Black Artist Highlight: Tyler The Creator
Tyler The Creator challenges expectations and pushes the boundaries of pop culture. He is one of the most influential figures in the music and fashion industries. He has left his mark with his eclectic personality and imaginative musical talents.
Music
His music career began when he and other now-famous musicians came together to form the hip-hop collective Odd Future. This group jump started his career, along with other artists such as Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt. With the prospects of solo careers, the group split in 2015.
- In 2011, Tyler released Goblin, his first solo studio album
- 2013- released Wolf, which debuted at number three on the charts
- 2015- Cherry Bomb, which debuted at number one on the Top Rap Albums charts
- 2017- Flower Boy featured Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, and Lil Wayne
- 2019- IGOR was released and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album
- 2021- Call Me If You Get Lost also won a Grammy for Best Rap Album
- 2024- Chromakopia
Chromakopia is the eighth studio album the musician has released. It features artists like Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, Sexxy Red, Doechii, and many others. The album is narrated by his mother, Bonita Smith, who shares lessons she taught as a child.
His energy and passion can be felt throughout the entirety of this album. Tyler focuses on the personal narrative through this album and strays from the usual qualities of persona-building seen in other rap albums. He explores the themes of seeing the good and bad sides of oneself. His unique vocals and alternative production style set him apart from anyone else in the industry.
Throughout his music, he also shows an immense respect for women, which is not a common characteristic of rap/r&b music. “Hey Jane”, from his new album, is a narrative between him and a lover as she finds out she is pregnant. He expresses his fear but also reassures her. Throughout the song he takes accountability for his role and shares his frustration with how unfair it is saying, “You gotta deal with all the mental and physical change. All the heaviest emotions, and the physical pain. Just to give the kid the man’s last name?”
Chromakopia can be translated to mean “an abundance of color” which is a great way to describe his music and style.
Fashion
In 2011, he founded the successful LA streetwear brand Golf Wang. The fashion company got its name as a shortened and remixed version of the Odd Future group title, officially Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All.
Golf Wang is a vibrant, bold, and colorful clothing company. It is known for its unique designs that feature inspiring color and design selections. The innovative use of graphics and textile combinations is a trademark of this brand. Golf Wang sells sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks, hats, and a variety of other clothing items.
A few years later, Tyler The Creator collaborated with Converse to create a collection called Golf le Fleur which translates to “Flower Boy” in French. It launched in the same year as his Flower Boy album.
Golf le Fleur then branched out and became a luxury lifestyle and apparel brand. The company is known for its fragrances, nail polish, and apparel that reflects the more refined side of the designer’s style.
In 2024, Tyler also worked with Pharrell Williams, the Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton, to create a capsule collection. The collection featured hand-drawn monograms, a pastel color pallet, and unexpected patterns.
Tyler, The Creator brings unmatched innovation to music and fashion.