On the 3rd edition of 4GEMZ
, we select four must-hear, surefire gems from Grammy award winning musician, Tyler, The Creator.
W
elcome to 4GEMZ1. Tyler, The Creator, βFind Your Wingsβ
Ft. Roy Ayers, Syd & Kali Uchis
Cherry Bomb β’
Odd Future β’
2015
βFind your wings (Fly) / Find your wings (Find your wings).β Few will deny that
Tyler, the Creator is βrough around the edges.β His early catalog is incredibly raw and, in some respects, problematic. That said, over the years, heβs done a better job of βopening upβ and honestly, maturing as both a person and musician. On
βFind Your Wings,β which hails from a cruder album,
Cherry Bomb (2015), we begin to see expanded musicianship from Tyler.
βFind Your Wingsβ is quite beautiful. Itβs lush and jazzy β a palette comprised of vibraphone, horns, strings, and of course, keys/synths. Notably, the title/titular lyric appear throughout Cherry Bomb. Tyler enlists the services of Syd,
Kali Uchis, and
Roy Ayers on vocals, in addition to his own vocals. The sheer radiance of the record is quite surprising β shocking at that point of the musicianβs career.
Also appears on :
Take Flight with These 11 Wings Songs
2. Tyler, the Creator, βWho Dat Boyβ
Flower Boy β’
Columbia β’
2017
In the context of
Flower Boy, the
Grammy-nominated album by
Tyler, the Creator,
βWho Dat Boyβ is representative of tough Tyler β βscum fuckβ if you will. After eerie, malicious production, he jumps right into unapologetic rhymes. He wants to ensure that everybody knows exactly who he is. Without a doubt, βdat boyβ is on autopilot.
Tyler, the Creator gets help courtesy of A$AP Rocky, who kills the second verse. Upping the ante, they join forces on the final verse. Chocked-full of twisted, cocky, and confident rhymes, βWho Dat Boyβ concludes fittingly.
Also appears on :
Songs About Boys, Vol. 1
14 Songs That Are About Boys
or Girls
50 Awesome Boy or Girl Songs
3. Tyler, The Creator, βEARFQUAKEβ
IGOR β’
Columbia β’
2019
βEarfquakeβ is an instant highlight from the incredibly ambitious,
Grammy-winning Tyler, the Creator album,
IGOR. The backdrop is ear-catching, and Tyler sings with pitch-shifted vocals. On the memorable chorus, he gets a big-time, uncredited assist, courtesy of the soulful
Charlie Wilson. On the first verse, another surprising guest appearance occurs,
Playboi Carti, who fits in perfectly and remains true to self. βEarfquakeβ ranks among the best songs released in 2019 β 13th best to be exact.
ββCause you make my earth quake Oh, you make my earthquake Riding around, youβre telling me something is bad And itβs making my heart break...β
Also appears on :
51 Best Songs of 2019: Year in Review
11 Colorful Songs That Reference Devastating Disasters
13 E Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason
4. Tyler, The Creator, βRise!β
Ft. DAISY WORLD
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST β’
Columbia β’
2021
βWhen I rise to the top / Iβm tellinβ you right now / Iβm tellinβ you right now / Oh, Iβll show you something.β
βRise!β marks an utterly superb moment from
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, the 2021 studio album by Tyler, The Creator. On βRise,β Tyler enlists
DAISY WORLD for the assist. Furthermore, he produces alongside
Jamie xx, one of rare moments he isnβt the sole person behind the boards. The result of the collaboration is one of the best backdrops of the entire album. Those syncopated drums and synths β woo!
As I listen, I hear the influence of say, The Neptunes, one of the greatest production teams of all time. Throw in the jazzy harmonic scheme as a big-time selling point. Of course, it should be noted both Tyler, The Creator and DAISY WORLD give spirited performance β βrisingβ to the occasion (βWith the rockets in my mind, yeah / I could touch the sky, I donβt see any ceilingsβ)! βRise!β is one of the best of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.
Also appears on :
Rise: 3BOPS No. 43 (2021)
13 Songs That Encourage All to Rise Up