Less than a week has passed since Tyler, the Creator’s new album, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, was made available, and already critics are praising it as a potential Album of the Year contender, Yesterday.
Tyler’s Grammy-winning song from 2019 IGOR, which also made waves that summer, was released. Tyler has a propensity for adding some cool hits to the sweltering weather. But if you know Tyler well, you’ll realize he’s much more than just a pastel-clad artist who only comes out in the summer.
11 Tyler The Creator Songs
1. WUSYANAME
You will undoubtedly be reminded of the timeless pop songs from the early 2000s by this CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST hit. Tyler tries to attract a woman even though he knows she is already in a committed relationship in “WUSYANAME,” which also features Ty Dolla $ign, Youngboy Never Broke Again, and continued participation from DJ Drama.
This song’s lyrics offer a lot to consider. Tyler clarified in a tweet that he’s using “the worst pickup line ever” when he tells the girl she appears malnourished, which is a comic aspect he introduces in CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.
In addition, “I can teach you how you can properly exfoliate skin” implies that one benefit of dating him is that he’ll share relationship-enhancing skincare advice. This allusion also refers to Tyler’s explanation of personal self-care practices, including skincare, in the Flower Boy song “Where This Flower Blooms.”
2. SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE
“SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” one of Tyler’s more recent songs from CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, is a two-part song that examines Tyler’s crush on a girl and her conflicted thoughts about their relationship. The sugar-pop melody of “SWEET” is quite bouncy, whereas “I Thought You Wanted to Dance” provides a more tropical vibe.
Since Tyler, the Creator’s debut mixtape, BASTARD, two songs have appeared on every tenth track of his discography. This double song continues that tendency. Tyler published a teaser on June 14, 2021, featuring this song’s start. The video “Side Street” features Taco from Odd Future and actress Helena Howard.
3. EARFQUAKE
“EARFQUAKE,” another love song by Tyler, is IGOR’s most commercially successful single. “EARFQUAKE,” featuring Playboi Carti, is a melancholy song about a partner Tyler depends on despite not treating them well.
Tyler’s pain is concealed by cheery piano chords and distorted drumming in this song, but an explosive chorus will ensure the lyrics remain in your head.
Moreover, “EARFQUAKE” has a well-known music video featuring Tyler performing on a television show for a crazy woman named Pearl Edwards while wearing a blonde wig (played by Black-ish actress Tracy Ellis Ross). At following IGOR concerts, Tyler would wear the blonde wig.
Tyler revealed that the song’s title concept came from an earthquake that occurred when he wrote it in an interview with Rick Rubin for his podcast Broken Record. Intended initially for Rihanna and Justin Bieber, “EARFQUAKE” was rejected by both performers. Gladly, they did.
4. IFHY (feat. Pharrell)
This poignant song is from Tyler’s 2013 album Wolf, which dealt with fame’s drawbacks and critics of Odd Future. “IFHY” explores the raw and aggressive sensations connected to unrequited or disturbed love with stunning, strong instrumentals.
In a tweet, Tyler, a huge Pharrell admirer, even said that working with Pharrell on Wolf was the “number one highlight” of his life. IFHY demonstrates Tyler’s ability in music production as the song begins rough and techno-heavy. In the midst, Pharrell and Tyler provide endearing suggestions about how the couple might mend their relationship.
5. See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)
The ethereal song “See You Again” from Tyler’s 2017 album Flower Boy features vocals by Kali Uchis, who also sang on Tyler’s previous album Cherry Bomb. This song will put you in a romantic mood with lyrics like “Can I get a kiss? And can you make it last forever?” and “Wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind.”
Tyler claims his favorite song from Flower Boy is “See You Again.” It’s little wonder Flower Boy received a Gold certification from the RIAA in 2018 with songs like this and serene pieces like “Boredom” and “Where This Flower Blooms.” Tyler’s transformation into a more fluid musical sound began with “See You Again” and continued throughout Flower Boy.
Quick Fact: Many people think Tyler first came out as bisexual on Flower Boy because of the song “Garden Shed’s” lyrics and the album’s more effeminate tones, indicating Tyler is finally coming into his own.
6. NEW MAGIC WAND
Tyler has frequently claimed that his favorite album in his entire discography is “NEW MAGIC WAND.” It only makes sense that this outstanding IGOR music should earn the top slot since it is also our favorite song by him. In this song, like “A BOY IS A GUN*,” Tyler is trying to end a relationship between his lover and their ex-girlfriend.
His pleas are accompanied by powerful, intense buzzing sounds and snares, and he attempts to convince his sweetheart not to leave him. Before we are thrust back into Tyler’s emotional whirlwind, the bridge slows things down a bit.
Santigold and Jessy Wilson can be seen in “NEW MAGIC WAND.” After Tyler won Best Rap Album for IGOR at the 2020 Grammy Awards, he performed a ground-breaking song. Tyler’s song “NEW MAGIC WAND” is still a classic and a fantastic example of his artistic style because it can both uplift and depress the listener.
It demonstrates that unrequited love isn’t only about getting all mushy inside, it’s also about striving to become a better version of yourself in the hopes that your crush will notice you. Tyler makes the struggle realistic, despite the drawbacks of competing for a lover’s attention, such as jealousy and fury.
7. Yonkers
The lead single from Tyler’s 2011 debut album Goblin, “Yonkers,” is a thesis statement for his artistic style. We decided to position it high on our list as a result. The title and fast pace allude to and parody New York hip-hop.
While the lyrics of this song can be contentious, they also explore Tyler’s other two personas: Golf Wang, Tyler, Left Brain, and Julian Berman’s photography website, and Wolf Haley, Tyler’s identity for the directing credits on his music videos. The song even includes a conversation between Tyler and Wolf Haley, who Tyler refers to as his “wild” side.
Quick Fact: After its release, “Yonkers” received accolades from critics. Tyler won the Best New Artist honor at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards because of this song video. It was also up for Video of the Year, but Katy Perry’s “Firework” was awarded.
8. A BOY IS A GUN
One of Tyler’s most profound and significant songs to date, “A BOY IS A GUN” is graceful, dark, and filled with lofty feelings. Even though it is only three minutes and thirty seconds long, it doesn’t feel like a song. Tyler heavily drew inspiration from Kanye West when it came to music.
Tyler used a Ponderosa Twins’ “Bound” sample on this song, much like “Bound 2” from Yeezus. In some ways, “A BOY IS A GUN” is contradictory because it’s one of IGOR’s quietest songs despite having a booming chorus and audible gunshots.
Tyler wrote some of his best lyrics for “A BOY IS A GUN*.” Starting with the title not only confirms his bisexuality in full and without reservation but was also inspired by the proverb “a girl is a gun,” which alludes to the strength and danger women can provide to their male lovers.
A BOY IS A GUN*’s lyrics which are accurate to the song’s title, describe Tyler and a male partner’s difficulty flying. Tyler first expresses his genuine desire for the man, and the relationship ends with the man preferring his ex over Tyler. Despite his obsession with the man, Tyler learns to keep his distance from him.
9. SMUCKERS (feat. Lil Wayne & Kanye West)
This song got a lot of hype in the hip-hop community as soon as the tracklist for Cherry Bomb was made public. Tyler had previously worked on projects with Lil Wayne and Kanye West but only some of them together.
Fortunately, this song was deemed a hit, and Tyler showed he could compete with two rap legends. This song covers a lot of ground thematically. It only briefly mentions wealth, fame, authenticity, and insanity.
This song is triumphant because of the lovely piano solo at the beginning and the fading horns. Listening to “SMUCKERS,” you get the impression that his career will only go up, just like Tyler on his trampoline.
10. 911/Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy)
“911/Mr. Lonely,” a second double single that appears as Flower Boy’s track number 10, also features Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy, A$AP Rocky, ScHoolboy Q, and Anna of the North. Tyler serves in a fictitious capacity as a 911 operator.
In a metaphorical sense, it implies that he is there to listen to other people’s issues but that no one wants to hear his. Although the song’s first half is happier, the lyrics are gloomy. Much more sad lyrics are present in the second half, which also has a more tense and snare-heavy beat. An equal amount of relaxation and adrenaline are current.
Tyler claimed he wasn’t depressed anymore and wasn’t as keen to explore lyrics with darker topics as he once was during the release of Cherry Bomb in 2015. Fans were surprised when “911/Mr. Lonely” was released in 2017 because Tyler’s recent lyrics were more concerned with cars and fortune.
Returning to his darker rap roots, Tyler proved that money couldn’t buy him happiness.
11. $ilkMoney “NAGA” ft. Tyler, the Creator
Divine Council is still the hottest rap act to emerge since Odd Future, despite only putting out eight tracks over four years. This makes Tyler’s collaboration with the Council’s $ilkMoney all the more logical.
Tyler is handling production here and teases rumbling synth lines reminiscent of Goblin from 2011. His verse is also okay.
Conclusion
It’s been more than ten years since Tyler first appeared as the face of the infamous Californian skate crew/rap group Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, which served as a launching pad for the careers of Earl Sweatshirt, The Internet, Frank Ocean, and many more.
Since then, the group’s ringleader has advanced from rapping about “fucking faggots” and being denied entry to the UK to writing the soundtrack for a kid’s Christmas movie, leading a major fashion company, organizing a music festival, creating a fucking scented candle, and becoming one of the most well-known rappers in the world.