Hip-hop collective's leader, Tyler, the Creator is back with his second album. His first album/mixtape created quite a fuss when it first came out, with controversy arising a bit, with people either being disgusted with his lyrics, or thinking he's what hip-hop has needed for a long, long time.
Tyler's here with some occasional guest spots from fellow OFWGKTA members, and this marks the first OFWGKTA release on CD, so it has to try to leave a mark on the mainstream, and as of now, it certainly has with its singles 'Yonkers' and 'She'.Even if you liked the first mixtape he put out solo, 'Bastard', there's a chance you may not like this one, but first, let's talk about what this album does right.
Tyler is insanely witty and clever, and also offensive. Anyone who's listened to his songs can tell you that. He can certainly tell stories, but it's what the stories are about that make him so controversial, like in the single 'She', which features Frank Ocean, it has Tyler rapping about stalking a girl, and Frank singing a warning to all women out there that Tyler is on the loose, and is violent.
"Gorgeous, baby you're gorgeous, I just wanna drag your lifeless body into the forest, and fornicate with it, but that's only because I'm in love with you.."
The song has a good beat, and Frank really brings it alive with the chorus.
"I'm a fuckin' walkin' paradox.. No I'm not."
Another song I love on here, 'Yonkers', has a fantastic beat, and the lyrics are absolutely amazingly clever. The first time you hear it, you probably won't think it's anything special aside from the beat, but upon further inspection of the lyrics, it's funny and clever as hell. The video is also what makes it amazing, because Tyler filmed it on his own, but it's so artistic and strange that it's just a joy to watch for some reason that's hard to explain. He did a great job, and he could very well be a music video director one day.
"I'm a fuckin' walkin' paradox.. No I'm not."There's even a sequel to the infamous 'Tina' off of the last album, as 'Bitch Suck Dick' with Jasper Dolphin and Taco, a piss-take on stereotypical hip-hop.
While these songs, and other songs like 'Transylvania',' Sandwitches', and (most of) 'Radicals' are great, there's a few ones that just aren't that great, at least to me, because of such minimalistic beats, like on 'Her'. I just can't get into that song. I know Tyler makes music he wants to hear, and doesn't make music to please other people, but still. He may be Tyler, the Creator, but when it comes to beats, he certainly isn't Tyler, the Creative.
Some of the beats are great, but a lot of them just are really dark, synthesized beats that get kind of old to me. There's no classic-styled beats on here, just dark, gloomy beats on Tyler's keyboard. Another thing that annoyed me is some of the guest appearances just aren't all that great, like on 'Window', some of the guest spots in that song sound very tired, like Tyler was forcing them to have a spot on the album and they didn't want to do it. Another bad thing that couldn't really be helped is that Earl Sweatshirt isn't on this album due to legal problems.
There's a story on this album that continues from 'Bastard', but it's very, very predictable, and there's a spot where the story takes control in 'Window' that sounds very forced and awkward to listen to, that I always skip over when re-listening to it. If you hear it, you'll know what I mean. The songs where Tyler tries to be inspirational really fall flat too, because he tries to be a role model, but constantly switches from being all 'YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. I'M A FUCKING UNICORN' to telling you to suck his penis and other things. It just falls flat.
A few great tracks can be found here, but some forgettable ones too. Tyler was too focused on making this album a landmark album, with his own story in it, that he kind of took all of the fun out of it. Where as the last album sounded like some guys having fun and messing around, this album is very serious and dark.
Like I said, some great tracks can be found here, but don't expect an album full of winners.
6/10
Recommended Tracks: Yonkers, She, Sandwitches
While these songs, and other songs like 'Transylvania',' Sandwitches', and (most of) 'Radicals' are great, there's a few ones that just aren't that great, at least to me, because of such minimalistic beats, like on 'Her'. I just can't get into that song. I know Tyler makes music he wants to hear, and doesn't make music to please other people, but still. He may be Tyler, the Creator, but when it comes to beats, he certainly isn't Tyler, the Creative.
Some of the beats are great, but a lot of them just are really dark, synthesized beats that get kind of old to me. There's no classic-styled beats on here, just dark, gloomy beats on Tyler's keyboard. Another thing that annoyed me is some of the guest appearances just aren't all that great, like on 'Window', some of the guest spots in that song sound very tired, like Tyler was forcing them to have a spot on the album and they didn't want to do it. Another bad thing that couldn't really be helped is that Earl Sweatshirt isn't on this album due to legal problems.
There's a story on this album that continues from 'Bastard', but it's very, very predictable, and there's a spot where the story takes control in 'Window' that sounds very forced and awkward to listen to, that I always skip over when re-listening to it. If you hear it, you'll know what I mean. The songs where Tyler tries to be inspirational really fall flat too, because he tries to be a role model, but constantly switches from being all 'YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. I'M A FUCKING UNICORN' to telling you to suck his penis and other things. It just falls flat.
A few great tracks can be found here, but some forgettable ones too. Tyler was too focused on making this album a landmark album, with his own story in it, that he kind of took all of the fun out of it. Where as the last album sounded like some guys having fun and messing around, this album is very serious and dark.
Like I said, some great tracks can be found here, but don't expect an album full of winners.
6/10
Recommended Tracks: Yonkers, She, Sandwitches
