Tyler, The Creator in tier list
the first four albums I did not much care for, counting BASTARD as the first album. There was a pretty steady progression, I felt, through Cherry Bomb. I could always very clearly hear that Tyler had stuff to say, there was clear demonstration of his passion and his pain, I think in that sense he was pretty eloquent in his beginning. He was also unpleasant and unenjoyable, pretty much all the way through. That’s at least true for Goblin, I think there are enjoyable bits sprinkled into Wolf, and Cherry Bomb really starts to move another direction that I’m more partial to. Honestly, though, even in those albums I did not like I could hear that the production and quality of the music, of the craft, was solid. Throughout my listening, I was never in doubt that Tyler was good at making stuff, just that he’d decide to make something I was interested in.
One observation I’ve, relevant here with Tyler, and also generally in a lot of the hip-hop I’ve listened to, is that hip-hop tends to (I think) be really good with production… not production value, but production values. The focus and the design directives, the attention, it’s all in, if not the right place, a very strong place. Like, at this point I think I can hear when hip-hop is good hip-hop, even if I don’t like it. And yeah, a lot of the time I still don’t like it. But when that artist leans just a little bit more into the pop sphere, gets just a little bit more ‘accessible’, they do such a good job at it. Often way better than the ‘actual’ pop artists. I think that hip-hop folks tend to have better attention to sound, they’re super able to get down to it and attack the sounds they want, to explore the sounds that are interesting and exciting to them. I don’t think that typical hip-hop sounds in hip-hop settings are often very interesting or exciting to me. But, I think that when that kind of ear is applied to something more melodic and, to be frank to how I think of it in my head even if it’s not accurate, “musical”, it does a really really good job.
And I think that applies to Tyler. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is my least favorite of what I think of as his four good albums, but it’s still solid. The other three I really quite like. They’re consistent, they’re on theme and cohesive, they just work really well. All of them have their own unique identity, while still clearly acting as signposts of Tyler himself. They’re compelling and enjoyable, I’m here for it.
The tricky part comes in trying to reconcile the brilliant artist Tyler with the offensive and kind of vile Tyler. One the one hand, I think Tyler is a skilled musician and artist who’s made stuff I really like. On the other hand, I don’t really trust him as a person, I don’t trust him as an artist. Not to say he’s not a good artist, but that he is a good one and I don’t know if I’m on board with what he does with his art. I think if I were to just look at his music in isolation, I could let a lot of the violent and destructive things he’s said in the past go in light of the edifying work he’s done more presently. The early destructiveness is unpleasant, but it’s also something I’ve seen in a lot of music and musicians at this point, and I’m fairly well accustomed to either partitioning or integrating artists with themselves, with how I think of them, as they’ve changed over time. What’s less easy to look past is how Tyler has followed up his questionable messaging, and how he’s responded to questioning challenges, both in action and in interview. I haven’t done enough research to say much about whether I think he’s actually inciting violence ever– that’s a big claim, and not one I’d want to try to push.
What I am comfortable saying is that I think Tyler Okonma is irresponsible and careless, and that that creates a danger to those around him, those in his influence, which is pretty significant. When asked about the extreme content in his art– be that rape, homophobia, or a more general advocation for violence and destruction– he laughs it off. He’s nonchalant. He’s unbothered. Words are just words. Asked why he uses offensive content and language, he says, “It’s not offensive.” NME (April 11, 2012). “Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator: ‘My lyrics aren’t offensive’ – video”. NME. Retrieved February 29, 2024. Flat denial. He’s not trying to be homophobic by saying faggot or saying gay to call something stupid. That’s just how he uses the words, that’s what he’s used to. Use whatever words you want, he figures. In an interview with MTV, he says, “Well, I have gay fans and they don’t really take it offensive, so I don’t know. If it offends you, it offends you. If you call me a nigger, I really don’t care, but that’s just me, personally. Some people might take it the other way; I personally don’t give a shit.” “Tyler, The Creator Defends His Use Of The Other F-Word”.
Which is just… it’s nonsense, you know? It’s nonsensical, it’s a choice to live in denial, to act like your actions don’t affect other people. That what you do doesn’t have real consequence, or that the consequence is or ought to be magically altered by some ineffable, not needing to be mentioned, good intent. Say what you want, because words only have power if you will them to. Reject the very notion of something being offensive, categorically mock the idea of offense being something received, call offense something objective and inherent that obviously you have special insight to that others don’t. It’s an entirely unimpressive view of the world, and it kind of kills Tyler for me. I’ll grant, those interviews are from over a decade ago. A decade’s a long time. I’m perfectly willing to believe that this isn’t Tyler’s current stance, that he’s changed, because this is a child’s perception of the world and he’s had a long time to not be a child. But, from what I’ve been able to gather, he hasn’t renounced this stance, he hasn’t unmade himself untouchable. He hasn’t broadcasted that those statements no longer represent him. Either that means he thinks they still do, which is bad, or he thinks he shouldn’t have to, which shows that he didn’t learn the lesson that words and presentation matter after all and is still bad.
So. Music-wise, I’d be perfectly happy to sling Tyler to a A-, maybe even a full A. That’s not a particularly tough call to me. But taken as a whole, I just… I don’t think he’s fully baked. I think he’s reckless and powerful, and I think he denies his own power and in so doing demonstrates how dangerous and reckless he really is. I’m not a fan of that. I’m gonna put him at the very bottom of A-. I like his music too much to deny him the A-, I’m too impressed by him to put him in the Bs. But more than that I’m not willing to do, right now. I have to feel it out a bit more, and frankly I think he needs to figure things out a bit more. So for now, bottom A- is my compromise
Tyler, The Creator complete, now listening to: ENHYPEN
tunafruitsandwitch 