Tyler, The Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA’: A Not-So-Black-and-White Journey

The anticipation I felt this past Sunday evening was nothing short of a kid’s excitement on Christmas Eve. I had my 6 a.m. alarm set, I was adorned in my favorite Tyler, The Creator merch and thoughts of potential features made it difficult to fall asleep. CHROMAKOPIA has consumed me since the sudden release of “St. Chroma.” I immediately fell in love with the song and concept — the military style visuals were haunting and I obsessed over determining if Frank Ocean was really on the song (I’m convinced he is). That being said, it’s Tyler’s creativity that always dominates his projects,so my excitement was sufficiently peaked.

“NOID”: Tyler’s Horror Movie

In a 2014 interview with Larry King, Tyler the Creator said that for the future, “[when] people mention my name, I’m next to Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarantino” — some of the world’s greatest film directors. Tyler made his directing debut with his music video for “Yonkers” in 2011, amassing over 150 million views, and since then he has continued to direct for the past 13 years. Knowing this, it was beyond thrilling watching Tyler drop music videos for his new album, “Chromakopia.” Last Friday, he released the music video for his new song “NOID” based on the fear and paranoia he has experienced that ensued with his rising popularity, crazy fan encounters and stalking paparazzi, and how these feelings have led to distrust and a constant anxiety when around the public. Using horror movie tactics, the emotional themes in “NOID” work not only to comment on the lack of boundaries between celebrities and the world, but also to instill the same anxiety in viewers. 

“NOID” asks us to feel paranoid. The opening scene, in which Tyler walks against an angry and disgusted crowd, delivers the audience a palpable sense of isolation.

SOLAR FLARE | Songs for the Walk Home

How do I drag my body home from campus on a weekday afternoon? With the help of “Sunshine,” off of Work of Art by Asake. A gentle release from academic anxiety: “Sun’s gon’ shine on everything you do.” 

‘WILSHIRE’ and the Tug-of-War Between Privacy and Vulnerability

Tyler Okonma — more famously known as Tyler, the Creator — recently came out with his latest studio album titled “Call Me if You Get Lost.” Released last month, it has received critical acclaim and reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts. The album dissects specific themes including romance, accumulation of wealth and loneliness.