Tyler Gregory Okonma (better known as Tyler The Creator) is a 30 year old Nigerian/African-American artist. I’m an eleven-year-old BCA member and as an emerging creative, I have a ton of admiration for this musician who is also a collaborator and producer - he’s a man who can multi-task!
His songs give off so many different vibes, but for me it’s the fact that his songs don’t just motivate me to get stuff done, but they also lift my mood and most importantly, just let me sit with all my feelings. If I had to be picky, my favourite albums would be ‘Igor’ and ‘Flower Boy’.
Released on May 17th 2019 ‘Igor’ was produced by Tyler himself anda features a bunch of amazing artists including Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Solange, Kanye West and Jerrod Carmichael. Naming is powerful, and when looking into the whakapapa of the name, another music reviewer, Donna-Claire Chesman, says, “speaking to my father (whose name also happens to be Igor) he told me that it is an “old back country” Russian name meaning conqueror, strong, victorious and things in vein” - meaning we begin Igor by naming our triumph.”
Flower Boy is older and was released on July 21st, 2017, but like Igor also features a swag of incredible talent including: Frank Ocean, Jaden Smith, ASAP Rocky, Lil Wayne, Estelle, Steve Lacy, Kali Uchis, Anna Of Northkand and Rex Orange County. Flower Boy was initially going to be named ‘scum f**k flower boy’ but was later shortened to ‘ Flower Boy’. Tyler said he wanted to take a personal approach with the album since his previous album ‘Cherry Bomb’ didn’t really get the response he was looking for and so he focused his attention purely on the making of music: “I don’t wanna get personal at all, like I’m just going to make songs. And this album was like, alright let me write down every feeling”. Perhaps it's his deep connection to his feelings that helps me stay in mine - and also enables me as the listener to interpret the music in the way that is most meaningful.
Tyler The Creator just goes with the flow, he sings about his feelings and thoughts and that’s something I really enjoy about his songs. He once said “ I don’t like people around me sad. I like making people happy” and I think he is succeeding. His music features regularly on my playlist and if you like rap, I definitely recommend you to listen to him too.
One day I hope to make songs like he does, on his own using his mind as a studio and leaning into himself and all the magic within.