If you are up to date with the music industry, you know that prominent artist Tyler, The Creator just released a new album on Oct. 28, 2024 entitled, CHROMAKOPIA. You might be wondering why this album was much awaited by many or why Tyler, The Creator is so popular. So, here’s what you need to know about how Tyler, The Creator came to be and how he got to where he is today!
Born Tyler Okonma on March 6, 1991 in Los Angeles, California, he grew his musical connection by teaching himself how to play the piano as he grew up. From there, his music career seemed to gain traction. In 2007, Okonma formed the musical group Odd Future with his friends, the most recognizable members being Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, The Creator himself. From there, his music career seemed to gain traction. Odd Future released a mixtape in 2008 and created their own record label, Odd Future Records, which was established in 2011. More undertakings of the group were making a clothing line and having their own skit called Loiter Squad on comedy show, AdultSwim. This lasted for 3 seasons and was very successful and most likely led to the popularity surrounding Tyler and the other members of the group. Odd Future has not released any content since 2016, and many fans and the general public believe that the group is done, though there has been no official statement from the members suggesting disbandment.
The first solo project that Tyler, The Creator released was his mixtape, Bastard, in 2009 which gained praise from many. He then released his first studio album, Goblin, in 2011 that featured members from Odd Future. Tyler released his third album, Wolf, in 2013 and subsequently his fourth, Cherry Bomb, in 2015. These gained him recognition and a strong following. But, most of these albums inversely evoked controversy. This controversy was due to the lyrics and overall vibes of these albums being explicit and deemed inappropriate. Although, this was merely the style of music that Tyler was creating at this time and the majority of listeners enjoyed it. The UK banned Tyler from performing shows in 2015 and just a year prior, New Zealand banned Odd Future all together. According to TeachRock, this was because “Odd Future roused up controversy due to their lyrics, which some described as violent, misogynistic, and even at times homophobic. Their shows produced crowds that engaged in moshing, and Odd Future members would dive into the crowds. The controversial antics of Odd Future led to the group being banned from New Zealand in 2014.”
Undeniably Tyler, The Creator’s most well known album (prior to the new release of CHROMAKOPIA), Flower Boy, was a big boost in his career and stardom. This album established him as a more reputable artist because it was more in the pop music genre. This album lacked the typical controversial topics that were in all of his previous endeavors. Therefore, there was no controversy whatsoever from this album and this made him seen as a more serious artist. This definitely gained him popularity and launched him even further into the public eye for up and coming music artists. As of the day this article was published, Tyler sits at number 59th in the world for top ranked music artists and it is very plausible that he will continue to move further up in the rankings. From the more pop-esque songs to the more rap and contentious ones, Tyler, The Creator has made a name for himself. He has skyrocketed to the top of the music industry and there seems to be nothing holding him back. Tyler, The Creator will continue to make his own personal mark on the world and most everyone is here for it!
