Chromakopia comes from the Greek words “Chroma,” meaning color, and “Kopia,” meaning effort or labor. Tyler, the Creator, an R&B and rap artist, named his recent album Chromakopia, symbolizing an overwhelming, laborious burst of color, sound, and creativity. Each song on Tyler’s new track feels like stepping into a vivid world unique to him. The only question is, does this creativity result in a masterpiece or chaos?
On October 28, 2024, Tyler, the Creator released his new album, Chromakopia. It features 14 songs and 10 guest artists. Chromakopia was written, produced, and arranged by Tyler himself, allowing much of his individualism to shine through the album. Tyler has various themes throughout the tracks. The songs are catchy and dynamic, but when you listen to the lyrics, the serious themes become evident.
For example, in the song “Tomorrow”, somber, jazzy piano riffs, soft strings, and a subtle bass line hide Tyler’s underlying anxiety about aging, the future, and heavy expectations. Or, in “Noid”, the frantic beat and the urgency of the vocals create an almost claustrophobic, anxious, or aggressive tone perfect for exploring the themes of paranoia and the complexities of fame. The song conveys the feeling of running for your life, attempting to look over your shoulder for your pursuer.
However, not all of the songs are like this. Tyler keeps things light with songs, “Judge Judy” and “Rah Tah Tah” both of which explore more light though adult-oriented ideas. “Darling, I” is also a delightful change from some of the heavier songs. This song sounds like falling in love.
Two songs, “Judge Judy” and “Hey Jane” include character work, one of Tyler, The Creator’s favorite songwriting methods. The songs are like a complex, musical conversation between Tyler and his lovers Judy and Jane.
In “Balloon” the mood changes to inspirational. It makes you feel like you could float into the clouds, or do anything else you set your mind to. Doechii brings the song up to another level with her typical high energy level and epic rapping.
Finally, you can not listen to Chromakopia without loving two of the star songs of the album “St. Chroma” and “Sticky”. If you had to lift a 1,000-pound weight by yourself, I would recommend listening to these songs to get pumped up.
My favorite song on the album is “Like Him”. It incorporates the perfect blend of soothing vocals from Tyler and Lola Young and interesting background instruments. The song opens with a monologue from Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, who reflects on the physical similarities between Tyler and his absent father. The song captures the melancholy and confusion of possibly turning into a man like his dad. Tyler repeats the line “Mama, I’m chasing a ghost” throughout the song, which hints that the absence of Tyler’s father may have negatively shaped Tyler’s sense of self.
I would give “Chromakopia” a 9/10 because “Hey Jane” feels unnecessary as it has too many similarities to “Judge Judy”. Other than that, every song is unique and interesting. This is a no-skip album in my book. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who likes R&B and rap and doesn’t mind mature language.