![]() But in this case, an exceptionally great one. But across CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, the man once known as Wolf Haley is just a guy who likes to rock ice and collect stamps on his passport, who might whisper into your significant other’s ear while you’re in the restroom. The Los Angeles-hailing MC, and onetime nucleus of the culture-shifting Odd Future collective, made a name for himself as a preternaturally talented MC whose impeccable taste in streetwear and calls to “kill people, burn shit, fuck school” perfectly encapsulated the angst of his generation. ![]() Dugg sounds right at home, a testament to Tyler’s increasing ability to not only bring other artists into his world, but build worlds around basically anyone.There’s a handful of eyebrow-raising verses across Tyler, The Creator’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST-particularly those from 42 Dugg, Lil Uzi Vert, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Pharrell, and Lil Wayne-but none of the aforementioned are as surprising as the ones Tyler delivers himself. The beat sounds like a B-side from Outkast’s Aquemini filtered through Tyler’s Golf Wang lens. Just listen to 42 Dugg’s appearance on “Lemonhead.” The hard-nosed MC floats over Tyler’s boisterous production. On Call Me If You Get Lost, you get the sense that it’s coalescing. Similarly, his production remains as lush and dynamic as greats like the Neptunes or Swizz Beats. He’s always been a legitimately skilled MC, nevermind how unserious he appears to have taken the craft in his early years. More than anything, Tyler appears to have found a certain equanimity. ![]() On “Massa,” Tyler complains about his taxes (“Eight figures in taxes, takin’ that shit is stupid / A flower gets its petal, they pluck it but never use it”), and pairs it with a reasonable critique of the government wrapped in a sly boast about being rich enough to utilize tax havens (“It’s still potholes in the schools, where does it go? / It’s still loopholes that I use, nobody knows”). It’s not an unfamiliar story: an indie darling making it big and their content suddenly shifting from the relatable to the aspirational. Tyler remains the lonely misanthrope that arguably changed the face of rap - just a lot wealthier and wiser. “One minute, it’s a beautiful scene / Then it probably end with me bein’ took off, woah-oh,” he croons. It’s still unrequited love that haunts him, but he’s no longer in a rage. YoungBoy sounds as pleasant as ever while Tyler’s brooding romanticism finds itself confronting his own success. The production is signature Tyler, bright and ebullient, reminiscent of golden-era R&B. On “Wusyaname” YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign show up like the real life NBA stars in Space Jam, cavorting with colorful creatures that defy physics. ![]() The rapper’s signature self-awareness has matured into some of the more compelling rap music being made today, and as such Call Me If You Get Lost proves to be Tyler’s best effort to date. But it’s hard to stay mad when, as Tyler reminds us on “Corso,” you have “other-other-other-other” homes (“That’s my AKA / Hurricane-proof all the views, shit like ‘A Bay Bay,’ ” he continues). On “Manifesto” he raps, “I was canceled before canceled was with Twitter fingers,” possibly referencing the protests outside of early Odd Future performances, the open letter penned by Sara Quinn of Tegan and Sara, or his banishment from the United Kingdom. Tyler’s latest, Call Me If You Get Lost, contends with the dual-edged sword of growing up in the public eye. His career is a blueprint for internet-bred fame, making the now 30-year-old musician something of an elder statesman in the game.Īll of which isn’t to say there weren’t growing pains. But, as the story goes, Tyler has achieved those peaks and more. They seemed outlandish for the ascendant star, fresh from jumping on an unsuspecting Jimmy Fallon’s back during Odd Future’s live TV debut. It certainly must feel good to say “I told you so.” Back in 2011, a then 20-year-old Tyler, the Creator routinely took to social media to profess a slate of ambitious goals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |