Each adds a new layer of emotional depth and humanity to Tyler the person, whereas the majority of his previous work seemed to further illustrate the legend of Tyler, The Creator the character. This type of song (“Answer,” “Awkward,” “48,” “PartyIsntOver,” “Campfire,” “Bimmer,” “Treehome,” “Lone”) is the most prominent breed of music on the album. One might say this group of songs evoke “camp vibes,” meaning sounds that conjure up memories of summer camp and seem appropriate for a day at the beach (although in practice are more likely enjoyed while lighting up a blunt outside on a warm summer night). This is a surprising demonstration of restraint from a person who so often seems unfiltered. Tyler relies on relaxed drum patterns and pretty chords throughout the album, which are fun without being overly hyper. These deeply honest moments are frequent on WOLF. He wonders how he can demonstrate to his fans that he appreciates their support while still maintaining his privacy. While in Stan’s case the saga ended tragically, Tyler concludes only with frustration and self-doubt. Like Eminem, Tyler tells a story about a fan who starts off by asking a simple request (in Tyler’s case to take a picture), then simply goes way too far with their confessions of obsession. Specifically, “Colussus” is guaranteed to draw comparisons to Eminem’s classic “Stan”. Yet the similarities with Eminem extend much further than “Cowboy.” Artists like Kanye West and Eminem have lent some of their best work to songs that discuss the struggles of fame. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking theme for a modern day hip-hop artist to explore. ![]() It is the first introspective cut we get from Tyler on WOLF, as he discusses his successes and how he struggles sometimes to be happy even though to the outside world it seems he’s made it. “Cowboy,” a track that according to reports was one of the first crafted for WOLF, is reminiscent of “Oldie” in that it combines both a straightforward drum pattern with major piano chords. In Tyler’s world, it’s imperfection that makes the world beautiful. That in mind, back are his instantly recognizable synthesized sounds, thin and rigid, which are clearly an intentional choice. It is not really reminiscent of any of the artist’s previous work – at the very most the beat is a graduated version songs like “Sarah” from Bastard. Wolf acts as new or private Tyler, honest and light-hearted, while Sam is sort of how the general public expects Tyler to be.įrom there, he introduces us to one of his two new aesthetics on “Jamba,” the second track. In many ways these two characters can be seen as “New” and “Old” or even “Private” and “Public” Tyler. Wolf seems to be inquisitive and in general polite, while Sam is aggressive and tells Wolf in plain terms that he has no intentions of being his friend. In turn he completes both the key phrase of the song and what seems to be his perpetual life mantra: “Fuck You.” The track concludes by introducing the loose narrative of the album, a rivalry between two characters, Sam and Wolf. That tone is short-lived, as Tyler’s voice takes the air out with what is arguably his favorite word in the English language, “Fuck”. It surprises immediately with a falsetto voice gently singing the word “You,” which completes the light-hearted atmosphere. Like both of its predecessors, WOLF begins with a piano-driven title track. Jazz, indy rock and old-school rap appear to be the key influences, infused occasionally with Tyler’s antics and certain key phrases he still has not entirely shaken off, namely his use of the word “fag.” ![]() While WOLF isn’t exactly a concept piece, it may just feel like one because of how focused the sound is compared to both of Tyler’s previous LPs. To say the least, that shift is in full effect on WOLF, and those ugly phrases are few and far between on the album. It was evident in those tracks that Tyler was moving away from his painfully dark vibe in favor of a mellower, one might even say happier aesthetic. Last year there was the Odd Future Tape Volume 2., the follow up to the seldom-heard Odd Future Tape Volume 1, which featured verses from Tyler as well as his production, including the standouts “Oldie” and “Analog 2,” both of which hinted at what to potentially expect from WOLF. That’s of course not to say we haven’t heard any creative outputs from Tyler since 2011.
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