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Review of Tyler, The Creator's 'Flower Boy'

Tyler, the Creator has released his fourth studio album, 'Flower Boy'—and boy, is it magical.

By Sadé SanchezPublished 7 years ago 5 min read
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Apple Music | TIDAL | Spotify

Tyler, the Creator has released his fourth studio album, FlowerBoy—the follow up to his 2013 CherryBomb. The 14-track album features the likes of Frank Ocean, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell, Estelle, Rex Orange County and more. On the production side, Tyler enlisted... well just himself. Yup, Tyler produced and wrote the entire album. Surprised? Not really, his name is "the Creator” and well he's always been the master mind behind his albums. The guy is a creative genius, you should expect this by now. What happens next is not much of a surprise either.

There was a delay in the Billboard reports because free streams versus paid and traditional albums sales have been messy. Thankfully they figured it out, and although he stirred some controversy over TIDAL making Meek Mill's Wins and Losses available for free streams before its official release, Tyler's Flower Boy sold 106,000 units and debuted at No. 2. If you didn't know, that's over Meek Mill who debuted at No. 3. Tyler also made No. 1 for Billboard's Rap Albums and R&B and Hip Hop Albums charts. This is Tyler's highest debut to date.

The Story of 'Flower Boy'

Tyler offers himself on a platter in this masterpiece. FlowerBoy could've just as well been a book, or rather an open letter. While exposing his sexuality throughout the album, he talks about how lonely he is no matter how much fame he has: "I say the loudest in the room / Is prolly the loneliest one in the room (that's me)." While for most of Tyler's career, he has been projected to be this outsider in Hip Hop. Yes, he is a bit loud and wild, but Flower Boy makes him even morerelatable. "Sometimes," there's a kid who calls in a radio station, the GOLF station of course, and he requests the song about him. We all want to hear songs that we relate to break that silence of loneliness, to break that feeling that we're alone in the world.

Tyler's music is for meant for anyone who could relate, as musicis in general. Here's a kid who grew up wanting to hear that song on the radio about himself. He wanted something to relate to. In turn, he grew up and made music that does the same. And so he came into this fame and surrounded by many, but wasn’t quite himself. In the fame, he lost himself. Among the fame and the girls he lead on, he was still alone.

Impressions

Raw, honest, and sometimes cringe-worthy lyrics laid over hypnotic beats, yeah that’s Tyler. FlowerBoy has much more depth than his previous albums. It’s a pensive album that reveals a softer side to the Odd Future frontman. Tyler certainly does expose some of his truths in Flower Boy. The album explores themes of loneliness and depression. There are parts of self-doubt, but where there is self-doubt, Tyler counteracts with a little bit of ego. As listeners, we’re allowed to see into Tyler, the Person, not just the “Creator.”

Don't get it twisted, there are a couple of his typical grimy tracks on the album like "Who Dat Boy" and "I Ain't Got Time." The hard-hitting-eery beats and tones are still present, but those tracks still expose Tyler and his truths. Other tracks are trance-like and easy to get lost in-thought to, like "Foreword," "Boredom," "Glitter," and "Garden Shed." His production skills have certainly grown over the years. I love the transitions within some of the tracks, as if the song itself switched up its personality. He hasn't lost his edge, far from it. If anything he's simply grown into his own.

Along with the release of Flower Boy, Tyler released his long-awaited Cherry Bomb documentary. Directed by Mikey Alfred of Illegal Civilization, the film includes appearances from the likes of A$AP Rocky, Sid, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Pharrell, and more—a lot more.

The 42-minute doc dives into his creative process—following Tyler throughout the tours, recording sessions, and the overall making of his last album Cherry Bomb. There are moments of absolute fuckery, but it's the in-between moments of Tyler working on his music where he just looks lost in his creation. Whether he's stressed, hyped, or simply relieved to just finally make his creation come to life, there are moments where you see Tyler for who he is. Who is Tyler? A fucking genius, nothing more to be said. Even when he's surrounded by other artists and producers, these moments happen to Tyler and Tyler alone.

Kali Uchis, who's also on Flower Boy, speaks to Tyler's dedication to making something meaningful. Tyler knows exactly what he wants, he conceptualizes the album and the doc shows his struggle and persistence to make it come to fruition. Damn it, if this kid isn't amazing. Even the coming together of Kanye West and Lil Wayne who are legends themselves and encouraged his genius. With the release of this documentary, us fans can understand Tyler more, and thus Flower Boy.

Experience for Yourself

Flower Boy is honest, full of emotion, and just pure magic. With only a couple of those hard hitting tracks, the majority of the album is like a trance, a blissful trance. Tyler deciding to directly come out about “kissing white boys” in this album, he’s been at peace and FlowerBoy mimics that. This is a different Tyler we're listening to. Pick your poison below, you won't be disappointed.

Apple Music | TIDAL | Spotify

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About the Creator

Sadé Sanchez

I'm a 20-something year old who's obsessed with music, and sometimes I write about it. I hope you enjoy my ramblings.

IG: @writtenbysade

@thelyricalfixpod

@checkit.openmic

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