Tomorrow Tyler, The Creator releases his seventh studio album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. So today I review my personal favorite Tyler album Flower Boy
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Cover art for Flower Boy
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Tomorrow Tyler will release his 7th studio album and I'm looking so much forward to it. Since I started listening to Tyler I've always looked forward to his regular 2-years-apart releases. I started listening to Tyler in 2016 and
Flower Boy is the first album I can remember came out. To this day it's my favorite Tyler album, but who knows maybe that will change tomorrow.
If you're interested in how the album came to life and what Tyler himself has to say about the album, I can definitely recommend watching the conversation about Flower Boy on youtube.
Watch the conversation here!
The album is an art piece. It touches multiple feelings and themes such as depression, loneliness, sexuality, love, friendship and fame.
The album has so many great features to fit different topics and themes throughout the album. From Frank Ocean bringing pure softness to A$AP Rocky coming in hard.
What makes this album special is Tyler's way of connecting with the listener through his music. He conveys multiple relatable emotions to his listener in different ways.
The album supposedly plays out over the course of a whole year, which is often the same life cycle as a flower. The album starts at the beginning of the year, where everything is calm and nothing exciting is happening really. Then we get to "See You Again", where the relationship starts to blossom. Then things get turned up in "Who Dat Boy", symbolizing the time flowers grow hard. "Pothole" is when the road gets bumpy as school is coming to an end for most and that usually complicates relationships. "Boredom" is Summer, friends are on vacation and there's not much to do. "911" is of course in September when everyone gets back to school, and this is also the time a lot of flowers start to die. "Droppin' Seeds" is November, where there a few or almost no flowers left. "Glitter" is then December with all the Christmas decorations glittering. And the outro marks the end of the year and is a final reminder to enjoy life while you can, because life is short.
Rating:
Vibe - 9/10
The vibe is immaculate. He connects with the mind of the listener. At the same time the soft production he has put behind multiple of the tracks is perfect for a sesh.
Lyrics - 8/10
Tyler provides well-formulated lyricism throughout the album. He constantly uses double-meanings, illustrations and references to come through with his meaning.
Flow - 7/10
Tyler brings different rhyme schemes and rapping genres onto many of the tracks. Going from soft to hard, depressed to upbeat and sad to angry.
Music - 9/10
The music is all self-produced by Tyler himself. It doesn't fail. The feeling of the very well-produced album is unmatchable. And to think that Tyler produced everything himself makes the album so much more personal.
Overall - 9,1/10
The album is pure inner Tyler. From hinting at his sexuality to talking about his depression, Tyler does it all. A truly heartfelt album, where you can find relatable feelings all around.
Tracklist:
Foreword (feat. Rex Orange County): 7/10
The intro or the "foreword" to the album presents Tyler's motivation and at the end of the song the opposite. Tyler comes to explore suicidal thoughts, wondering if anyone would care if he "drowned".
This is perfect for an intro since it sets the stage for what's to come next, which is an self-exploration throughout the album.
It's a mellow track, where Tyler uses well-formulated lyricism to present the "foreword" of his long awaited project Flower Boy.
Where This Flower Blooms (feat. Frank Ocean): 7,5/10
The first verse finds Tyler speaking about how he used to live before making it in the rap game. He was really broke and he wanted to get the car he "only dreamed I could afford", but now he has it.
The second and third verse speak about growth and expression.
Many rappers stereotypically enforce hypermasculinity in their songs, but Tyler wants to use his platform to let young kids know they don't have to live up to that. He doesn't want them to feel like he did growing up. Tyler has talked about how he had issues growing up with this, saying:
"There's no one saying that kids who look like me or anyone who looks like me. We had this conversation about me wanting this snowboard when I was 12 and someone said 'That's white people shit, black people don't do that' No. You don't do that. Don't put a damper on me and tell me what I can and can't be just because of the way other people were that are my same color. I just wanted to tell them No, be You"
"Blooming" can be a metaphor for coming out, which both Tyler and Frank has. But on this track is serves as a double-purpose both presenting the pressure to live as anybody else wants, and to display that they have in fact both bloomed.
Put Tyler and Frank on the same track and it's guaranteed to be a masterpiece. The slow feeling of the track, along with the conveying and reflection of their inner-selfs crafts a vulnerable, chill track.
Sometimes...: 7/10
The third track of the album is Tyler's personal favorite track, although it's only 36 seconds long. Speaking on the track he has said:
"I have this instrumental called "Sometimes" and it's really just piano for 36 seconds. But the chords that I use in it are really just the ones that play in my head all day - just daydreaming. And I sing a small melody over it and the music that I really like and base of the shit that I love is just really pretty chords and then a simple melody over it. I hav a six-minute version of that 36 seconds that I like to listen to a lot. The version I have, that I didn't put on the album, has like a verse to it and it's really pretty. That shit just melts my fucking soul"
See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis): 9/10
On this track Tyler sings to the ideal lover. But the lover isn't real and only lives in his dream state and fantasy. He hates constantly waiting and chasing, because every time he wakes up the person is gone.
The track follow "Sometimes...", where we hear a man asking for his song to be played in the end. This indicates, that "See You Again" is about a man. This is probably the case, since the whole project is directed towards blooming and self-understanding.
The track is a masterpiece, the soft vibes just hits different. I think it's safe to say no matter your sexuality you can vibe to this track.
Kali's vocals and Tyler's rap and production crafts a smooth, love song, which is an amazing vibe. It's for sure one of my favorites from Flower Boy
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The track was originally intended for Zayn, but he flaked two studio sessions
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Who Dat Boy (feat. A$AP Rocky): 7,5/10
Tyler switches the slow and soft style of the album completely up. He teams up with Rocky to create a hard-ass track.
Many people think that "Who Dat Boy" is meant in an arrogant way, but the truth is that it's exactly the opposite. "Who dat boy" isn't coming from Tyler's perspective but from the fans. Tyler has said that he wants people to ask who he is and not forget him.
The track makes a perfect addition to a so far lo-fi, soft album. Both Tyler and Rocky displays tremendously well-formulated and inventive lyricism.
Pothole (feat. Jaden Smith): 8/10
Tyler turns away from the so far topics of the album and speaks about the obstacles in his life through the metaphor of driving. The "pothole" is something in life that gets Tyler stuck and stops him from moving forward.
Tyler spills his inner-self on the track, discussing his father's abandonment and generally taking it deep and using his music as safe space.
When I saw Jaden Smith was on the track for the first time, I gotta admit I was skeptical, but he and Tyler compliment each other really well. More great production on the album too.
Garden Shed (feat. Estelle): 7/10
On the seventh track of the album Tyler provides an extended metaphor for being in the closet. Although at the time of release it was unclear whether or not he was coming out, he directly addresses it in the second verse.
"Garden shed, garden shed, garden shed, garden shed
For the garden
That is where I was hidin'
That was real love I was in
Ain't no reason to pretend"
Prior to the album release Tyler had hinted at his sexual orientation with tweets and lyrics, but here he addresses it in a more serious manor. The feature Estelle has raised her voice in support of the LGBTQ+ community multiple times.
Music wise the song seems to be inspired by Tame Impala especially with the soft drums. A sensitive track from Tyler, where he once again puts so much meaning behind his music.
Boredom (feat. Rex Orange County & Anna of the North): 8,5/10
The eight track of the album is similar to the general theme and meaning of the album. It addresses loneliness and the state of boredom.
The phrase "find some time" is likely to be the inner voices of Tyler talking to each other in the state of boredom.
This track is such a vibe and one of my personal late night smoke tracks. Tyler speaks to the soul and uses well-thought, deep lyricism.
I Ain't Got Time!: 6,5/10
This is one of the reasons why this album is an absolute masterpiece, the way Tyler is able to switch from his deepest thoughts on a soft track to a track where he speaks on multiple different topics on a hype track. This delivers great contrast between his boredom and his life as a rap-star.
He speaks about people, who are only interested in him for his success and his astonishment of what he has accomplished.
Speaking of the track Tyler has said:
"I remember being at Ye's during The Life of Pablo, and I think he went to take a nap. I was in the studio and there was this MPC there. Noah started recording me. I just started smacking, started clapping, making weird noises, added a boom boom boom, and I was gonna add a hook. It was just that. I was like "Damn, Kanye should take this song. He would sound so much cooler saying that hook". He didn't like it"
The transformation from a very thoughtful track to a track where Tyler just goes off is fantastic.
911 / Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean and Steve Lacy): 7/10
There are 2 parts of the track.
The first half, which is way more upbeat but still filled with dark and depressing lyrics.
And the second half, which has more depressing lyrics, but with a less upbeat and snare heavy beat.
Prior to the album Tylers stated that he isn't depressed so this track is a big surprise. Tyler uses dark, violent and depressing rhymes throughout the track.
I would still say that it one of the best ways possible to convey depression into a track like this and creating contrast between the hard and soft side of depression.
Despite from the dark lyricism the rap and track in general are really good sounding.
Droppin' Seeds (feat. Lil' Wayne): 7,5/10
After track like "Garden Shed", which also uses the theme of garden, the 11th track of the album is called "Droppin' Seeds".
It's only a one minute interlude, where Wayne has the first half, and Tyler takes over for the rest.
This is for sure one of Wayne's best verses, since the jazz production surprisingly fits his rapping really well.
November: 8/10
Tyler goes back to conveying his deeper thoughts into music. The track speaks about the insecurities he has about his career and life, while he also reminisces about his past.
The track is split up by an interlude.
The first half he speaks about his material worries, while on the second half he speaks about a crush, which serves as a setup for the next track "Glitter"
Tyler wants to go back to November. November is a metaphor for a better time in his life.
This is a really underrated track, where Tyler exploits his insecurities and speaks about going back to a better time. A feeling I and many other for sure can relate to.
Glitter: 8/10
The track is a continuation of "November", where Tyler confesses his love to his crush over phone, making him feel great and colorful on the insight, like glitter.
The track ends with:
"We didn't get your message, either because you were not speaking or because of a bad connection"
This symbolizes that no matter how much you try, you're not always gonna make it.
I love the upbeat, happy vibe song. It's a perfect vibe and a great add to the late night sesh playlist. From a more technical perspective the track is really well provided to us. Tyler rap is heartfelt and the ending just turns a happy track to a sad track using two lines.
Enjoy Right Now, Today: 10/10
The album is concluded with a colorful instrumental. The track really shows off Tyler's versatility (which he has had throughout the album) and growth as a producer. This is a unique closer for an album, almost as if it was a movie ending.
The track is really optimistic and without saying anything, but it still says a lot. It's a reminder to enjoy right now. To enjoy today.
This is the perfect ending for an ambivalent album, where Tyler discusses multiple different feelings. It's rated as an instrumental and not as a song, but it's for sure a 10/10.
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