By Jociel Colon

Tyler, The Creator can be labeled in a multitude of different ways—polarizing, ingenious, genre-bending. You just can’t describe him in one word. When he first appeared on the music scene in 2008 with his collective, Odd Future, his creativity was overshadowed by his rebellious personality and explicitly offensive lyrics.

Though the subject matter of his music has changed somewhat drastically since his arrival, two things haven’t. His personality, and his boundary-pushing artistry. With his newly released CHROMAKOPIA, he continues to set a new bar not only for himself but for Hip Hop as a whole.

Released on the morning of October 28th, CHROMAKOPIA brings us a flurry of symphonies, reeling production, and a seemingly more personal story to be told through Tyler’s lens. His mother serves as an interlude for the 14 tracks featured on the album, similar to DJ Drama’s bits on his previous release “Call Me if You Get Lost.” CHROMAKOPIA is an insight into Tyler’s personal life and pressures. He touches on the subjects of complex relationships, whether he wants children of his own, and keeping privacy as a celebrity.

On the first track “St. Chroma” we’re drawn in by a march, and vocals from Daniel Caesar, which introduces us to the rollercoaster that is CHROMAKOPIA. In the third track, “Noid,” Tyler shows us his desire for privacy in his personal life. The fourth track leads us to “Darling, I.” And gives us standout vocals from Teezo Touchdown. Songs like “Judge Judy” and “Hey Jane” showcase Tyler’s storytelling abilities and give an insight into his relationships with two different women, with one of these relationships bringing an unplanned pregnancy. The track “Like Him” might be one of the more important songs in Tyler’s catalog, which tells the truth about his father whom he never met.

CHROMAKOPIA reached a historic milestone after selling 500k units within two weeks, which made it the second fastest-selling rap album of the year, and his fastest selling album of his career. This album has a strong case to not only be his third straight Grammy-winning album, but also his best release to date.

While there are many standout tracks on this album, one thing remains true: you never know what you’re heading into when listening to a Tyler, The Creator album, as he continuously manages to raise the bar with each release.