In 2009, on the title track of his independent breakout album Bastard, Tyler Okonma — better known as Tyler, the Creator — rapped, “My goal in life is a Grammy, hopefully mama attend the ceremony.” Ten years later, he was accepting the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, alongside his adoring mother whose kisses he had to brush off in order to make his speech. For the millions of fans who had fallen in love with Tyler since the first time they heard those eerie piano chords, it was a full circle moment that encapsulated not only Tyler’s growth as an artist, but the ways in which his fanbase had grown along with him. Over the course of the 2010's, Tyler, the Creator's cultural significance enjoyed a steady incline, going from the leader of the L.A. rap collective Odd Future to headlining his own festival, Camp Flog Gnaw. Today, Tyler is widely recognized as the de facto idol for any and all creatives whose passions extend past the limitations of any particular medium. He’s a rapper, producer, clothing designer, actor, director — the list goes on and on. Perhaps even more inspiring than his versatility is the fact that no matter what venture he chooses to pursue, Tyler doesn’t just succeed, he opens doors for fellow artists to follow in his footsteps. As a starry-eyed creative myself, Tyler has played a massive role in my life, and his music, demeanor, and style have all had an indelible impact on my own art and self-expression. In honor of his contributions to my and many others’ lives, I will be ranking his seven studio albums from worst to best, and including a few words on each album and it’s particular placement. Hopefully, my adoration for Tyler and his music will be apparent, but if not, understand that everything in this list comes from a place of good fun, and is more an excuse to gush about one of my favorite artists than an actual piece of journalistic review. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.
7. Goblin (2011)
In February of 2011, Tyler, the Creator uploaded the music video for "Yonkers," a single for his upcoming studio album. The result was an explosion in Tyler's popularity and exposure, and the song's disturbing subject matter and eye-catching visuals were enough to put the then 19 year-old Los Angeles native on every rap fan's radar. A month later, Tyler released Goblin, his debut studio album, and the rest is history. At the time, Goblin was universally praised for its unorthodox sensibilities and the clear lyrical talent that Tyler and his Odd Future cohorts displayed. More than a decade after its release, however, I think it's time to accept that not only has Goblin not aged well... it's also not a very good album. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of things to enjoy, but with a 15 song track-list and an hour and fifteen minute runtime (not even including the more commonly available Deluxe version), listening to Goblin in 2023 really feels like a chore. For fans of Bastard, Goblin is very much a spiritual successor to that project, but lacks so much of the heart that made Bastard such an enjoyable listen. Just look at "Goblin," the 9 minute opener that's meant to serve as a continuation of Bastard's iconic title track, but suffers from a meandering instrumental that even Tyler's bars can't assist. This problem persists across Goblin's entire runtime; the songs are too long, they're boring, and basically everything sounded better on Bastard. On top of that, this album also contains the height of Tyler's indulgence in horrorcore-ish subject matter, and songs like "Tron Cat" and "Fish" really have no business ever being played in 2023. Aside from a few stand-outs like "Yonkers," "Radicals," and "Analog," there really is very little about Goblin that makes me ever want to return to it, and aside from folks who remember this album as the height of their teenage nostalgia, I really can't imagine anyone putting Goblin anywhere near the top of this list.
Favorite Track: Analog (feat. Hodgy Beats)
6. BASTARD (2009)
When vintage Tyler fans refer to “old Tyler” with stars in their eyes, Bastard is almost certainly what they remember. Recorded when he was only 17, Bastard is the independent release that introduced the world to Odd Future and its charismatic leader. It’s raucous, offensive, and hilarious, but also unabashedly emo and deeply personal (the album’s title refers to Tyler’s absentee father). This was the album that earned Tyler and OF the undivided attention of the underground, and it became the unofficial manifesto of every misunderstood 90’s baby who found solace in blogposts and mixtapes. The problems of Tyler’s early music are still extremely prevalent on this record; it’s borderline horrorcore, with constant references to sexual violence and just about anything else that would have been tossed around in a teenage chatroom at the time. There's definitely some solid ideas at play, such as the title track's gothic examination of Tyler's lot in life, and tracks like "Blow" and "Vcr" play around with interesting -- albeit disturbing -- concepts. The production is certainly hit or miss, but gets props for being entirely self-produced. While the beats on tracks like “Pigs Fly” and “Sarah” are stripped-back and basic, there’s still a delightfully DIY quality to them that helps to elevate this album above Goblin. “Inglorious” is among one of the album’s glimpses into Tyler’s eventual genius, and the lyrical back and forth of “AssMilk” and the DOOM worship of “Odd Toddlers” speak to an artist whose horizons were far beyond his peers. Tyler has thankfully improved, but Bastard is a far more enduring start than most artists could ever hope to achieve.
Favorite Track: AssMilk (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)
5. Cherry Bomb (2015)
To this day, Cherry Bomb remains deeply divisive for Tyler fans to categorize. To many, it’s a half-baked attempt at experimentation that falls short of even his earliest releases. To others, it’s a delightfully chaotic collage of pure Tyler-ness with a few glimpses of brilliance. While I definitely fall more into the second camp, there’s no denying that Cherry Bomb is a bit of a mess. While none of the songs here are truly egregious on their own, a full listen of the album is a tumultuous and often jarring experience that leaves a lot to be desired. Tyler’s penchant for top-notch sequencing is nowhere to be seen on this record, and gentle jazz tracks like fan-favorite “FIND YOUR WINGS” rudely transition into cacophonous ragers like “CHERRY BOMB.” Still, Cherry Bomb is an album that I just can’t help but love. This was the first project from Tyler that I heard in full, and something about its unbridled creativity was like gospel to my 15 year-old brain. As I’ve grown older, I’ve become much more affectionate towards Tyler’s other music, but I will forever have a soft spot for Cherry Bomb and its problem-child aesthetic. Several of the tracks here are personal favorites (“PILOT” and “BROWN STAINS” are severely underrated), and there’s a decent number of catalog mainstays. “SMUCKERS” will forever be legendary, and “OKAGA, CA” and “2SEATER” are album cuts that remain essential to any Tyler fan’s playlists. Both Tyler and his music have grown exponentially since 2015 — thank God — so it seems most apt to view Cherry Bomb as the messy and pubescent transition from OF-era Tyler into the superstar of Flower Boy and beyond.
Favorite Track: 2SEATER (feat. Aaron Shaw, Samantha Nelson, and Austin Feinstein)
4. Wolf (2013)
Released at the height of Odd Future’s success, Wolf was Tyler’s first truly quality record. From the very beginning, it was clear that Tyler had something special, but it wasn’t until Wolf that his potential manifested itself into a fully fleshed-out body of work. The production is still some of his most dynamic and strange, with plenty of Neptunes worship and a complete lack of creative constraints. The growth from Goblin’s unsettling synth lines and bass-y percussion is apparent from the first moments of the title track, where Tyler’s crooning “Fuck youuuu” is accompanied by gorgeous jazz orchestration. Tracks like “Answer,” “48,” and the iconic “IFHY” demand the listener’s respect, so much so that even the staunchest of Tyler’s haters could no longer deny his talent. Conceptually, the album plays like a crossover of the Tyler-cinematic-universe, with appearances from alter egos like Wolf Haley, Dr. T, and Sam, as well as stellar features from the major players of the OF roster. Verse after verse, Tyler’s in top form, finally finding a balance between outlandish fantasy and heartfelt self-expression. The album is significantly better paced than his earlier releases, and while the 18 track, hour-plus runtime does overstay its welcome (“Parking Lot” and “Pigs” still feel superfluous), it’s still a fantastic listen that I can’t help but revisit every couple of months. At the time of its release, Wolf was the undisputed peak of Tyler's career, but considering how incredibly he's grown since, it now stands as a solid record with plenty of fan favorites. For many Tyler fans -- including myself -- listening to Wolf is a deeply nostalgic experience that harkens back to 2010's bike rides and galaxy-cat shirts, and it really is the beginning of the genre-bending summer jams that fans would come to expect from the his music. However, we've still got three albums to go, and it's no exaggeration to say that they leave the rest of this list in dust.
Favorite Track: Awkward
3. Flower Boy (2017)
While it’s understandably censored on nearly every platform, the full title of Tyler’s fifth album is actually “Scum Fuck, Flower Boy.” There really couldn’t be a more apt description for this album's dualistic sound and the pivotal role it’s played in Tyler’s career. While Tyler had made a name for himself as a brash, playfully immature upstart, his music had also always flirted with a genuine softness; the vision of a passionate virtuoso who had more to offer than “fuck-you’s” and dick jokes. The world had watched Tyler since the seeds of his career were first planted, and after four albums of growth, it was finally time for him to bloom into the flower he was born to become. Flower Boy wasn’t just a better album than what had preceded it, it was a complete maturation of his style that enraptured the general public and skyrocketed him to new levels of fame. Tyler had always appealed to alternative rap fans, but Flower Boy made him a staple in summertime playlists and dorm rooms the world over. Singles like “See You Again” and “Boredom” were certified hits, and saw the once picketed MC suddenly being viewed as a bona fide pop-star. Following the loose concept of a golden-hour car ride, Flower Boy is a deeply personal record that does away with the satire of his previous work and instead bares the rapper’s soul in a manner that has yet to be topped. Flower Boy wasn’t just Tyler’s first commercial success, it also connected with millions of fans and gave a voice to their own feelings of depression, anxiety, and confusion. In my opinion, the production hasn’t aged quite as elegantly as the albums that we’ve gotten since (“Enjoy Right Now Today” is pretty boring), but Flower Boy is still a towering achievement that may very well go down as the definitive record in Tyler’s career. At the very least, it’s the beginning of a dynasty that has yet to lose steam, and will forever be a blast to go back to.
Favorite Track: 911/Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy)
2. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST (2021)
In statements and interviews following the release of his seventh studio album, Tyler consistently referred to CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST as him "getting back into rap." After the sweeping soundscapes of IGOR, fans had no idea what to expect from Tyler's next effort, but even the most prophetic among them probably never could have predicted a Gangster Grillz mixtape hosted by DJ Drama that also serves as a concept album about a chevalier alter ego named Tyler Baudelaire whose vast riches and lavish vacations are unable to fill the void of a recent heartbreak. It's truly the sort of thing only Tyler could ever hope to pull off, and pull it off he did. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST might just be the best-paced album in Tyler's discography. Every time I put on "SIR BAUDELAIRE" (which re-uses Conductor William's fire beat for Westside Gunn's "Michael Irvin"), I'm basically obligated to listen to the entirety of the album as well. Most of the tracks on this album boil down to bling-era homages and braggadocios flexing, but Tyler's unique sensibilities make every single boast so much more impactful, conjuring up sun-kissed images of Rolls Royces, picnic baskets, and stamp-littered passports. The features are equally stellar, and bring together a slew of new and old collaborators like NBA Youngboy, Pharrell, 42 Dugg, and even Domo Genesis. The album isn't just a boatload of fun, though; as previously mentioned, the album also centers around a recently failed relationship, and how all of the wealth and luxury in the world can't fill the void that Tyler Baudelaire (or Okonma) feels. Tracks like "CORSO," "I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE," and the 8-minute "WILSHIRE" tackle these feelings head on, and the entire album comes together in a practically flawless package that is quite possibly my favorite album on this list to revisit.
Favorite Track: CORSO
1. IGOR (2019)
In a statement leading up to the highly anticipated release of his album IGOR, Tyler wrote, "Don't go into this expecting a rap album. Don't go into this expecting any album. Just go, jump into it." When IGOR finally did arrive, not only did Tyler's warning prove to be pertinent, it also became the best way to describe his sixth studio album in any sort of meaningful way. The truth is, more than any other album on this list, IGOR needs to be heard to be believed, and the only way to understand its quality is to jump into it and submerge yourself as deep as you possibly can. This is not to say the album is some sort of inaccessible experimentation; if anything, IGOR is best categorized as a pop album. Despite being incredibly strange and breaking new ground for Tyler and his music, the majority of the songs here are catchy, replayable bops, something which was reflected by the album's incredible commercial success (famously usurping DJ Khaled for the number one spot). At only 12 tracks, IGOR absolutely meets the criteria for what I consider a perfect album. Not a single second is wasted, and every chord, lyric, and collaboration feels lovingly hand-crafted. The album centers around the loose concept of someone losing the one they love, and the peaks and valleys of their emotional journey as they slowly accept what has come to pass. Even at its brightest and most sun-shiney, IGOR is gorgeously melancholic, and pop hits like "EARFQUAKE" and "I THINK" are still enough to make you cry. By the time "ARE WE STILL FRIENDS" has come to a close, the listener has gone through an emotional journey alongside Tyler, the Creator that few albums could ever hope to come close to. IGOR isn't just my favorite Tyler album, it's one of my favorite albums ever made, and there's no doubt that its legacy and importance will only continue to grow in the coming years. Tyler has released some incredible music since 2019 -- the CMIYGL deluxe was superb -- but there truly is something about IGOR, and I just can't wait to revisit it.
Favorite Track: GONE GONE/THANK YOU
ความคิดเห็น