From his 2009 self-produced debut LPBastardto his 2024 genre-blending neo-industrial concept albumChromakopia, LA-based rapperTyler, the Creatorhas become one of the most unique voices in modern hip-hop. Tyler’s sound has certainly evolved from the provocative shock value of “Yonkers” off 2010’sGoblin– which skyrocketed the rapper to internet fame – to the heartfelt pleading of “EARFQUAKE” featuring a baby-voiced Playboi Carti on the most unexpected pop breakup album of 2019,Igor. Tyler’s come a long way from the early days of his rap collectiveOdd Future, which also introduced the talents of Earl Sweatshirt and Frank Ocean.
Tyler, the Creator is one of hip-hop’s great and few auteurs who bring cinematic elements into his track lists and production themes. His latest,Chromakopia, has a distinct artistic vision that adds another compelling chapter to his already versatile discography yet is still quintessentially Tyler at its core. While his lyrical focus has certainly shifted since the eyebrow-raising days of “Radicals” and the controversial Taylor Swift namedrop on “Fish”,Tyler himself has maintained a magnetic aura and sharp intensity regardless of genre or subject. Even on his most subdued songs, like the catchy “See You Again” offFlower Boy, Tyler still delivers a palpable command of his material and soundscapes.
What’s more, Tyler has various interests outside of music, ranging from fashion, sketch comedy, and eventually, filmmaking. He’s directed dozens of his own music videos under the pseudonym “Wolf Haley” and has expressed a desire to eventually take a stab at directing a feature film. He and several of hisOdd Future counterparts created theJackass-esque Adult Swim seriesLoiter Squad, which featured Odd Future’s mostly non-rapper members such as Jasper, Taco, and Lionel Boyce – the latter of whom went on to join the ensemblecast of the massively successful FX seriesThe Bear. If Tyler’s current discography proves anything, it’s that he has continued to improve and innovate within his own iconic sound.
Honorable Mention - The OF Tape, Vol. 2
2012
Early in his career,Tyler was considered the ring bearer of his legends-in-the-making collective, Odd Future. While the group was much bigger than hip-hop, spawning a heavily in-demand street apparel clothing line by the same name, the common link for many of its members was rapping.The OF Tape, Vol. 2, with its standout collaboration “Oldie”, is the best collection of Odd Future’s sound and energy which became a staple of a generation of 2010s LA hip-hop. It’s impossible to encapsulate a complete picture of Tyler’s music career without mentioning the influence of Odd Future, the cult following of their “GOLFWANG” aesthetic, and their impact on not only hip-hop but pop culture.
8Goblin
2010
As Tyler’s first studio album with a major label (XL),Golblinwas, in a word, shocking. “Yonkers” introduced Tyler, the Creator to millions and earned him the Best New Artist award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The album’s other standout,“She”, also largely put Grammy-winner Frank Ocean on the mapbefore he would go on to release instant classics such asChannel OrangeandBlonde.Goblin’slyrical content is unquestionably outdated but that’s not even its biggest problem.
Compared to the levels of production value in Tyler’s later projects, even starting with his third effort Wolf,Goblinhas the weakest beats overall. The stripped-down “Yonkers” packs a sinister punch while “She” delivers some immersive and floating synths. Apart from that, there aren’t too many standout tracks due to the mostly weak production.Goblinlays a solid blueprint forWolfin some, mostly conceptual, ways. Considering it arrived one year afterBastard, Tyler’s self-produced debut,Goblinfails to leave an impression outside its top 2.
7Cherry Bomb
2015
Cherry Bombmight be Tyler’s most experimental studio album that walks a tightrope between showcasing his sophisticated versatility and a nearly trolling sense of instability. Titles like “THE BROWN STAINS OF DARKEESE LATIFAH PART 6-12 (REMIX)” pretty much sum up the general air of unseriousness with the disorganized project. Tyler explains on his 2021 track “MASSA” thatCherry Bomb"sounded so shifty" because he too was shifting in his personal life.
If it weren’t forthe inspired yet random inclusion of the blissfully jazz-inspired “FIND YOUR WINGS"and the legendary collaboration “SMUCKERS” with Lil Wayne and Kanye West,Cherry Bombwould be nearly intolerable. The title track is a sort of genre-less static noise that should have stayed on the hard drive. Songs like “2SEATER” and “F*****G YOUNG” provide some much-needed relief in Tyler’s most confused project to date.
6Bastard
2009
For a debut self-produced project,Bastardis quite full-bodied and conceptually sound despite being overlooked as Tyler’s “before-the-fame” album. Bastard is arguably Tyler’s truest front-to-back rap album afterCall Me If You Get Lost. In retrospect, it acts as a structural and narrative blueprint for what would arise inGoblinandWolf. The three albums create a sort of trilogy and containinterwoven skits from an omnipresent deep voice called Dr. TC, a fictional therapist.
Apart from the concept of Bastard, the entire project is simply impressive for a debut. Tyler plants several sonic seeds on Bastard, particularly in the form of keys and synths, that firmly establish a trademark sound. Some of his career-best rap efforts come fromBastardwhich delivers some of his most relentless flows.The clear highlight is his collaboration with Earl Sweatshirt on “AssMilk”, which was instantly iconic due to the “Free Earl” campaign going on at the time after Earl’s mother sent him away to boarding school.
5Chromakopia
2024
Every Tyler, the Creator new release afterFlower Boyhas demonstrated Tyler’s improvement and continued innovation as a producer. The soundscapes ofChromakopiademonstrate just howmasterful Tyler has gotten at fine-tuning and building upon his definitive audial brand. Apart from the outstanding production,Chromakopiahas an equally strong concept that further showcases the innate visual element in Tyler’s music that, like a film, is rooted in a theme and distinct setting.
Chromakopiacombines several of Tyler’s previously established sounds and moods. Tyler’s braggadocious lyrics on “Darling, I” feel like an unreleased verse off his 2021 rap-heavy album. “Noid” sounds like a futuristic B-side ofIgorat times, while the vulnerability of “Like Him” matches the same vibe on several of the more emotionalFlower Boysongs.Chromakopiamay be Tyler’s most naturally intriguing and layered album, mixing several standalone tracks like “St. Chroma” and “Sticky” while balancing compelling diversity with intentional cohesion.
4Flower Boy
2017
Flower Boymade headlines in 2017 for certain lyrics that touched on Tyler’s sexuality, which was the major takeaway for many people with this album. Songs like “See You Again” and “911/Mr. Lonley” remain fan favorites, while the hype-inducing"Who Dat Boy” marks the high point of Tyler’s several collaborations with A$AP Rocky. After the polarizing noise that wasCherry Bomb, Flower Boy was a welcome breath of fresh air that finally gave fans an honest look at their favorite artist.
In terms of replay value,Flower Boyis high up on the list of Tyler’s discography. The then-surprising inclusion of Tyler singing is emblematic of the inherent courage in every lyric and bar in the project.Flower Boymarked the start of Tyler’s second leg and is the most sonically congruent album toIgor, mixing various subgenres and influences to create an enjoyable blend of pop and hip-hop. Thegenerally positive and inspirational tone ofFlower Boymarked a profound evolutionin Tyler, capped by the dreamy instrumental track “Enjoy Right Now, Today.”
3Igor
2019
IGOR is listed as a hip-hop album, but it’s really a pop record through and through. From the towering synth intro of “IGOR’s THEME” to the mind-numbing bass of “NEW MAGIC WAND”, Tyler made his most accessible album withIgor.It’s hard to believe it’s the same artist who made “Yonkers”, but that’s the beauty of Tyler’s growth and seemingly boundless talent.Igoris arguably Tyler’s best overall production, even though it acts as the stark outlierin his discography.
At a crisp 40 minutes,Igoris Tyler’s sharpest projectand offers the most bouncy beats and memorable lyrics of them all. Songs like “I THINK” and “EARFQUAKE” are straight-up pop records, while “GONE, GONE / THANK YOU” and “A BOY IS A GUN” nearly border on psychedelic indie/alternative with neo-soul infusions. Some of Tyler’s greatest feats exist on Igor and the album as a whole is simply pristine. Colorful genre-blending pop matched with contemplative lyrics about heartbreak make for Tyler’s most unexpected album.
2Wolf
2013
As far as storytelling goes, Tyler has yet to outdo his efforts on his 2013 projectWolf, which initially showed unforeseen artistry and complexity to the Odd Future frontman.Wolfwas released during Odd Future’s prime andprovided an avenue for Tyler to escape from his juvenile and audacious reputationset by his “Yonkers” era. The versatility heard overWolf’s18 tracks and 71-minute runtime are in ways precursors toCall Me If You Get Lost, which doubled down onWolf’srap-heavy focus.
Wolfoffers clear and engaging narratives within each of its songs that connect to an overarching story, glued together by Tyler’s various fictional characters such as Sam, Slater, and his alter-ego Wolf Haley. On “Answer”, Tyler breaks down his fading relationship with his estranged father. Tracks like “Slater” and “Colossus” further displayed Tyler’s exceptional skills as a wordsmith. “Bimmer” is a great snippet smack in the middle of the album.“IFHY” featuring Pharrell and “Rusty” featuring OF’s Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesisare two classic standouts.
1Call Me If You Get Lost
2021
The Grammy-winningCall Me If You Get Lostis Tyler, the creator’s best album to date. The incredible production value and heavy-hitting rap focus make it one of the greatest rap albums of the 2020s with a very high replay value. Tracks like “LUMBERJACK” and “MASSA” deliver raw lyrics that truly embrace the classic elements of the hip-hop genre. The nearly Kendrick-esque"WILSHIRE" lets Tyler’s words lead the rhythm like few of his other songs do, reaffirming his roots as a rapper after the success ofIgor.
Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Salecould very well be Tyler’s magnum opus. The additional eight tracks actually make the already great album even better, offering new collaborations with Vince Staples and A$AP Rocky. “DOGTOOTH” and “SORRY NOT SORRY” reignited theCall Me If You Get Losthype in 2023 after Tyler earned his most profitable world tour in 2022. Based on his elaborate discography,Tyler, the Creatoris one of those rare artists whose next project is always highly anticipated and wonderfully unpredictable.
