Igor – Tyler, the Creator

2019 – A Boy is a Gun, Columbia

⭐⭐⭐⭐(8/10)

This exists lovely outstanding. Tyler’s excellent ear for not sticking to one element for too long helps IGOR not get carried too far off the rails. Flower Boy was a fantastic album and I truly believe IGOR is able to follow it up faithfully. Something about Tyler’s signature synth chord progressions that give me butterflies every time and hugs the project together. Certainly desirable listen.

Tyler, the Creator has become a pretty big character in recent pop culture. He was originally known for his outrageous, offensive, and usually grotesque lyrics, but has over the years developed his music in a way most people would never see coming. It started with Wolf, an album where he told stories through the perspectives of characters he created to explore his inner emotions. While Cherry Bomb is often considered a flop, I think Cherry Bomb was more influential to his future than anything else. Cherry Bomb brought with it a new experimentation and introduced the Neo-Soul side of Tyler. While it didn’t set the stage for what would come next lyrically, Cherry Bomb predicted how Tyler’s sound would shape itself. Flower Boy saw a shift away from Hip-Hop as Tyler focused on himself and exploring his inner thought and emotions that is continued on Igor. While Igor is a lot more music-centric, comparisons can still be drawn to Flower Boy, especially in its usage of explosive hooks and thick synths. On some tracks, Igor even retires to Wolf’s conceptualization of characters and story-lines, though in smaller doses.

Not all affection exists always, but the affection that accomplishes exists grounded in relationship. If “Igor” taught me anything, it is that human beings are fragile people. Tyler, the Creator returns after his successful, and magnum opus, “Flower Boy” touched mine and many other people’s hearts. It’s no issue I appreciate Tyler’s song, he’s one of my special artists.

Tyler is a rare case in hip-hop, of someone who, after their initial positively received releases, grows and strengthens artistically rather than stagnates or retreads familiar ground. Every studio album of his has been better than the last and this is (surprisingly) not an exception.

Favorite songs,

1. Igor’s Theme
2. Earfquake
3. I Think
4. New Magic Wand
5. A Boy Is A Gun*
6. What’s Good
7. Gone, Gone / Thank You
8. Are We Still Friends?

Least Favorite songs,

1. Exactly What You Run From You End Up Chasing
2. Rose Tinted Cheeks