Tyler, the Creator, IGOR | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator returns with the most ambitious and unexpected album of his career with IGOR. 

Tyler, the Creator has come a long way – understatement. His career has been filled with controversy, including ample examples of homophobia.  Interestingly, beginning with his 2017 album Flower Boy, Tyler, the Creator began to open up about his own sexuality… hmm.  This is something that continues on the most ambitious and unexpected album of his career, IGOR.  No, Tyler still doesn’t come right out and say what everybody is thinking about him sexually, but undoubtedly sexuality plays a pivotal role in this relationship, romance-driven, non-traditional rap album.  Characterizing this affair as merely rap is an injustice – Tyler truly pushes the limits and IGOR is better because of it.

“Igor’s Theme”

IGOR kicks off in thrilling fashion with “Igor’s Theme.” “Igor’s Theme” sets the tone for the album, ‘going against the grain’ or what listeners expected from a new Tyler, the Creator LP post-Flower Boy. Interestingly, the radiantly-produced opener features the first of many ‘uncredited’ guest appearances, including Lil Uzi Vert (“Ridin’ ‘round town, they gon’ feel this one,” specifically). There’s not that much TTC on the opener, though he makes up for it on the following highlight, “Earfquake.”  Once more, the backdrop is ear-catching, and he sings with pitch-shifted vocals.  On the memorable chorus, he gets another big-time, uncredited assist, courtesy of the soulful Charlie Wilson.

“‘Cause you make my earth quake
Oh, you make my earth quake
Riding around, you’re telling me something is bad
And it’s making my heart break…”

On the first verse, another surprising guest appearance occurs, Playboi Carti, who fits in perfectly and remains true to self. “Earfquake” ends up being among the crème de la crème of IGOR, catching on from the jump.

“I Think” 

“I don’t know where I’m going / But I know what I’m showing / Feelings, that’s what I’m pouring / What the fuck is your motive?” “I Think” maintains the momentum established by “Igor’s Theme” and “Earfquake.” One smart thing that Tyler, the Creator does here is he actually raps.  If “Igor’s Theme” and “Earfquake” represented ‘departures’ for the rapper, “I Think” makes sure fans are treated to bars, even if they are more R&B-leaning and move beyond rap itself.  On this gem, Solange appears on the chorus, another well assembled collaboration.  Despite featuring one of the more intriguing titles on IGOR, “Exactly What You Run from You End Up Chasing” is spoken word interlude that runs all of 15 seconds, performed by comedian Jerrod Carmichael.

“Exactly What You Run from You End Up Chasing” serves as a fitting pre-cursor to the smooth “Running Out of Time.”  Jessy Wilson assists Tyler heavily early on before he takes the reins fully on the second verse.  Following the more melodic first verse, the second verse eliminates any sense of pop-rap in favor of straight-up rhymes.  Essentially, things are quite complicated in this relationship, signaled by the titular phrase.  Again, a question of Tyler’s sexuality identity arises on the key second verse:

“So
Take your mask off
I need her out the picture (Wade in your water)
Take your mask off (Yeah)
Stop lyin’ for these niggas
Stop lyin’ to yourself
I know the real you.”

“New Magic Wand”

“New Magic Wand” keeps the excellence of IGOR going strong.  Matters of the heart remain the focal point as Tyler, the Creator makes it clear that ‘she’ needs to get ‘out of the picture.’ “She really fuckin’ up my frame,” he states at the end of the verse, continuing, “She’s not developed like we are.” The rapper makes it clear that she’s not a he, thus, not the same sex, which appears to be his preference.  The second verse further fuels speculation as he asserts, “My brother said I’m on the spectrum…” Sure, maybe he’s referring specifically to remarks made by his step brother but given his ‘flirtation’ with sexuality, the fact that he could be referring to the sexual spectrum seems very possible.  Where does the magic wand come into play? Well, he’s going to remove her from the picture – R.I.P. 

On another standout, “A Boy is a Gun,” Tyler, the Creator reuses a popular soul classic and sample, “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One (Kanye West did pretty well with it back in 2013 on “Bound 2”).  The same gives Tyler quite the soulful, old-school backdrop, which he does wonders rapping over.  Furthermore, he flips the phrase “a girl is a gun” in favor of ‘boy.’ If some of the ‘tough’ TTC seemed to be missing on IGOR, some of his apologetic shows up on the chorus, thanks to dropping the bomb: “You so motherfuckin’ dangerous… / You got me by my neck / That’s why these other niggas lame to us / ‘Cause all these other niggas lame as fuck…”  As profanely awesome as the chorus is, there may be no better line than “Boy, you sweet as sugar, diabetic to the first degree” on the entire LP.  Honestly, there’s a lot to digest and interpret throughout IGOR, and that seems to be the rapper’s plan.

“Puppet” 

Tyler, the Creator gets another uncredited assist on “Puppet,” this time courtesy of Kanye West.  West not only contributes to the chorus, but also delivers the third verse of the song.  As the song title suggests, Tyler is indeed a puppet when it comes to love: “You’re number one, one on my list, to you I’m Santa / Where is Rudolph? You’re Parasitic.” “What’s Good” follows, composed of two separate parts.  The toughness of Tyler shines on the first part, even with his rapped vocals distorted and mixed more into the background.  The second part is also quite hard-nosed, featuring its fair share of memorable lyrics, with “Dracula, Dracula, Dracula / Suck me first, I might get back at ya” leading the charge. Hmm, another reference to sexuality perhaps? 

“Gone, Gone / Thank You”

“Gone, Gone / Thank You” earns the honors as the longest song on IGOR clocking past six minutes. Even so, there’s plenty to love about the colorful record. “Gone, Gone” is quite ear-catching with its energetic, major-key production.  CeeLo Green arrives as yet another uncredited guest appearance, singing the chorus.  Even so, rather than hearing the expected robust, soulful vocals from the R&B singer, it’s almost hard to believe it’s him because of the variety of effects used.  Even prior to “Thank You,” the third verse of “Gone Gone” performed by Tyler has a different sound and feel.  It signals the change that occurs on the slower “Thank You,” which is only comprised of choruses, a bridge, and an outro.  The one constant with this lengthy number is the sound – the production is on-point.    

There’s a rather subtle segue into the penultimate joint, “I Don’t Love You Anymore.” The lushly produced number is straight-forward about the rapper’s feelings – “‘Cause I don’t love you anymore.” In the process, the listener still gets some left-field lines, namely, “Like, bitch, I know my shit is bumping, it’s eczema.” Only Tyler, the Creator could come up with that.  IGOR ends soulfully with the radiant “Are We Still Friends?” which samples the Memphis soul of Al Green (“Dream”). This feels like a natural follow-up to “I Don’t Love You Anymore” because it serves as resolution. Interestingly, Pharrell Williams appears as does Jack White, who delivers an uncredited guitar solo.

Final Thoughts

IGOR definitely wasn’t the album that probably anybody expected from Tyler, the Creator – understatement.  Regardless, it ends up being a superb, utterly creative addition to his discography.  Maybe what’s most impressive about a project like IGOR, particularly following the Grammy-nominated Flower Boy is just how much Tyler has grown as a musician and even as a person.  There are no misses whatsoever to be found on IGOR.  Sure, this wasn’t what anybody had in mind, but it results in one of the best albums of 2019 easily.

Gems: “Earfquake,” “I Think,” “Running Out of Time,” “New Magic Wand,” “A Boy is a Gun” & “Are We Still Friends?”

Tyler, the Creator • IGOR • Columbia • Release: 5.17.19

Photo Credit: Columbia