From the moment the first notes echo, Chromakopia reveals itself as a meticulously crafted auditory journey, laden with raw emotion, and seamless yet unpredictable transitions that pass by almost unnoticed. The opening line, spoken by Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, sets the album’s tone: “You are the light / It’s not on you, it’s in you / Don’t you ever in your motherfucking life dim your light for nobody.” Her words become a mantra, capturing the essence of Chromakopia in a powerful refrain.
Guided by “Chroma the Great”, Tyler’s self-affirmed persona of self-discovery, the listener, taking on the role of “Milo”, is drawn into a world where every song flows into the next with chaotic precision. This opening mantra segues into his first track ‘St. Chroma’, where Tyler and Daniel Caesar’s vocals intertwine, asking, “Can you feel the light inside? Can you feel that fire?” Tyler emerges as the conductor of a vibrant colour orchestra, responsible for arranging the sunrise and sunset of emotions throughout the album. The effect is a sonic journey that embodies Tyler’s introspective mission.
In a musical landscape where singles dominate, Tyler challenges the trend, constructing Chromakopia as a cohesive narrative. The tracks are like vivid memories stitched together: flashes of life, insecurities, triumphs, and doubts. As Chroma the Great, Tyler rewrites the rules, giving us what we didn’t know we needed.
The songs flow into one another with such cohesion that pinpointing where one ends and the next begins becomes a challenge. It’s not a restrained album; rather, the controlled chaos feels highly intentional – a hallmark of Tyler’s artistry. This continuity evokes the warmth of an old vinyl record, reflecting his pursuit of a deeply personal and interconnected sound while paying homage to the transportive journeys crafted by musicians of the past.
The lead single, ‘NOID’, delivers a piercing reflection on the paranoia and isolation that fame brings. The track’s gritty, lo-fi sound is unmistakably modern, yet its roots lie in an unexpected source: 1970s Zambia. Heavily sampling ‘Nizaka Panga Ngozi’ sung by Paul Ngozi, lead singer of Ngozi Family, a pioneering band from the Zamrock era, Tyler pays homage to an obscure genre that arose during Zambia’s post-independence cultural renaissance.
The Ngozi Family sample is more than an homage; it immerses listeners in the spirit of Zambia’s countercultural movement. Vocals in ‘NOID’ feature elements of both Chewa and Nyanja – two closely related Bantu languages – creating a blend that invites listeners to consider their intertwining. The chorus, sung in Chewa, translates to, “I don’t want trouble, and I don’t want to talk a lot / don’t bring gossip in my house.” This simple, pointed statement reflects Tyler’s own guardedness within the public sphere. Meanwhile, the heavy, distorted guitar riff intensifies this tension, merging lo-fi grit with Tyler’s contemporary production style.
By weaving in the Ngozi Family’s sound, Tyler reintroduces a genre that captured Zambia’s political and cultural awakening in the 1970s. Often described as a fusion of Zambian traditional music, psychedelic rock, garage rock, hard rock, blues, and funk, Zamrock emerged as a form of rebellion, paralleling Tyler’s own challenges against industry norms.
Tyler’s choice to drop his album on a weekday was intentional, reflecting his desire for listeners to engage deeply with his work. He recently expressed this philosophy in an interview, stating that people have a more focused listening experience during the week when they’re commuting or working, rather than during the passive listening typical of weekends. This approach emphasises his commitment to creating an album that invites introspection and thoughtful engagement.
Throughout Chromakopia, Tyler’s mother serves as an emotional anchor, reminding him of the importance of self-preservation. ‘Interlude’ reinforces this protective instinct as she warns, “Don’t trust these people out here, please, whatever you do / Keep to yourself, keep your business to yourself.” This maternal guidance underscores the tension between Tyler’s public persona and his private reality, adding depth to the album’s exploration of paranoia and vulnerability.
In a world where parasocial relationships are becoming increasingly extreme, ‘NOID’ serves as a poignant social commentary. Tyler highlights how fans can elevate artists to such heights that they forget these individuals have their own feelings and struggles. This introspective single not only captures Tyler’s perspective but also encourages listeners to reflect on their relationship with fame.
In ‘Like Him’, Tyler engages in a profound conversation with his mother, addressing the complexities of growing up without a father figure. The song reflects both his struggles and the importance of understanding one’s origins. Tyler’s lyrics capture his search for identity while simultaneously expressing forgiveness towards his mother for the choices she made. Her heartfelt admission, “It was my fault, not yours, not his,” reveals her acknowledgment of past mistakes and her desire for Tyler to know that his father wanted to be present in his life. This dialogue is filled with a sense of vulnerability and clarity, as Tyler grapples with the fear of becoming a father himself, haunted by the absence he experienced. Ultimately, ‘Like Him’ serves as a poignant exploration of family dynamics, forgiveness and how those experiences shape us.
With Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator crafts an album that is as much an exploration of identity as it is a sonic masterpiece. Mick Jagger once remarked, “The only performance that makes it, that makes it all the way is the one that achieves madness,” and Chromakopia achieves just that. Tyler enlists an impressive roster of collaborators – Childish Gambino, Willow, Doechii, GloRilla, Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red, Solange, and Teezo Touchdown – each adding distinct textures and perspectives that enhance the album’s emotional complexity. Their contributions, from Willow’s haunting vocal layers to Lil Wayne’s sharp lyricism, amplify Tyler’s exploration of themes like autonomy, resilience, and authenticity.
Tracks like ‘Hey Jane’ confront choice and consequence, while ‘Like Him’ reveals the artist’s vulnerability in a reckoning with family and forgiveness. Then there’s ‘Thought I Was Dead’, a powerful declaration of resilience that exudes Tyler’s confidence, dismissing doubts and signalling his unapologetic survival. ‘Darling, I’ emerges as a very bold polyamorous anthem. In ‘Take Your Mask Off’, he closes with an unapologetic call for self-acceptance, urging us all to do the same. Ultimately, Chromakopia not only showcases Tyler’s growth as an artist but also serves as a reminder that there is beauty in chaos. Amid life’s complexities, our light remains, guiding us on our journeys toward self-discovery regardless of how messy the journey sometimes gets. And who better to usher hip hop into a new light than Tyler, The Creator
