On October 28th, Tyler, The Creator released his seventh official studio album, titled Chromakopia. This long-awaited 54 minute album including 14 tracks and over 13 features provides fans with more than new music to listen to- it introduces them to an entirely new face of Tyler, The Creator.
While Tyler, The Creator is known for his musical versatility, with sounds influenced by a wide range of genres, one factor undeniably sets each album apart: the identity behind them. From personas including Wolf Haley to Flower Boy, Each of Tyler, The Creator’s albums are sung by a different alter-ego, allowing the listener to meet a new character with each album. The most recent of these characters before Chromakopia’s release, Sir Baudelaire, was depicted being killed in the SORRY NOT SORRY music video released in March of 2023, making room for a new alter-ego: St. Chroma.
After a long wait and highly anticipated release, listeners entered the world of Chromakopia. When broken down, the word Chromakipia itself can be defined as “Abundance of Color.” Many believe that the alter-ego of St. Chroma references a character from The Phantom Tollbooth named Chroma the Great. In The Phantom Tollbooth, Chroma The Great conducts an orchestra that colors the world. Without this orchestra and Chroma the Great, the world would remain black and white. As Tyler, The Creator takes on the persona of St. Chroma, he guides the listener on a journey through the not-so black and white world of adulthood, maturity, and self-acceptance.
As seen in his other projects, Tyler manages to squeeze a complex range of emotions into just 14 tracks. Beginning with St. Chroma and Rah Tah Tah, the album starts off on an optimistic and exciting note, discussing wealth and success. Tyler continues to express these ideas in the next track- but delves into the darkness of fame with Noid. Tyler also explores the concepts of love, loss, and maturity with Darling, I and Judge Judy. He soon connects the idea of fatherhood in Hey, Jane to the lack of a father figure through his own childhood in Like Him: Chromakopia’s most emotional track. Despite the heavier themes that make up the album, the versatility of St. Chroma allows for the album to include fun and exciting songs such as Sticky and Balloon that fans will surely be eager to hear during the upcoming Chromakopia World Tour.
Chromakopia has proven to be another one of Tyler, the Creator’s creative masterpieces. Tyler truly takes his mask off in hopes that the listener will do the same, making St. Chroma one of Tyler’s most raw and truthful personas yet.
