Tyler, The Creator’s newest album, Chromakopia, dives into his complicated relationship with fame and identity. As a previous Tyler, The Creator fan, I am satisfied with the album overall. One standout track, “Like Him,” shows his ability to explore these themes with depth.
In the song, Tyler touches on the dynamics between a son and his absent father, who he later realized wanted nothing more than to be a part of Tyler’s life: “But he’s always wanted to be a father to you, so I f***ed up and I take ownership of that of my choices and decisions and I’m sorry for that.” Throughout the album, he tells a story of his life now that he is no longer a kid. The sequence of music has somewhat of a flow as you play it through. Critics have especially praised “Like Him” for its depth, with writer Jayden Espinoza of The Observor adding that “no revelation hits as hard as ‘Like Him.’”
While many consider Chromakopia an admirable album, not all reviews are positive. Some reviewers note that Tyler’s intricate themes and concepts of his songs lead to moments where the album feels uneven. Despite this, Chromakopia remains an important release that solidifies Tyler’s place in current music with his introspection of himself. “Tyler, The Creator seems bent on discovering what is the best life for him to live—and his conclusion seems to be an honest one,” said writer Eliot Cox of the Pepperdine University Graphic. In this album, Tyler delivers a deeply personal exploration of his life.
