If there’s an artist who has become so well-known for crafting polished albums time and time again that his name holds “The Creator” in his title, it is certainly Tyler Gregory Okonma — or alternatively known by his artist title, Tyler, The Creator.
Within his nearly 18 years of activity as an artist, Tyler, The Creator has produced nine full-length studio albums under his belt. Here, the rapper-producer has spawned hits spanning multiple genres, showcasing his skill in both performing and composition. It’s notable as well that within his albums, Okonma has been known to craft immersive universes where he unravels his innermost thoughts and contemplations in an introspective manner. While his production style and songwriting have surely evolved and refined over time, there are parts of Tyler’s discography that are, although memorable, on the messier side.
In recent news, the artist is set to soon hold his two-day ‘CHROMAKOPIA‘ concert in the Araneta Coliseum from September 20 to 21. Bringing the best of his October 2024 album of the same title, along with the recently released DON’T TAP THE GLASS to life, Tyler will be performing in the Philippines for the very first time.
In anticipation of getting immersed in Tyler, the Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA,’ Billboard Philippines has ranked the best and worst of his albums.
9. Bastard
First on the roundtable would be Tyler’s debut album, Bastard, which was released in 2009, on the Odd Future Tumblr page (which is extremely telling of the time in which it was released). To directly address the elephant in the room that Tyler’s earlier discography holds, Bastard isn’t just bad in the way it was produced — rather, the mess it created has to do with the themes it carries. The rapper’s frequent mention of rape and heavy dissing of other artists at the time drew heavy flak, and rather than receiving acclaim, it instead drew heavy criticism. Perhaps for all the reasons listed, Bastard has been removed from most streaming platforms.
8. Goblin
Did you know that Tyler, the Creator was once banned from entering the United Kingdom for five years? It’s an unfortunate truth that his sophomore album, Goblin, ultimately caused. Carrying over themes that once made Bastard controversial, Goblin continues the narrative that its former had created as Tyler features conversations with a fictional therapist, Dr. TC. While tracks like “Yonkers” and “She” became definitive of the early stages of Tyler’s signature sound, the album was a whole is underbaked in comparison to the rapper-producer’s later works.
7. Cherry Bomb
Released in 2015 as the rapper’s fourth album, Cherry Bomb was a crucial step for Tyler, The Creator to further define his artistic identity, even if it meant occasionally playing the rebel. Take it from his introductory track alone, “DEATHCAMP” (feat. Cole Alexander), where he repeats with confidence, “I don’t like to follow the rules.” Furthermore, in Cherry Bomb, we can feel Tyler connecting the pain of his past to the growth he experiences in the present, allowing himself to enjoy happiness. Still, when pitted against the rest of his work, Cherry Bomb lacks the developed sound and streamlined storytelling that Tyler later curates.
6. Wolf
Released in 2013, not too long after the flurry of criticism Bastard and Goblin drew, Wolf marked Tyler, The Creator’s third full-length studio album. Moving away from the horror themes and heavily distorted bass he’d previously explored in his initial two albums, Wolf delves into the jazz-rap subgenre and concludes discussions on childhood trauma that Tyler had started in Bastard and Goblin. Furthermore, it’s in this album that we witness some of Tyler’s strongest collaborations with Pharrell, Erykah Badu, and more.
5. DON’T TAP THE GLASS
Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS, is one of the artist’s best-produced works to date. Following an early 2000s Neptunes-reminiscent beat, the album doesn’t slow down for even a second, creating an immaculate collection of singles. Presented by the emcee as a dance music album, the full-length feature is the second shortest full-bodied work Okonma has released, following the EP Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Maybe it’s for that reason, but DON’T TAP THE GLASS lacks impact in storytelling, which Tyler had become known and loved for, which lands the album in fifth place in the overall ranking.
4. Flower Boy
Some may argue that at the peak of its popularity, Tyler, The Creator’s Flower Boy served as a gateway for fans to find his music from the mainstream — and it seems the album was made precisely for that reason. Marking a pop record after a long-winding history of experimental rap, Flower Boy sees Tyler, The Creator at his most vulnerable yet as he grapples with anxiety and loneliness. It is for these reasons that the record saw a resurgence in popularity during the pandemic, three years after its release, when songs like “Boredom” and “911 / Mr. Lonely” hit a little too close to home.
3. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale
Assuming the alter-ego of Tyler Baudelaire — a character defined by his affinity for luxury, romance, and the finer things in life — the rapper goes on a journey of self-discovery in the rhythms of bossa nova and jazz. While CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is a stellar album on its own, the seven additional tracks found on its deluxe edition, The Estate Sale, just continue to up the ante. Okonma concludes his Eat, Pray, Love era with “SORRY NOT SORRY,” a track where he bids farewell to the personalities and egos he had created, along with his past with Odd Future.
2. CHROMAKOPIA
If this ranking was based on storytelling and world-building alone, Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA would take the cake. Released in October of 2024, the album shows Tyler at his most raw and vulnerable with devastatingly honest tracks like “Noid,” “Like Him, ” and more. In CHROMAKOPIA, we understand Tyler from the ground up, as the narrative is told from the perspective of his mother as he grappled with his upbringing without a father. Not only do we witness Tyler at his most confessional, but as tracks seamlessly flow from one to another, we, too, feel a part of this journey where Tyler learns to accept the sides of himself he’d initially hidden.
1. IGOR
If there is a certain, undisputed top-tier album Tyler, The Creator has made, it would be his titular, first Grammy-winning 2019 album, IGOR. While a majority of Tyler’s work is well-defined through his vast collection of artist features, it’s notable to mention that IGOR is his only record without a credited collaborative track. Furthermore, with a singular streamlined train of thought where Tyler explores the pain of love, jealousy, and heartbreak, IGOR combines characteristics of neo-soul, funk, and rap into one powerful and dynamic sound.