Audiences are used to Tyler, The Creator releasing exciting and impressive music, but they haven’t heard anything until they’ve listened to his newest release, IGOR.
When Tyler released Flower Boy, it introduced his fans to a brand new sound full of experimental instruments, brilliant guest artists and a softer side to Tyler that fans weren’t used to seeing. Tyler found a way to combine his usual edge with a contemplative, soft and honest sound that utilized soulful elements and a ’90s hip-hop groove. Flower Boy is the perfect introduction to IGOR, where Tyler takes his experimental sound and completely dives into it, creating one of his best albums yet.
It’s difficult to showcase the best tracks on the album when every track measures up to the quality and exciting tone the album exudes. Songs like “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” tackle the issue of unrequited love through a soulful groove, “EARFQUAKE” showcases problems within a relationship through a funky romantic tone and “NEW MAGIC WAND” stays true to Tyler’s original sound with its edgy, exhilarating bass and beats.
But it’s Tyler’s final song on the album, “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” that has audiences in awe. The song follows someone who wants to remain friends with their former lover after falling in and then out of love. Not only is it the perfect, Tyler-esque, melancholic ending to complete the album, but it packs a heavy punch, leaving a lump in fans’ throats and a longing in their hearts. The song’s simplicity manages to reach an emotional relatability within audiences that is unmatched by songs in a similar style.
Tyler is no stranger to featuring artists on his tracks. Guests include Pharrell Williams and Jack White (“ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?”); CeeLo Green (“GONE, GONE / THANK YOU”); Jessy Wilson and Santigold (“NEW MAGIC WAND”); Lil Uzi Vert and Solange (“IGOR’S THEME”); Charlie Wilson and Playboi Carti (“EARFQUAKE”); Jerrod Carmichael (“EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING”); Kanye West (“PUPPET”) and slowthai (“WHAT’S GOOD”).
A common staple of rap music is sampling other songs, which Tyler employs in various songs on IGOR. In addition, he makes good use of synths, lots of guitar and solid drum beats to keep the songs consistent. Other than instrumentation, Tyler himself has such a unique voice distinctive from the contemporary hip-hop world.
Tyler is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director and fashion designer. His explorative and incomparable nature is shown through his music. IGOR is his best album yet, taking a look at falling in and out of love and how that can impact a person. It also seems like Tyler wants the album to have a general or vague theme, allowing audiences to take it and interpret it however they’d like.
Overall, IGOR is nothing short of a masterpiece. Tyler has truly outdone himself with the album, and it’s quite possibly the must-listen of the summer.
