Flower Boy: Tyler The Creator’s Return From The Depths Of Discontent
Tyler the Creator’s is often associated with disassociation from the standards of musical flow, and a foul temper. Such as when rap enthusiasts refused to share their thoughts on his musical group Odd Future and their work. Nothing stopped Tyler from responding to criticism and insults, even bans within certain countries for the provocative messages within his songs. Odd Future was meant to be a radicalized group, speaking openly and harshly about many topics, himself being the “poster-boy” of a bad-mouthed rapper: openly being ‘sexist’ and ‘homophobic’ through his lyricism and interviews. His hard upbringing furthermore pushes his rebirth in his latest album.
The newest album created by Tyler is Flower Boy, this is an extreme change of pace from the usual work by Tyler, a growth album. The music itself is stocked with passionate words of reminiscence and innocent fantasy, ridding himself of the arrogant and spiteful tone of his normal music and being reflective on his own past through his album. The album collectively reflects his own experience in isolation, depression, and confusion, but focuses on his growth through friendships and the continual human urge of change and development. One of his particularly insightful songs is ‘Where This Flower Blooms’, using whimsical images as a “Flower Boy” grows into a tree. He also covers the struggle from “Not being able to afford dreams” because of his initial financial start in his career, ending with him blossoming and digging his roots in for growth.
The previous album Cherry Bomb was a failure, in comparison to his other works. Discussing very immature themes like masturbation and young relationships. Empty meaningless rap aimed to seem significant, and angry rants about nothing in particular, simply done to stir the fans that adored him for his toxicity. The interest developed at his “rant rapping” and boisterous commentary had already peaked with his other albums Wolf and Goblin, it came across lackluster and toothless, sloppy. Mutatis mutandis, Flower Boy is metamorphic, toned with love and longing, and a serious understood topic. In this album Tyler finally can reveal his feelings and let loose the mask of defiance and detestment, showing the bone-breaking pain of love unrequited, and traversing the path of childhood. The whole album is about the value of the self, and finding one who values you for your character and not what you bring to the table, finding a partner that values you in complete.
A hefty portion of Flower Boy is dedicated to the pursuit of his belongings, particularly a car. In one of the top trending songs of the time “Who Dat Boy” ft. A$AP Rocky, he is looking for that “car”. The long hinted and teased “Garden Shed” is the definitive proof to the Tyler’s struggle with his own self and comfort in his skin. The entire is a extended metaphor for one being in the closet (A ‘Garden Shed’), the “Flower Boy” blossoms and shows its colors through the songs “See You Again” and “Glitter”, both bearing themes of longing and desire for contact and comfort. The flaming fiend Tyler The Creator is doused, and all is left is a dew-drizzled flower, no longer afraid and trying to hide.
This album is torn between the two sides of Tyler, some being “Who Dat Boy” and “Pothole” fast paced with an energetic beat, with boastful lyrics and sexual reference (Something Tyler is known for), this is for the past songs Tyler is known for, a aggravated rap ‘fix’ for those who want it. Flower Boy is the unsaid apology of a confused boy growing up without knowing how to cope with his inner turmoil and unapologetic use of slur and hate to mask his feelings. The centerpieces of his album: “See You Again”, “Glitter”, and “Garden Shed” reveals his actual feelings on himself, and his story of how he formed this persona of Tyler. The visitation of old memories through flashback and the age old theme of love, attempts to disentangle the knot of emotions and feelings that had burdened Tyler’s fans and himself.
Mellow and wistful, overall relatable is paramount to the album. Everyone listening to “See You Again” has a person who comes to mind when reading the title, and listening to the song “I wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind. ” leaves it open for the listener to ask themselves that, ask it to the person they long for and care for, if they do or don’t.
