Routinely using the internet to make his presence felt, nearly a year ago Tyler, The Creator sent shockwaves through Twitter as he laid his infamous “@fucktyler” handle to rest. He claimed the move was for professional purposes, but it was the culmination of a gradual maturity and development to take place as he’s become a multimedia staple over the course of seven years. Dropping albums every other year like clockwork, the rollout for (Scum Fuck) Flower Boy was met with certain skepticism as 2015’s Cherry Bomb was his most polarizing release to date.
Lead single “Who Dat Boy” stuck to Tyler’s formulaic strategy of throwing a curveball that caters to day one fans, all the while giving no indication of his latest work’s vision. Mindless in nature, here he teams up with his fashionista BFF (and tour road mate) A$AP Rocky for a raucous jam that sounds like the score to a horror film. Given the pair’s stylistic polar oppositions, bridging their dichotomy makes sense as it ensures their fan bases overlap. But a curveball it was. Having long overcome the anxiety and pressures of playing the underdog, with Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator is no less determined to garner respect as a musical visionary. It can be argued that happiness is not only a contributing factor but also the album’s running theme, as the title plays off of a metaphor for seeds planted during Odd Future’s humble beginnings. The vision is a complete 180° from the dark energy that defined his earliest recordings; see “Foreword” for example, which uses a string section to set the pace for an LP that undoes the disappointment from the last project.
With the album leaking early to the delight of consumers obsessed with meaningless tabloid fodder, speculation quickly spread that Tyler used Flower Boy to announce his sexual preference (contradictory to the slurs he’s toyed with in the past). The brief interlude “Sometimes” features a reserved male requesting to hear the subsequent “See You Again” on the radio, as he alludes to secretly being the subject of the pianist’s fantasies revealed therein. Advancing his sound here while picking up where his prior 2013 pinnacle Wolf left off, lush keys and handclaps stand out as Kali Uchis (a key figure in Tyler’s arsenal) sonically envisions the perfect partner.
Let the rumor mill tell it, Flower Boy is a revelatory body of work where Tyler claims LGBT ties by way of the dreamy “Garden Shed.” Serving as one of his most powerful recorded moments to date, psychedelic guitar licks and synths build up a ballad featuring Estelle vocals, as liberation is encouraged before noisy feedback makes way for a confessional verse. A complete surprise if true, here the usually expressive musician works through confused emotions that he claims to have kept hidden from the world at large. Leaving enough vague gray area to keep people wondering, it stands to reason the song is conceptual shtick given Tyler has acted out roles including degenerate criminal, deranged school shooter, and drug dealer on wax before. Also, with The Internet’s Steve Lacy arriving to be latest virtuoso Odd Future Kinsey Scale blender (alongside bandmate Syd The Kid and the Frank Ocean), the crew’s most visible member could be simply taking a unified stance in their honor. Nonetheless, “Garden Shed” gives a brave voice to what’s now potentially four young adults (not to mention countless listeners) who shouldn’t be forced to fight against same sex attraction in a close-minded world. Much ado has been made about the rousing “I Ain’t Got Time” where Tyler states, “I’ve been kissing white boys since 2004,” but it should be noted he’s long worshipped Eminem’s comedic knack for making outlandish statements.
“Mr. Lonely” is perhaps the first time he’s explained his attention-seeking antics and car fetish both stem from inner emptiness, a rationalization reiterated on “Boredom.” Arguably the album’s highlight (and an homage to N.E.R.D.’s knack for drum crescendos), with the help of pretty chords provided by songstress Corinne Bailey Rae and others, he explores the gift and curse of being a genius who’s neither impressed nor inspired by old habits and friends. Likewise, “Pothole” is a goodbye letter to former day ones as Tyler tackles unspecified incidents that could include Hodgy Beats’ untoward 2015 outburst regarding changes in their clique’s dynamic.
Clocking in at 47 minutes, the album is both Tyler, The Creator’s shortest and most cohesive album to date and is full of introspective admissions that logically line up with his public character. Having studied Pharrell’s expertise for creating melodies from thin air with little to no sampling, his compositional brilliance has propelled him to the status of a societal icon, evidenced by the mission statement: “Tell these black kids they can be who they are” on “Where This Flower Blooms.” Though he’s caught up in the trappings of materialism like the common superstar rapper, Tyler is quite underrated as an MC despite the fact that his production tends to overpower him at times. Now that he’s back on track melodically, it’s time to revel in his newfound artistry.
A genius? Naw Ben Franklin was genius this dude is a just a sexually confused immature asshole who wants to be in the spotlight so bad he will do anything and everything to get it. Dude doesnt rap well his beats are sup par even Nicki Minaj wouldnt even rap on this garbage. Funny how dude used to bash gay people and now he his one? What a fuckin joke. I feel sorry for kids who grew up listening to this stuff what a tremendous let down it must be
Say what you want about the dude but as far as production he’s one of more creative and unique top producers right now.
Lol yeah right. Never seen one track he produced for any legit artist outside his camp. You must be gigh in sherm to make an outlandish untruthful statement like that or your his gay love boy side piece that he rapped about lol
He only produces for his camp and you seem like that is a problem. That’s loyalty bruh, only giving your people that heat. I can tell what type of boy you are.
Im a man and I dont listen to rappers named “flower boy” I dont wear tight ass jeans either so go suck Frank Oceans dick lame ass fan boy
He produced for Schoolboy Q and few others but why the fuck does it matter? At least half of these producers nowadays sound the same but nobody sound like this dude. Hes been getting better and better at the craft and he actually knows something about music theory. Like his music or not but if you don’t hear any skill and originality in his last 3 albums then you’re just dumb close minded fuck.
This album is wow!!!!
Says Chud lol
Scheisse
Deine Muddi ist scheisse
4 for 4 – Tylers most complete and most accessible album….amazing 5/5
i’m an OG HHDX hater but this was a good headline
OFWGKTA 2K17!
Yes.
I like Tyler, but I just can’t get into this album. A couple tracks are cool, but I’m just not feeling the majority.
dude, this is tyler’s best work, and i’ve been listening since bastard
Tyler’s best work. 1. Flower Boy 2. Wolf 3. Bastard 4. Goblin 5. Cherry Bomb
this is Tyler’s most cohesive, concise, fantastic work yet.
Pure Fire!!! 2017 is so good so far! And Tyler’s album would for sure be 2017’s top 5.
Meek Mill, Wale, Big Boi, Big Sean, Vic Mensa (x2), Logic, MGK, Joey Bada$$, Kendrick Lamar to list only the best ones!
The hunger for more 🙂
And Stalley! 🙂
Complete Album – Production is immense as usual 5/5
Nice development for the better by Tyler.
The production is outstanding and the lyrics offer far more than just provoking thougts.
His most versatile and best album to this day.
It seems that everyone in Odd Future is getting better while aging.
It’s so good!
This album is fire
Amazing production as always.
Not bad, not good..mostly eh but the songs that are good are pretty damned good.
Overrated as it used to be. Overall it’s his best effort, but still ain’t got a replay value for me.
In some ways, this is too much like cherry bomb. the lyrical contents are different, and there is much less rapping, but the way he puts together the album is pretty similar.
why are people talking so much about his sexuality? I don’t have time to be concerned about who someone I will probably never met and never know personally is fucking.
I’ve heard worse rap albums but to me this is far from 4.5. I know that I won’t be playing it again, I’d rather be stuck in the 90’s.
5
The superb production allows the album to flow together creating one excellent listening experience. Tyler shows a side of himself we’ve barely seen in the past. He wastes no time with bull shit and this is easily his most consistent record to date, and the hip hop AOTY so far.
I don’t get it. Wolf and Goblin are some of my favourite albums of all time.
Flower Boy 1/5. Sorry Tyler
An easy 4/5 for this one. Found this album musically very mature from Tyler. I loved it.
Trash!!!!
GOLF WANG
Hey hip hop dx you guys didn’t review dc4 or wins and loses but you review tyler, tyga, and other trash is Nicki paying you guys?? oh no its Karen Civil my fault
His best since Wolf. Not comparable lyrically, but a great record nonetheless.
Tyler Creator easily puts out his best album yet, and one of the best albums of the year. This album may not filled with the hardest beats or the most insane rap flows, but it is very catchy has a great sound to it. (*Warning* this album has a low rating because it’s not a FUCK BOY album, you will most likely not like this album if you’re into generic music with basic snare drums, beats, and lyrics about codeine, smoking weed, getting drunk, fucking, or “getting money”) Here Tyler clearly was aiming for a more satirical and personal sounding album with songs like Who dat Boy, MR. Lonely, and November.
ITS A Good album, check it out (Non fuck boys)
Still Unique and aesthetic.
Best Album This Year
AOTY, even above DAMN.
aoty