Ever since his self-released debut album Bastard in 2007, Tyler Okonma (most familiarly known by his fitting stage name Tyler, the Creator) has been connecting with listeners all over the world through his music, humor, and personality. Best known for his extreme talent in the music industry as a rapper, singer, producer, songwriter, director, and many more acclaimed titles, he began his rise to stardom through indie tracks and solidified his popularity by establishing his own record label Odd Future in 2008, named after the alternative hip hop group he was a member of. Since then, he has broken records and become a mainstream artist while still being his unique, authentic self throughout the years with albums such as Goblin (2011), Flower Boy (2017), Call Me if You Get Lost (2021), and most recently, Chromakopia, on October 28, 2024.
Chromakopia caught everyone by surprise. Loyal fans and casual listeners alike, the public wasn’t expecting a full album from Okonma at this point in time. Starting his discographical trend back in 2011, his past pattern of releasing new music biennially was practically a given when predicting releases. Concept-wise, his transformation into an imperious, masked man throwing out orders to whoever is around surely isn’t a new one, previously seen in his 2011 album Goblin; however, Tyler, the Creator’s delivery and direction make it feel fresh and experimental.
The 14-track album’s concept was a full 180 from his past concept in 2021. Call Me if You Get Lost explores complex relationships and being your most authentic self through a carefree summer vibe. Chromakopia, however, looks back on Tyler’s experiences with childhood and growing up in Los Angeles. To strengthen this theme, his mother, Bonita Smith, narrates the album from start to finish, interjecting herself when necessary. Okonma also takes inspiration from The Phantom Tollbooth’s character Chroma the Great, the worldwide conductor of colors, for the first track “St Chroma” which introduces the protagonist of the same name.
Despite the lighthearted description, the artistic execution and production stray far from being considered carefree. For example, the first announcement we were given about Chromakopia was a snippet of the “St Chroma” music video on October 16, 2024, posted from Okonma’s various social media platforms. It features an uncanny masked man leading a long line of men into a heavy shipping cart, setting the entire parade on fire shortly after. The eerie chanting of “chromakopia” to the beat of synchronized marching sets up a strong entrance for the entire project, setting standards high; which, of course, were met. Critics praised the general cohesiveness, lyricism, and overall creative direction of the album.
To conclude, the 53-minute indie-hip-hop-rap-r&b narrative known as Chromakopia is breaking records and boundaries while simultaneously seeming familiar and nostalgic. This is an album for the listeners who have tuned into Tyler, the Creator for years, as well as those who haven’t; the listeners who can relate to the storyline presented, as well as those who cannot; and finally, the ones who just need something new to listen to.
