A Trip Down Memory Lane: Tyler, The Creator's Worldbuilding En Revue
To call him a musician does not do Tyler Okonma's (better known as Tyler, The Creator) aesthetic skills justice. Though music is, of course, what the 33-year-old is best known for, his dedication to worldbuilding goes hand in hand with every one of his album releases – his most recent drop of the CHROMAKOPIA full-length being no exception.
Alongside exerting creative control over just about every sound on his albums, all visual accompaniments – including cover art, videos, fashion – that flow into the overall Tyler, The Creator aesthetic, too, are governed by the artist himself.
Its this exact commitment to 360-degree concepts that makes for the former Odd Future member's intricate, cohesive rollouts. His extensive artistry has garnered him a fanbase consisting of everyone from North West to Honey Dijon, all of whom are attracted to these holistic visions.
Tyler, The Creator – Aesthetic Timeline (2017 to Now):
Flower Boy
This passion dates back to Flower Boy at the very least, if not earlier work, though said 2017 record is remarked to have been a turning point in his career, earning him more widespread critical and commercial acclaim – as in, a broader audience's attention and his first Grammy nomination.
An album of introspective, vulnerable nature, the theme of sunset-colored florals and busy bumble bees reflected a devotedly softer side, and the sometimes arduous attempts at working through one's feelings.
There was a certain corresponding youthfulness to his wardrobe then, with lots of bold-toned polos, patterned button-ups, and, naturally, an array of coordinated baseball caps.
Igor
2019's follow-up, Igor, displayed its very own brand of emotive, narrativized-yet-honest writing. The aesthetic landscape within which the album was built felt more oddball, more eccentric, however, than its predecessor's.
The combination of the platinum bowl cut wig, statement eyewear, and vintage pastel two-pieces Tyler would perform in embodied the titular alter ego through which he'd reenact the polar archetypes at the center of the record's love triangle storyline.
Call Me When You Get Lost
By 2021's Call Me When You Get Lost, the Tyler, The Creator aesthetic had changed quite drastically once more, now revolving around the well-traveled, worldly Tyler Baudelaire character, whose ID card served as the cover art.
Stacks of trunks, old-timer cars, and aviator hats garnished Wes Anderson-style set designs, promo and press material of that time. A couple years later, there'd even be a collaboration with Pharrell Williams, for a very fitting, eclectic grandpa-esque Louis Vuitton capsule.
CHROMAKOPIA
Present day's Tyler, The Creator aesthetic dabbles in pseudo-nostalgia again, similar to the previous era, but plots it elsewhere into the timeline. With largely noir visuals, CHROMAKOPIA transports us to a Black Vaudeville-reminscent environment.
Trading varsity jacket for uniform, Tyler dances atop and inside of old military planes, partially masked, spitting bars on life's successes, lessons, and directional misgivings.
Tyler, The Creator and his aesthetic sensibilities are truly one of a kind, a generational talent, gifted beyond compare. And though his projects and the delivery of them is always so elaborate and thoughtful, the person behind this art remains somewhat of an enigma.
The dichotomy at play here is, arguably, what sets Tyler Okonma apart from other creatives, in addition to his refusal to fully submit to conventions of the pop machine, mainstream hip hop's standards for masculinity, and age-of-SoMe celebrities' code of conduct. It's also what will keep us all coming for more, for as long as he lets us.
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