Of course, the confessions that have received the most attention since Flower Boy’s release last week are the possible references to homosexuality, the most convincing of which is “Garden Shed,” a woozy trapped-in-the-closet metaphor featuring erstwhile British songstress Estelle. But on “Where This Flower Blooms,” he does position himself as a kind of role model, promising to “tell these black kids they could be who they are.” And for much of the album’s 46 minutes, he does just that: presenting a disarming assortment of seemingly sincere, heartfelt confessions, paired with some of his richest and most cohesive beats to date. His reference to the Black Lives Matter movement on Flower Boy’s opening track, “Foreword,” is just that-a passing reference, not necessarily a sign of emerging political consciousness. Tyler hasn’t exactly transformed into Kendrick Lamar. It’s thus fair for listeners who outgrew Odd Future sometime in Obama’s first term to question whether their former ringleader still has anything to say. Now, in the aftermath of a presidential election determined as much by nihilistic meme wars as by conventional politics, the edgelord antics of Tyler’s 2009 mixtape Bastard and 2011’s Goblin feel less genuinely transgressive than outmoded. His now-defunct blog-rap collective, Odd Future, was better known in some circles for their surfeit of rape lyrics and homophobic slurs than the fact that their ranks included two of the highest-profile queer artists in contemporary hip-hop: Ocean and Syd, frontwoman of alt-R&B combo the Internet.
Tyler’s detractors had reason to be suspicious. Tyler, though, has been met with confusion, laced with a lingering suspicion that this was all just another meaningless, mean-spirited jest. Five years ago, a similar confession from Tyler’s off-and-on collaborator Frank Ocean had prompted widespread praise and acceptance. So, when early reports about his new album, Flower Boy, suggested that Tyler was coming out as gay, the reaction on social media was telling. The 26-year-old rapper-producer has spent his career shrouding meanings and motives in Gen-Y irony, served with the shit-eating grin of a 4chan troll. Regardless of if this album acts as a personal statement or a collection of songs for fans to relate to, this is one we'll be listening to all year.Few artists in recent memory have resisted interpretation, or courted controversy, as devoutly as Tyler, the Creator. The seventh track "Garden Shed" uses a metaphor for being in the closet and fans have speculated this song is him coming out, backed up by other lyrics on the album referencing this. Through all the additions, Tyler still stands at the forefront of the album and carries it from start to end. In addition to the featured artists on the singles, the album features Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Jaden Smith, Estelle, and more. It takes the melodic parts out his last album Cherry Bomb and combines them with the clever lyrics, rhyming schemes, and imagery he is known for.
The final product is an impressive album from the 26-year-old artist and among some of the best music he's ever made. Tyler, The Creator's fourth studio album, Flower Boy, continues the summer vibes brought from the singles and creates an immediately enjoyable project. Frank Ocean & Anna of the North)," and "Boredom." Tyler, The Creator's much-anticipated new album Flower Boy is here! Leading up to the project, Tyler was 3/3 on the outstanding singles he previously released: "Who Dat Boy (feat.
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