Tyler, The Creator flirts with a few new sounds in “CHROMAKOPIA.”
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TOP 5
Honorable Mention. Judge Judy
Oh s**t, Tyler, The Creator thinks Judge Judy is sexy, too?
Tyler, The Creator was probably picking flowers or had a chick with no ass laying on him while he made “Judge Judy” (There’s something about a bad-ass chick with no ass that brings out the mushiness in a black man). The song features a delicate, flowery instrumental paired with poetic moments, a very infectious/clever chorus, and a charming love story. Its beauty and catchy quality make it enjoyable and worth appreciating. But let’s be honest: Negroes ain’t coming back to this s**t.
Honorable Mention. I Killed You
When Tyler, The Creator puts his head down and straight raps on this album, he goes undefeated.
What I find remarkable about “I Killed You” is how it starts punchy, featuring a playful instrumental prime Lil Mama would destroy, combined with dark, relentless verses from Tyler, The Creator, where he talks about killing someone without any weapons. However, it gradually transforms into a soothing track with gentle vocals from both Tyler and featured guest Childish Gambino. I haven’t seen such a drastic switch since watching Bronny replace D’Angelo Russell in a Lakers game the other day.
5. Thought I Was Dead (Ft. ScHoolboy Q)
This track made people roast Tyler, The Creator on X.
Please don’t lump me in with those critics—I actually think “Thought I Was Dead” is a solid track. It might have a funky-ass HBCU homecoming vibe in the production, but ScHoolboy Q and Tyler, The Creator bring strong verses. They hit us with a catchy chorus, flow well, talk their s**t effectively, and match the track’s peculiar energy at the rim. S**t, I’m a happy camper.
4. I Hope You Find Your Way Home
Wow, Tyler, The Creator closes this album by spitting hard af.
I can never get enough of hearing Tyler, The Creator rap like a madman over soothing instrumentation. In this particular episode, where he touches on not feeling ready to be a father and takes several shots at his foes, he channels a vibe reminiscent of ScHoolboy Q. I like the s**t!
3. St. Chroma & Rah Tah Tah
Wait a f**king second, is that Frank Ocean?
Right now, I feel like that kid who tells their parents there’s a monster under the bed, only for them to look and find nothing. I swear, Frank Ocean’s adlibs are attached to Tyler, The Creator’s first verse!
Aside from the potential Frank Ocean sighting, I think “St. Chroma” is fascinating. It starts with an incredible build-up filled with whispery raps, eventually evolving into a track that spits out lovely piano notes, some good ole nastiness, sweet vocals from Daniel Caesar, and slick bars from Tyler.
I included “Rah Tah Tah” in this entry because the transition from “St. Chroma” to the grungy vibe of “Rah Tah Tah” is legendary. Honestly, I can’t help but want to hear “Rah Tah Tah” right after “St. Chroma” every time!
2. Take Your Mask Off
Random thought: Remember when Michael Jackson’s nose fell off?
Jits might call “Take Your Mask Off” boring, but I find it one of the most impressive tracks on the album. While it has a somewhat subdued vibe—made even duller by this annoying fly buzzing around (Stupid f**king fly)—it features some powerful verses. In them, Tyler calls out hypocritical priests, fake thugs, and women stuck in bad situations. As for his rap mechanics, they shine through with a steady flow that conveys his annoyance, while the background singing adds some well-needed compassion to the equation.
Tyler, the Creator is definitely voting for Kamala Harris.
1. Darling, I
“Darling, I” is sure to shake things up at Kendrick Lamar’s next “Pop Out” concert, right?
In “Darling, I,” Tyler, The Creator, whom I typically associate with asexuality, discusses a relationship that has compelled him to confront his inner issues and commit fully. Like some of my favorite Tyler tracks, such as “EARFQUAKE,” “Darling, I” showcases a charming R&B-hop sound and a Disney-like chorus (featuring Teezo Touchdown). The key difference here is Tyler’s emphatic bars, which add a dynamic layer that enhances the song.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
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OVERALL RATING
(B) (84%)
This might be Tyler, The Creator’s most experimental album to date. That’s saying a lot.
Production: I see people on X are being weird again. There’s a narrative going around that Tyler, The Creator’s work is “overrated,” which is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. People latch onto the unusual rhythms and quirky elements, not realizing these qualities are what make him stand out. That said, CHROMAKOPIA fuses hip-hop, R&B, and more in an intentionally unconventional way, often a little funky and cartoonish. If it doesn’t click, maybe it’s a matter of being open to new sounds (like learning to appreciate new flavors in food).
Guest Appearances: Tyler, The Creator hinted at no features on CHROMAKOPIA—but it actually includes background vocals from Teezo Touchdown, Daniel Caesar, and Childish Gambino, plus verses from GloRilla, Sexyy Red, ScHoolboy Q, Doechii, and Lil Wayne. While the background vocals add a nice layer, the guest verses feel somewhat mismatched with the production. I love it when Tyler pushes his collaborators into unfamiliar territory; however, these features occasionally feel out of sync with the album’s unique style.
The Performances: If I had to guess, CHROMAKOPIA has a roughly 70/30 split between rapping and singing. When Tyler leans into rapping, he delivers gritty verses with consistent flows and hard-hitting bars. His lyrics intriguingly switch from talking about potentially having a child to flexing on n***as—a combination I’ve never heard before. As for his singing moments, they’re incredibly tender. As always with Tyler’s music, I interpret some lyrics literally and others as part of a character he’s playing. Since we don’t know much about his personal life, everything is an assumption.
What Would I Change About This Album? Nothing. I will say this, though: This album isn’t designed for casual listening. A few songs might resonate immediately, but most tracks require time to appreciate and internalize fully. So, when Tyler says he created this album for all the hard-working IT people with long commutes, that’s probably a lie. There are a lot of tracks that are skippable. BossMan Dlow’s music is made for long commutes.
The Biggest Reason You Should Listen To This Album: It’s a Tyler, The Creator album, that’s why. CHROMAKOPIA brings a dynamic blend of genres with raw, expressive rap, catchy melodies, and fun guest features. It also showcases a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and experimental elements. Your musical tastes—which I believe should always be open to adjustment—will pick up a thing or two (or three, or four, or five) while listening to CHROMAKOPIA.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
