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Remember tierlists? I sure do, and when I realized it was time for me to review Tyler, the Creator's CHROMAKOPIA. I wanted to take a non-conventional approach to my review that would be comprehensive, fun, and make sense.
For those of you who are lucky enough to have not been obsessed with the idea of tier lists and are not aware of what such a format entails, it's pretty simple: tier lists are an unconventional way of ranking things in a given category by putting them on a chart and assigning them a letter grade, with S usually being the highest ranking, F being the lowest, and A, B, C, and D or maybe E in between; such a chart will normally look something like this:
However, we will have no E or even F tier because I personally don't consider any song on this album as low as those levels. By the end of this article, we will have a fully assembled chart filled with little icons representing each song on CHROMAKOPIA. Without further ado, let's start.
St Chroma: A Tier
Few of Tyler's album intros over the years can hold up as individual songs on their own; whether it was the jazzy "Sir Baudelaire," or the angsty "Wolf," these intros are normally just in the vein of interludes or even skits. "St Chroma" is more than that; not only does it get you in the mood for the rest of the album, it combines some of the best aspects of the album, like the personal theme of the lyrics, a mix of psych and hip-hop influences, and that fuzzy breakdown somewhat reminiscent of Cherry Bomb (which is over-hated, in my opinion).
Rah Tah Tah: A Tier
This review isn't going to be this glowing forever; this album just has a strong start. And while the distortion and harshness of the beat can be a little hard to get used to, the sheer lyricism and intensity on this song (Tyler exclaims "I'm a fish!" at one point) is just really fun and gets you hyped up.
Noid: S Tier
I was honestly disappointed that more of the album didn't sound like "Noid." No, this isn't about the Domino's mascot; it's an intense near-5 minutes of Tyler recounting stories of his mental health struggles after dealing with constant media attention. There are two distinct beats on "Noid," the first being my favorite by far, sampled from psychedelic rock and distorted to perfection in a style that Tyler simply has never tried before. The second, being a piano-based beat, is definitely more classic Tyler but pairs very well with the themes of the lyrics. This track was not afraid to try new things and it paid off.
Darling, I: (Low) A Tier
Some might be mad that this hit isn't on the top of the list, but hear me out. "Darling, I" has great lyrics and themes, and this ranking is not because of the lyrical content. Instead, I think this song simply sounds too similar to what we heard from "Call Me If You Get Lost"; the song's production and instruments sound very much like songs like "Wharf Talk" or "Boyfriend, Girlfriend," both songs that only released last year. "Darling, I" is still absolutely great, though. Tyler is definitely much more honest here than he was with the flashier lyrics of those earlier productions, and Teezo Touchdown, as he normally does when collaborating with Tyler, does a great job.
Hey Jane: C Tier
As much as I love a classic continuous freestyle from Tyler (Like "Wilshire" from his last album, which I think is criminally underrated), there's something about "Hey, Jane" that just doesn't work on the same level. Maybe it's because we knew "Wilshire" was based on a real story, while the origins of this song are more ambiguous for now, or maybe it's because the beat chosen for this track would be way more suited for a track with a more typical layout with choruses and bridges; either way, the lyrics and themes are very good and explore places that Tyler hasn't been before, but the actual sound just underperforms.
I Killed You: B Tier
No, Horrorcore Tyler is not back. The "You" in question refers to Tyler's hair, and the intro of this song is, plainly put, really bad. But if you can make it through that, a decent track awaits you; Tyler talks about the societal pressure he feels to style his hair and the damages that hair chemicals have done to him, and we close with a very ethereal outro reminiscent of Flower Boy, with backing vocals from the absolutely legendary Childish Gambino, who I have personally waited for years to collaborate with Tyler. This, alone, brought this track up to B tier from, initially, a lower place.
Judge Judy: (High) B Tier
Much of what I said about "I Killed You" applies here; this song is very reminiscent of earlier albums, though it's more so "Igor" in this song's case, although there's a tinge of Cherry Bomb when it comes to the lyrical content, which, honestly, nearly lost me. Then, of course, Childish Gambino comes back and absolutely serenades, and this song goes from zero to hero, overtaking "I Killed You," though not getting quite as good as "Darling, I."
Sticky: S Tier
This is Tyler's "Tusk"... incredibly catchy, and incredibly easy for high school bands to play (something that Tyler himself confirmed the song was meant for). An incredible posse cut featuring Glorilla, Sexxy Red, and Lil Wayne, Tyler manages to bring the best out of each of these guests by carefully changing up the beat and adding/removing effects and sound effects. Not only that, but the outro's decrescendo is a great transition into the next song.
Take Your Mask Off: A Tier
"Igor" Tyler is back. Well, maybe not completely, but this song sounds like it could've been on that record, and the social commentary, soul inspiration, and the changes in the beat are all reminiscent and also improving on what "Igor" did. Yes, I know I criticized "Darling, I" for being too reminiscent of earlier works, but it's different when it's bringing back a 5+ year-old style compared to only a year-old one. As the outro arrives, the social commentary gives way and the lyrics become more self-introspective, as Tyler criticizes himself the same way he criticizes these other characters. It's a little long-winded, but it pays off pretty big.
Tomorrow: A
The intro to this track is really heart-wrenching, with Tyler reflecting on how he and his family are aging; the guitars and lyrical tone are bittersweet and, again, bring back some of that "Flower Boy" feel. The reflection on his lack of any children, combined with what we heard earlier from "Hey, Jane", brings out some genuine emotion. The rap section, though, breaks that mood a little bit, and the song becomes more conventional. It's still incredible, but not nearly on the same level as "Like Him".
Thought I Was Dead: A
Imagine the lyricism, intensity, and hype of "Rah Tah Tah" combined with a brass beat like "Sticky" and the talents of an icon like Schoolboy Q; it sounds like a hit, no? "Thought I Was Dead" is probably one of the best high-intensity tracks in Tyler's whole discography, let alone CHROMAKOPIA, and the themes of Tyler facing pressure to make more music and content is also very on point considering just how demanding Tyler's fanbase was after only a 3-year gap between albums (Imagine if you were a Frank Ocean fan!)
Like Him: S
This is likely the most beautiful, haunting, and equally bittersweet thing that Tyler has ever made. Tyler's first song ever, "Bastard" from 2009, was about his father's abandonment from the family, and over the years since that early handful of albums, he's mentioned the topic rarely but has implied he is maturing in regards to the situation and realizing what really happened.
This track is the zenith of that journey: heart-wrenching soliloquy about this relationship set to a delicate and soft piano, the track gradually crescendos into a synthy, loud, and nearly orchestral grand finale, all while keeping an extremely bittersweet tone. "Like Him," simply put, is art.
Balloon: (High) A Tier
Yes, this intro is a little goofy, especially coming off the heels of such an emotional song, but "Balloon" is just plain fun. Imagine my praise for "Thought I Was Dead," but add even more points to the feature, because Doechii and Daniel Caesar absolutely kill it, with their high and lofty lyrical tones matching the song's designated vibes perfectly. "Balloon" is uplifting and fun, like, well, a balloon.
I Hope You Find Your Way Home: B Tier
This outro does what most Tyler outros do well; like a well-written essay, Tyler uses the outro to summarize a lot of the themes the album went over. However, I feel this song is a little long-winded while also having somewhat simplistic lyrics to stand on its own feet. However, I really do like the beat; it reminds me a lot of "Flower Boy," an album also known for a strong intro and a simpler outro.
Conclusion
CHROMAKOPIA is, at its core, an album of incredibly varied and shifting sounds & techniques, and like Cherry Bomb before it, it's an era of both incredible potential and growing pains, as Tyler moves on from the gimmicks of previous works and becomes more personal and introspective; like what we saw from "Sorry not Sorry," a song from last year that almost served as a trailer for this album, Tyler is casting aside this idea of personas and is wearing his heart on his sleeve. It's a refreshing change of pace, and the art that it's created is simply beautiful. In the grand scheme of Tyler's discography, CHROMAKOPIA would definitely be around that higher rung of A tier.
Credit goes to the template I used for this blog, which can be found here: https://tiermaker.com/create/chromakopia-2024-tyler-the-creator-all-tracks-16262670
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