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The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tyler, the Creator: Don't Tap the Glass review
Tyler, the Creator's ninth album received a very contemporary grand unveiling. Rush-released two days after its existence was announced, it had been trailed by the appearance of cryptic art installations at the rapper's live shows – he's still theoretically touring his last album, 2024's Chromakopia – and at One World Trade Center in New York, and by a flurry of online gossip: one US website was forced to retract and apologise for publishing a tracklisting, complete with guest appearance by Kendrick Lamar, that turned out to be fake. Despite all this, Tyler Okonma seemed keen to deflate the kind of anticipation that arises when your last three albums have all been critically lauded, platinum-selling chart-toppers full of big ideas. 'Y'all better get them expectations and hopes down,' he posted on X, 'this ain't no concept nothing.' He then published an essay that read suspiciously like an explanation of the album's concept, bemoaning the intrusion of cameraphones and social media on our ability to live in the moment: 'Our human spirit got killed because of the fear of being a meme.' So what is Don't Tap the Glass? A proper follow-up to Chromakopia or an interstitial release? A random selection of songs with no overarching theme, or something made with more deliberate intent? The answer seems to be: all these things. It lasts less than half an hour, and is noticeably, if not entirely, lacking the soul-searching that helped define its predecessor. The lyrics tend to stick to braggadocio and reaffirmations of the nihilistic persona Tyler inhabited in the days when he was deemed such a threat to the country's morals that anti-terrorism legistation was invoked to ban him from the UK: the first, but far from last, mention of him not giving a fuck about anything arrives less than 30 seconds into the album. There are a lot of memorable one-liners, among which 'I don't trust white people with dreadlocks' and his dismissal of an ageing rival stand out: '49, still in the street / Your prostate exam in a week.' It also eschews Chromakopia's kaleidoscopic musical approach, its sudden leaps from Beach Boys harmony to Zamrock samples to guest spots from Lola Young and Lil Wayne. It's still eclectic in its choice of source material – opener Big Poe samples Busta Rhymes and a 2015 collaborative album made by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, Shye Ben Tzur and India's Rajasthan Express – but ultimately feels more narrow and focused. Almost all of its 10 tracks seem fixated on the dancefloor. There are 808 beats, Kraftwerk-y electronics, a noticeable smattering of Zapp-like vocoder and electro, among other early 80s genres. Powered by a bassline that's a dead ringer for that of Michael Jackson's Off the Wall and decorated with washes of synthetic strings and a falsetto vocal, Ring Ring Ring feels like a lost Leroy Burgess boogie production from the same era. The huge, distorted breakbeat of Big Poe recalls the rhythms produced by the Bomb Squad in their prime, amplified by the stentorian, Chuck D-like tone of Pharrell Williams's guest rap. Elsewhere, I'll Take Care of You unexpectedly transforms from a beatless electronic ballad into something that – with its clattering rhythm and grimy sub-bass – most closely resembles old skool UK hardcore rave: in a neat bit of self-referentiality, the clattering rhythm is actually repurposed from the title track of Tyler's 2015 album Cherry Bomb. Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion All of this is done fantastically well. The musical reference points are deployed with an evident love and understanding of the source material, never feeling like box-ticking or pastiche; the hooks work with enviable efficiency. It's all funky enough that you imagine even the selfie-obsessed pocketing their phone and throwing themselves around if it came booming from some big speakers. But it's also not the whole story. There are scattered moments when Don't Tap the Glass feels of a piece with, or an addendum to, Chromakopia. In the middle of the album lurks the incongruous Mommanem, thick with the grunts and gasps and feral barks that were Chromakopia's sonic signature. On the concluding Tell Me What It Is, Tyler suddenly drops the boasts and the IDGAF stuff in favour of precisely the heartsore self-examination that characterised his previous album, the sentiments amplified by the untutored frailty of his singing voice: 'I'm feeling like a bum … is there a traffic to my soul? I need answers … Why can't I find love?' It's an odd way to end an album that seems largely about not overthinking things and simply giving yourself up to the moment, but, then, this is the man who once rapped 'I'm a fucking walking paradox / No I'm not.' Fourteen years on, Tyler, the Creator clearly still reserves the right to be contradictory. When the results are as good as Don't Tap the Glass, who can blame him? Blood Orange – The Field Not a song of the summer in the accepted dancefloor banger sense, but The Field's Durutti Column sample, skittering beats and ethereal vocals (by Caroline Polachek and Daniel Caesar) are the perfect soundtrack to a languid afternoon.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tyler, The Creator 'Stop Playing With Me' Video Features Cameos From LeBron James And Clipse
Tyler, The Creator hit the ground running with his new album Don't Tap The Glass. The 34-year-old rapper shared a music video for the track 'Stop Playing With Me' with cameo appearances from LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Clipse. The visual opens with the Hawthorne, Calif. rapper sporting an all-red outfit and flanked by two speakers while dancing in a room with papers scattered all over the floor. 'When I get to snappin' like doo-wop/ Really got the juice like 2Pac/ Shawty got a strong jaw, might chew rock/ Got me comin' out the blue like new cop,' he raps. Later, he raps about catching a plane with Carter and James as the two appear beside him. After a quick transition, they vanish, and in comes Pusha T and Malice while Tyler raps, 'Thank the gods I'm nothing like you.' The Virginia duo stood calmly, almost as if they were uninterested in the former Odd Future member dancing crazily, each time they were seen in the video. Bron and Mav, however, got some light dance moves off and did their unique handshake in their subsequent appearances. Watch the full video above. 'Stop Playing With Me' is the midway point of Tyler's newest album, Don't Tap The Glass. The 10-track LP has no listed features, though 'Big Poe' features vocals from Pharrell and a sample of Busta Rhymes' chorus on 'Pass The Courvoisier.' Daisy World also appears on 'Don't You Worry Baby.' Glass marks the Grammy winner's ninth studio album, and second in under a year following Chromakopia from October 2024. It is also his second consecutive album to come out on a Monday morning. In promoting the LP, Tyler tweeted 'yall better get them expectations and hopes down this aint no concept nothing' on Sunday (July 20). He also wrote that it was 'made for body movement.' Listen above and see for yourself. More from Pusha T Crowns Tyler, The Creator As The Biggest Clipse Super Fan He's Ever Met Skepta Challenges A$AP Rocky To Rap Battle In U.K. Versus U.S.A. Hip-Hop Clash Doechii And Tyler, The Creator Preview New Song Produced By Pharrell At Louis Vuitton Paris Show Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Outside Lands headliner releases surprise album weeks before festival
Outside Lands attendees may be some of the first to hear Tyler, the Creator 's newest album live. The Southern California rapper released his 10-track 'Don't Tap the Glass' on Monday, July 21, just weeks before he is set to headline the San Francisco festival at Golden Gate Park on Aug. 9, the second night of the three-day event. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, the project marks Tyler, the Creator's ninth studio album. It features Pharrell Williams on opening track 'Big Poe,' and includes samples of Oakland rapper Too Short 's 'Dope Fiend Beat,' Busta Rhymes ' 'Pass the Courvoisier Part II' and Michael Jackson 's 'Off the Wall.' 'This album was not made for sitting still,' the 'Sticky' rapper posted to Instagram on Monday morning. 'Dancing driving running any type of movement is recommended to maybe understand the spirit of it.' Following the album's release, Tyler, the Creator dropped a music video for the track 'Stop Playing With Me,' which featured cameos by Los Angeles Lakers power forward LeBron James, his business associate Maverick Carter and Clipse, the hip-hop duo composed of rapper Pusha T and his brother Malice. Tyler, the Creator — born Tyler Gregory Okonma — began teasing a Monday announcement on social media last week. While many fans were unsure of what the surprise could be, he updated his streetwear brand Golf Wang 's website on Friday, July 18, to include vinyls, T-shirts and other 'Don't Tap the Glass' merchandise. He also mentioned the title of the album onstage during a concert in Brooklyn that night. His headlining slot at the festival, which runs Aug. 8-10, comes in the middle of his 'Chromakopia' tour, which stopped in Oakland on Feb. 24 and San Francisco on March 5. Though he's been performing tracks off that record, fans are hopeful the rapper will debut some of his newer tracks during his upcoming shows. Tyler, the Creator was initially scheduled to perform at Outside Lands last year, but dropped out at the last minute and was replaced by 'Espresso' singer Sabrina Carpenter.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tyler, The Creator unveils new album 'Don't Tap the Glass'
On Monday, Tyler, The Creator released his new album titled 'Don't Tap the Glass'. On Monday, Tyler, The Creator released his new album titled 'Don't Tap the Glass'. The rapper's ninth record contains 10 tracks with titles including "Big Poe," "Sucka Free," "Stop Playing With Me" and "Don't Tap That Glass/Tweakin,'" and clocks in at 28 minutes and 30 seconds. Opening track "Big Poe" appears to feature Pharrell Williams in addition to sampling Busta Rhymes' 2001 track "Pass the Courvoisier Part II," which featured Williams and Diddy, as per Variety. Tyler announced the album on Friday night with the launch of merch on his Golf Wang website. He also shouted out the album title while addressing the crowd in New York City, and fans took note that an instillation both inside and outside the venue featured a depiction of the rapper from the album cover with the title emblazoned on the encasement. "Don't Tap the Glass" follows last year's "Chromakopia," which similarly arrived without a long rollout. The record, which dropped in October just two weeks after its announcement, featured guest appearances from Doechii, Childish Gambino and Lil Wayne , and was accompanied by a "Chromakopia" tour that's currently making its way around the globe.
Pink Villa
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Don't Tap the Glass: Tyler, the Creator Drops 9th Studio Album, All We Know About Rapper's New Music
Tyler, the Creator dropped his ninth studio album. The rapper released his new music on Monday, giving his fans 10 new tracks to vibe on. The rapper had announced the album on Friday night, alongside the launch of his merch, on the Golfwang website. The artist also shouted out the title of his album, Don't Tap the Glass. As the audience cheered on, they also noticed that the installations on both the inside and the outside of the venue had the pose of the rapper from his new album. As for the new bunch of songs released by the artist, he has collaborated with Pharrell Williams and Diddy. Prior to the album announcement, the rapper also teased the tracks on his social media for over a week. Everything about Tyler, the Creator's new album Don't Tap the Glass contains 10 songs, with some having titles such as Big Poe, Sucka Free, Stop Playing With Me and Don't Tap That Glass/Tweakin. The album clocks in at 28 minutes 30 seconds. The album is a follow-up to last year's Chromakopia, which was also released by the rapper without any long promotions. Moreover, the artist had also been hinting at the easter eggs for his new album, ahead of the release. At the Brooklyn concert, the camera panned at a crate of records as Tyler sorted them. But it wasn't until the artist released his new songs that the fans realized the new album record was in there. Meanwhile, the listeners of the album will get to hear the vocals of Williams in the opening song itself, which is titled Big Poe. Moreover, Diddy collaborated with the rapper on the track that is named Pass the Courvoisier Part II. On the professional front, apart from releasing the album, Tyler wrapped up his New York leg of the World Tour. The rapper is headed to Japan, South Korea, and Thailand next. Don't Tap the Glass is available to stream on multiple audio platforms.
