This piece first appeared in November 2024 in The Southerner, a student-written and student-produced newspaper at South High School in Minneapolis. The Southerner can be found online at www.shsoutherner.net.
Editor’s Note: We are extending our enjoyment of Arabella’s thoughtful review of CHROMAKOPIA by spreading it out over three issues. This month we present the first five tracks, leaving you wanting more!
By ARABELLA FRACISCO
Tyler, The Creator’s (also known as Tyler Gregory Okonma) newest album CHROMAKOPIA, composed of 14 tracks dropped October 28th, 2024. It was an instant hit, scoring Okonma his third No. 1 album on Billboard 200 as of November 9th. CHROMAKOPIA plays with vibrant and creative sounds creating a thought provoking, engaging listening experience, while also featuring many beloved artists such as Sexyy Red, Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, Lil Wayne, and more. Within these 14 tracks Okonma dives into themes like self discovery, identity, the fear of getting older, anxieties of celebrity culture, romantic relationships, an absent father, and more while his mom, Bonita Smith is featured at the beginning of a few songs giving words of advice and affirmation.
St. Chroma is the first track on the album featuring gorgeous vocals by Daniel Caesar. This song was teased on October 16th and had everyone hooked. It was the world’s first taste of the album and introduces the character of St. Chroma to the listeners. It didn’t disappoint, being a great first introduction to how powerful the album is.
Rah Tah Tah is the second track on the album, with a clean transition from St. Chroma. In the beginning, Okonma sings about his confidence within himself that is fueled by others’ validation and approval rather than his own, but by the end of the track, he begins to reflect on past experiences in the public eye of fans. This begins to make him paranoid, transitioning into the third track, Noid.
Noid is the third track on the album. The song touches on Okonma’s consuming paranoia as a figure in the public eye, constantly feeling chased and watched. “Someone’s keepin’ watch I feel them on my shoulder.” He sets a scene where he drives away from everyone peering into his life, imagining that a car is following him with a gun, and threatening him in his own home.
In track four, Darling, I, Okonma raps about his frustrations with himself as he falls in and out of love too fast. He isn’t able to stay in a committed relationship, nor does he feel secure in any relationship he is in. “Life is short, but forever is too goddamn long, I like a long time, I’m on my own time, I love this girl, though, I hit the goldmine I’m thinkin’ new crib, I’m thinkin’ two kids until I get infatuated with a new bitch.” This song features Teezo Touchdown on background vocals, adding more depth to this already beautiful song.
The fifth track on the album, Hey Jane, unpacks the shocks of an unplanned pregnancy within a no-strings-attached relationship. The song is told from both the perspective of Okonma and his partner in the format of a letter. The two discuss their mixed feelings, with Okonma struggling with the daunting responsibility of raising a child, while she’s conflicted over possibly having to raise the child alone. The name Hey Jane also refers to an abortion clinic based in New York by the same name, which you can use to infer the outcome of the discussion between the couple.
Next Month: Tracks 6 – 10
Arabella Fracisco is a senior entering her first year writing for the Southerner. She is passionate about activism, community, and culture.
