“Chaos to Craft: Evolution of Tyler, The Creator”

Tyler, the Creator’s musical evolution is a journey of self-discovery as much as it is creative reinvention. In the early 2010’s, a 19 year-old Tyler delivered raw, offensive, horrorcore narratives that combined both shock value and storytelling. Dark, unpleasant themes and characters were introduced in his early Goblin trilogy (Bastard, Goblin, Wolf), whose lyrics exposed his inner turmoil and addressed his immaturity as a result of his father’s absence. Yet, as his career progressed, Tyler started to shed this protective façade and produce one of the most beautiful transformational discography. His albums (Igor, Flower Boy, and Chromakopia) provide us a glimpse of his struggle, highlighting emotional depth and sensitivity, which ultimately leads to the acceptance of who he really is. Through his discography, from Bastard to Chromakopia, his shift in storytelling reflects his personal growth, attempts at self acceptance and his impact on the ever changing music industry. 

Opening his discography is the controversial and disturbing Wolf trilogy, beginning with Bastard, where Tyler tries to provoke reactions to, as he puts it, “piss old white people off.” (BBC) Accomplishing his goal by adding unrelenting ideas of homophobia, violence, rape fantasies, and misogyny in his lyrics. 

Bastard opens as a therapy session between an adolescent Ace and Dr. TC, characters in this narrative representing his inner consciousness. The presence of Dr. TC allows Ace to externalize his anger and feelings of abandonment due to his father leaving. From the very beginning, Ace introduces his hate towards his father stating “Fuck a deal, I just want my father’s email so I can him how much I fucking hate him in detail” (Tyler, ‘Bastard’) all the way to the end stating “My father died the day I came outta my mothers hole and left the burden on my soul.” (Tyler, ‘Inglorious’) The physiological chaos influenced by his familial issues sets the scene for the next album, Wolf. 

Wolf, introducing us to concepts of love rivalry, childhood trauma, and loneliness through characters such as Samuel and Wolf. Through the conflict presented between Wolf and Samuel over Salem, we see a more introspective Tyler, who longs for attachment to fill the hole his father had left in his soul. While we are introduced to this seemingly mentally improving character until we get the last lyric of Wolf saying “ Last time I seen Sammy, he was looking for you… Fuck that ni**a Sammy…Uh have you seen him?… Nah if I seen that ni**a I woulda killed him.” (Tyler, ‘Lone’). This line preludes us to the coming emotional catastrophe we are about to hear. 

To which we are transitioned to Goblin where Tyler’s mental health deteriorates and we see the severity of his issues. It is also here where the pressure from artists like Kanye West and criticism from the public adds to the vulgarity of this album. As if he relapses, we are back to the constant homophobia, misogyny, and shock value of Bastard. Throughout Goblin, his unhinged and darker impulses are expressed particularly in ‘Radicals’ where the starting lyric is “Hey, don’t do anything that I say in this song, okay? It’s fuckin’ fiction If anything happens, don’t fuckin’ blame me” (Tyler) followed by “Kill people, burn shit, fuck school.” (Tyler) It is shown most in “a Youtube sensation with the ‘Yonkers’ video clip at 19, winning two 2011 Video Music Awards at 20, and being nominated for two 2013 Grammy Awards at 22 years old” (Marques, 2013). In this video clip and lyrics, Tyler contradicts himself constantly as if he is battling the characters he has created within him, unable to decide who he truly is. The angsty teenager who hides behind his abrasive nature to avoid his fatherless feelings of abandonment and disappointment? Or the introspective and emotionally blossoming young man? The former is proven true at the end when Tyler, metaphorically, kills off Ace, proving he is not the immature reckless emotional mess that he was. This is the start of his path to acceptance. 

Beginning with Cherry Bomb, Tyler begins to shift to lighter, jazzier instrumentals. While we still hear some aggressive beats, we see new expressive sounds. We hear bits of soul and jazz interwoven with each song. Even beyond this album, these sounds become normal to hear. It’s unique and innovative for him and even the music industry. Especially with his two most popular albums, Flower Boy and Igor that gained popularity for its creativity and message. Finding oneself and love. Two of the most taxing, exhausting journeys one can take in life. With these new ideas, sounds and expressive vulnerability, Tyler appeals to new demographics, gaining him a bigger following. 

With these two newer and refreshing albums came the nivation and actual win of a Grammy! ” Tyler’s ‘Best Rap Album’ win for his 2019 project IGOR at the 2020 GRAMMY Awards” (Liptak). Proving to everyone, himself and his mother that he had grown into an emotionally mature man (without his father).

Even if inspired by other artists, Tyler manages to keep authenticity. Earning him multiple names in the entertainment industry, as Morillio brilliantly puts it as, “rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, video director, cartoon creator – but stagnant is not one of them” (Morillo, 2021). Using the chaotic, unstable sounds and characters of the past to plant the seeds of musical genius. Tyler creates the most transformative discographies to entertainment. 

2022, 2014, 2017, 2010

Morillo, Meagan. “A Look into the Evolution of Tyler, the Creator.” Unpublished, Unpublished, 1 May 2021, www.unpublishedzine.com/music/a-look-into-the-evolution-of-tyler-the-creator. 

Marques, Gustavo. “Beyond Gangsta: Hip-Hop, Skate Culture and Web Culture in the Music of Tyler, the Creator.” Academia.Edu, 2015, www.researchgate.net/publication/276370497_Beyond_Gangsta_Hip-Hop_Skate_Culture_and_Web_Culture_in_the_Music_of_Tyler_the_Creator. 

Smith, Stephen. “OFWGKTA Chat with Stephen Smith on BBC NewsNight.” YouTube, 2012, youtu.be/G65r9vZQuZQ?feature=shared. 

Tyler, the Creator. “Bastard.” Bastard, Odd Future Records, 2009,  https://youtu.be/I98_o7LFvC0?feature=shared 

Tyler, the Creator. “Inglorious.” Bastard, Odd Future Records, 2009, https://youtu.be/BI0Hu8fItxI?feature=shared 

Tyler, the Creator. “Lone” Wolf, Odd Future Records, 2013, https://youtu.be/j0dtSqRt3eI?feature=shared 

Tyler, the Creator. “Radicals” Goblin, Odd Future Records, 2011,

Tyler, The Creator – Radicals LyricsGeniushttps://genius.com › Tyler-the-creator-radicals-lyrics

Liptak, Carena. “Grammy Rewind: Tyler, the Creator Shares Best Rap Album Win with His Nearest & Dearest at the 2020 Grammy Awards.” Recording Academy, 2022, grammy.com/news/tyler-the-creator-igor-best-rap-album-win-speech-grammy-rewind-video.