I have to start by saying I’m not a Tyler the Creator fan. Back in 2011 or 2012 when Odd Future first dropped, I did not care much for them as a group. I think it had to do with their antics and lack of quality music. At the time I felt they were just edgy kids trying to make a name for themselves and they just so happen to make music. Thinking back on it now we were all the same age. I didn’t think their sideshow measured up to their music. Plus, I always felt like Odd Future was nothing more than edgy suburban music for kids who drove around in their parents Jeep yelling out f**k their parents. You know, the type that hated their parents but their parents got/give them everything they wanted. Nowadays that’s just hip-hop in some areas of music. Even though I was not a fan of OF I was a fan of their branding.
 |
| Photo by Dino Kuznik |
Early on they understood the meaning and purpose of brand identity, specially Tyler. From creative album covers, to videos and photo shoots. Even with all of that great creative direction and artwork I still wasn’t a fan of his music. Until a few weeks ago I was out taking photos and thought let me listen to “IGOR”.
I wanted to listen to “IGOR” because Playboi Carti was on the album and I heard that song in particular was really good. I listened to the song and loved it but I was impressed by the album as a whole. I was surprised that some of the sounds I enjoy were on that album. Sonically, it was good but it wasn’t something I could see myself listening to over and over again. Cut to, a week or two later, Tyler announces “Call Me If You Get Lost” dropping on June 25th. Shortly after Tyler released some artwork for the album and I loved it. It was by a painter named Gregory Ferrand and I thought the artwork was amazing. Click the HERE to see what Gregory said about the album cover and the meaning behind it.
Saying that this album was good is an understatement. This is my album of the year, kind of. I loved Playboi Carti’s “Whole Lotta Red” album and I think these two albums should be front runner for album of the year and Jorja Smith’s album “Be Right Back” which was so soothing to the ears. 2021, in my opinion, is a slow year for music but the stuff I’ve listened to so far is great. I know I love an album when I listen to it back to back and this next statement might sound crazy but it makes sense to me.
I know an album is good when I can see it when I’m listening to it. Art plays off all of the senses. Hearing(of course), seeing, feeling, and in some cases taste(I strongly believe cooking is an art form). This album hits on all of the sense except taste because you can’t taste an album and that would be a weird statement to make. “Yo that album tasted so good”, like come on dude shut the hell up.
Anyway, when I can listen to music and see it playing out in my head I know I love it. It felt like Tyler was putting on a play while I was listening to the album. That’s the best way for me to explain that. It sounds weird but that’s just me. The sounds of the brass instruments, the cut scenes, the narration of DJ Drama, and the storytelling by Tyler all made this more of a cinematic experience than listening to an album or nowadays a collection of songs. I never understood why people like Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, and others praised Tyler so much until I heard this album. “Call Me If You Get Lost” was/is Tyler’s best work to date. “IGOR” was good but it lacked the direction and execution(I think that’s the right word) that “Call Me If You Get Lost” has and the quality features as well. Speaking of features, the features on this album were curated so well.
The way Tyler played to the strengths of the artist he featured on this album was/is on par with the way Kanye West treated his features on his albums “Ye” and the collab album with Kid Cudi on “Kids See Ghost”. Most notable features that stood out to me was NBA YoungBoy, Lil Wayne, Brent Faiyaz, Fana Hues, Daisy World, Lil Uzi, Pharrell, and of course DJ Drama. Speaking of DJ Drama, this felt like a Gangsta Grillz mixtape but for a new generation. Those tapes used to be a big deal growing up, if you didn’t listen to or hear the newest tape you’d be out the loop. We used to have listening sessions in and outside of school, it was an event.
I can see Gangsta Grillz coming back and completely changing/switching up their direction for a wider audience. It would be interesting to hear a Gangsta Grillz Mixtape with Billie Eilish. That would break the internet and cause some controversy but that would be an interesting way for Gangsta Grillz to appeal to this newer generation.
DJ Drama isn’t new to these types of controversies and showcasing different artist. I was in middle school when people clowned him for hosting trap/southern rappers like Jeezy, T.I., and Gucci Mane. At the time people viewed those people in particular not on par with the artist/rappers Gangsta Grillz featured on previous mixtapes. Nowadays, those are the mixtape people love, remember, and still talk about.
Some standouts on the album are WUSYANAME, HOT WIND BLOWS, RISE, JUGGERNAUT, and WILSHIRE.
Overall, it’s a great album! I’m not going to stay I’m a Tyler the Creator fan but I am a huge fan of this album so much so I reviewed it and wrote my thoughts on it. I’ve already listened to it three or four times, so much so I told myself stop before it turns into a “Whole Lotta Red” situation. I played that album two weeks straight and I regret nothing.
I don’t do a rating system on my reviews, either I like it or I hate it or like the old southern proverb states, “My momma said if I ain’t got nothing good don’t say nothin’”.
Comments