKOPIA” is a bold, experimental addition to Tyler’s discography, capturing both unsettling and intriguing chaos.
goodmaln24@bonaventure.edu
