On Wednesday morning, Oct. 18, fans around the world eagerly awaited the release of Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, CHROMAKOPIA. The hip-hop artist teased a brief snippet of one of the album’s tracks, “St. Chroma,” on YouTube on Oct. 16, 2024, before revealing the official release date.
The album features 14 tracks, making it Tyler’s third shortest album to date. The songs explore themes of love, personal growth, commitment, and Tyler’s reflections on his past. Below, we highlight four of the most impactful and meaningful tracks from CHROMAKOPIA.
Like Him
Track 12, “Like Him,” delves into Tyler’s complex relationship with his father, or lack thereof. The song begins with a brief voiceover from someone who seems to be Tyler’s mother, describing how Tyler’s features resemble those of his father.
This leads into a chorus where Tyler repeatedly asks, “Do I really look like him?” Tyler uses a powerful image, comparing his absent father to a ghost—someone he didn’t know and still doesn’t understand. The tone and emotional depth of this track connects with fans who can relate to the feelings of absence and longing.
Take Your Mask Off
In “Take Your Mask Off,” Tyler shifts from sad tone of previous tracks to a more confrontational style. The song calls out not only those who have wronged him but also himself. While the chorus is calming, the lyrics reveal a darker, more intense side of Tyler’s thoughts. He calls out people who pretend to be something they’re not—whether it’s individuals who glorify a “hood” lifestyle despite having good home lives, or those who hide behind a facade of perfection.
Tyler turns this song inward, addressing his own struggles with health, paranoia, relationships, and self-image. The song is a call for authenticity and self-exposure, having listeners to take off their own masks.
Noid
“Noid” stands out as one of the most intense tracks on CHROMAKOPIA. The song explores Tyler’s deep-seated paranoia, a recurring theme throughout his work. The title “Noid” refers to his sense of being watched and constantly under scrutiny. In the lyrics, Tyler describes feeling like he is always living his life through cameras, constantly aware of his surroundings.
Lines like “No cameras out, please, I wanna eat in peace” and “Y’all n**** crossed the line, like f*** the stop sign / They wanna know where I close my eyes at / I keep my eyes wide” reflect his desire for privacy amidst the pressures of fame. “Noid” gives listeners a raw look into Tyler’s fears about being constantly observed and judged.
Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne)
“Sticky” stands out as one of the more lighthearted and playful tracks on the album. Featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, the song carries a more fun and playful tone compared to some of the deeper tracks on CHROMAKOPIA.
Despite mixed reactions from fans — some were disappointed by the absence of a Frank Ocean collaboration, while others found the inclusion of GloRilla and Sexyy Red an odd choice — the track gained surprising popularity. “Sticky” quickly became a viral hit on TikTok, with over 13,000 posts and climbing to number 49 on the TikTok Music Chart, proving that even through criticism, Tyler’s music resonates with a wide audience.
