As his world tour continues, Tyler, the Creator shocked fans with the announcement of a new album during his show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Three days later, it was out.
“DON’T TAP THE GLASS,” the ninth album by the Los Angeles native, was released just nine months after the commercial success “CHROMOKOPIA.” However, the more recent album features an incredibly different sound, similar to that of early 2000s synth pop like the Neptunes.
Coincidentally, the first track on the album, “Big Poe” features Pharell Williams. Tyler, in a robotic voice, welcomes listeners to the album, before listing the three rules. With the line, “Number three, don’t tap the glass,” Tyler kicks off the project.
He follows the first song with “Sugar on My Tongue” and “Sucka Free,” two upbeat additions that set the party-like feel for the album. Vintage Tyler emerges with the quirky, repetitive, bold song “Mommanem,” before blending into an energy last heard in previous albums.
“Stop Playing With Me” brings Tyler’s fans back to the era of “IGOR”, with hard-hitting instrumentals and a fast moving tempo. “Ring Ring Ring” features the summer feeling sound which brings listeners back to the summer album, “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.”
The rapper returned to his tradition of the slash tracks on his latest album as well. From his album “Wolf,” which was released in 2013, to “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST,” Tyler chose his tenth track as a slash track, featuring two songs in one. Songs like “911/Mr. Lonely,””GONE, GONE/THANK YOU” and “SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” have all become favorites among the artist’s fanbase. Despite “Don’t Tap That Glass/Tweakin’,” being the seventh track, it is another strong song in Tyler’s slash track tradition.
The Chromokopia World Tour leaves the United States and heads to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia before coming to a close in late September.