Tyler, the Creator just teased a new album called CHROMAKOPIA, sharing sick visuals on his IG with the caption 1. st chroma. Is that the name of the first track?
By the looks of the first teaser, it feels like we’re entering a new Tyler era. So we’d like to pay homage to Tyler’s old alter-egos, because they’re still alive in our eyes.
Tyler has built himself a notorious reputation for exploring many of his different alter egos throughout his discography, using alternating characters to shift his tone of voice.
Tyler used his first three albums: Bastard, Goblin and WOLF, to introduce his fans to his genuine and authentic persona, but also to explore other sides of himself. In his early discography, Tyler used a range of fictional characters as tools to elaborate on his past family trauma, the absence of his father, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty fitting in.
The opening track to his first self-produced mixtape Bastard introduces us to his alter ego Dr. TC, aka Tyler’s psychiatrist, who can be signified through his deep, ominous tone of voice. Not only on Bastard, but in future albums, you can sometimes hear Dr. TC, as he’s a tool to help Tyler navigate his way and unpack his deep childhood trauma in intense therapy sessions.
Ace is another character, used to express Tyler’s frustration and aggression towards society. Ace dominates his presence on Bastard, yet is rarely heard on future albums. Ace’s violent behaviour and braggadocious comments slowly fade away in the discography, as Tyler frees himself from built up aggression.
Then we have Sam, who’s the complete opposite from Ace. Sam is first introduced on WOLF, and is depicted as an insecure, hostile character who attempts to tries to suppress Tyler’s emotions.
Tyler’s leading alter-ego in his first three albums is Wolf Haley. Wolf and Tyler are essentially inseparable. Throughout WOLF, the two become one, as Tyler sheds off his old, hurting past self, and adapts to Wolf Haley, a much more confident version of his character he wishes to undertake.
But, in 2012, Odd Future released the track “Sam is Dead” on their vol. 2 mixtape. This track is huge in Tyler’s career, as we see him find freedom in his own self – shooting and killing off three of his alter egos: Wolf Haley, Ace and Tron Cat.
Since WOLF, Tyler swayed off exploring any alternate personas in his future music. Until IGOR.
IGOR circles right back to Tyler’s roots of using fictional characters to speak up about thoughts he had trouble sharing. Tyler uses IGOR’ cult, glam-rock persona to project heartbreak and touch on heavy break-up issues – you can tell when IGOR comes in as he’s got a screeching tone-of-voice and vicious ideas. IGOR is loud and aggressive, like Sam and Ace, but Tyler’s real persona takes over most of the album. In the end of the 12-tracks, you can hear Tyler find power and beauty by moving forward.
Tyler’s discography from start to finish follows his self-improvement. His recent albums suggest that Tyler is letting go of his alter egos and is getting closer to speaking through his honest and true self. But, is there a new character brewing?
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