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USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ranking Tyler, the Creator's 9 albums, including Don't Tap the Glass
With Monday's surprise release of Don't Tap the Glass, rapper Tyler, the Creator kept his unreal album run alive with a pulse-pounding club album meant to stupid-dance along to with all your friends. Tyler Okonma came up with the groundbreaking Odd Future music collective that boasted supreme talents like Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, Casey Veggies and Jasper Dolphin, among many other standouts. His career stared out with so much promise, but also... so many trigger warnings. His early music needs the context of when it was created, as some of its lyrics welcome any problematic -isms you'd like to apply. Tyler's early career established him as one of rap's unafraid shock jocks, and he courted plenty of controversy for some of his most upsetting lyrical content. However, around 2015, Okonma started to shed his more aggressive tendencies, and his music richened and richened as he shared more and more of his heart. To listen to the early material is to understand it's not the artist he is now. He's grown up and then some. However, Tyler never lost his edge, far from it. His rapping got progressively better as he ditched the shock-and-awe of his earlier material without abandoning the promise of his best early bars. In 2025, Okonma stands tall as one of the most creative, dynamic musicians of his generation. His transformation has been genuinely thrilling to follow, as the Goblin turned into a Flower Boy right before our very eyes. His genius and soul shine through everything he does now. As we all hit the dance floor and go wild for Tyler, the Creator's latest, let's rank his nine albums so far as to how they all stack up with each other. Very NSFW language to follow. 9. Bastard Okonma considers Bastard an album, so we'll include it. The album is a difficult balance of Tyler's radiant potential and his jaw-dropping offensiveness. Some of the most aggressive lyrics pour out of Bastard like sour milk on a hot sidewalk, replete with objectively grotesque imagery from a bewilderingly disturbed anti-protagonist. If you accept depiction does not equal endorsement as much as it represents a horrifying fever dream of, as Pitchfork described, "shock art." There's an innocence even still hidden in the crevices, one of an artist still finding his legs and not even past the first chapter of a much more enriching career trajectory. It's his weakest album by default, but "Pigs Fly" is a decent teaser for the artist Okonma evolves into... eventually. Yes, Bastard, like Goblin and Wolf, requires content advisories aplenty and a generous read on the most vile bars Tyler packs within, but like those other two early projects, you can at least map out Okonma's strengths. 8. Goblin Okonma told GQ back in 2018 that he regards Goblin as "horrible," which might be a bit harsh on his breakthrough album that established him as the rap game's unapologetic prankster-provocateur. "Yonkers" is the best distillation of his early Eminem-style shock jabs mixed with his growly, haunting flow. Goblin, for better or worse, confirmed Okonma's place as one of the genuine early stars of the 2010s. When Kendrick Lamar called Okonma out on his seminal "Control" verse on the list of the rappers wished to obliterate in 2013, it confirmed the hype for Odd Future's impish wonder was real and formidable. Goblin felt like an arsenic-laced screed from the depth of Hell with brass-knuckle verve on the delivery, one Okonma would soon scribble all over and reframe with class with his later, better albums. Sure, you might leave Goblin horribly offended, but it's hard not to still Okonma's grit on the mic. He belonged. However, "She," his Frank Ocean collaboration, hinted to the more sensitive side of Okonma's persona that would soon explode in vibrant color. 7. Wolf Released at the height of Adult Swim's prank-sensation Loiter Squad, Wolf is the grand finale for Okonma's edgelord fury and probably a crucial text to how The Lonely Island spoofed him in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping with Chris Redd's Hunter the Hungry. Okonma embraced more vibrancy in the production with Wolf, with "Tamale" a great example of him mixing his patented mock-mischief with a ranger of a beat. Wolf also finds Okonma finally looking inwardly in ways that would soon define him as an artist. "Colossus" finds Tyler grappling with his fame as some of his fans approach him at Six Flags for a selfie when he just wants to ride a roller coaster and buy a churro. It's Okonma's spiky answer to Eminem's "Stan," and it's a stunner in writing and delivery in how fandom evolved in 2010s from the eyes of someone getting more recognized than ever. All these years later, Wolf plays like the final frontier for an artist yet to discover his brilliant second gear. It's still a compelling rap album with some insane highs, but it's also inherently flawed in the way Tyler's early work was. However, even if some of the lyrics haven't aged well, it's a testament to talent that it's still pretty dang good. 6. Don't Tap the Glass Less than a year after dropping the stone-cold masterpiece that was Chromakopia, Okonma didn't owe the world a Four Loko-fueled banger of a rap-house album. However, Don't Tap the Glass only comes from an artist at the absolute peak of their power. Okonma wrote that he wanted the album to help people loosen up a bit in a culture where we hold ourselves back from having fun at risk of being judged. Don't Tap the Glass isn't meant to be dissected as much as it's meant to be danced to, and the production is as free and innovative as Okonma has been in his career so far without sacrificing his sonic hallmarks. If you want to hear Tyler spit, "Don't Tap That Glass / Tweakin'" and "Stop Playing with Me" scratch the itch. If you just want to vibe to Tyler in roller rink-mode, "Ring Ring Ring" and "Don't You Worry Baby" take care of that. Sure, it's not one of his best albums by his lofty standards, but it's a sun-kissed, high-living joy ride with disco-ball dopamine flow. 5. Call Me If You Get Lost This might be controversial, as Call Me If You Get Lost remains one of the defining rap albums of the decade. A brisk victory lap after 2019's Igor, with DJ Drama guiding us through an eclectic gallery of Tyler rapping over some of the best beats of his career and a murder's row of guest verses at his disposal. The way Call Me If You Get Lost moves stands as some of the most staggering pacing of Okonma's discography. In an era where most artists are ditching the art of the album in favor of song-stuffed streaming buffets, Tyler gave us his most concise and arguably the most confident album of his career so far. He'd softened significantly since the Goblin days, yes, but remained sharp as ever. Tyler, we needed you, and you turned the noise up. This album is a magnificent jaunt for an artist at the height of his powers. 4. Cherry Bomb Cherry Bomb gets better and better as time goes on. The artist Tyler, the Creator is today finally clicked into place with Cherry Bomb, an electric pounding heart-engine with guitar riffs, Charlie Wilson crooning over one of Okonma's best songs in his catalog and an irresistible buoyancy of an artist finally ready to come into his own. Sure, Flower Boy was the official declaration of Okonma's completed metamorphosis, but Cherry Bomb took us into the kitchen and let us watch Tyler cook his new persona up with explosive risks and unrelenting passion. It's supremely underrated as what it portends for Okonma's career, and it's got some of his most exciting creative choices. It's more experimental than Flower Boy, and he's still dusting off a wee bit of the cringe from the Wolf trilogy days. However, Cherry Bomb remains a tube of Mentos in a Diet Coke liter. It's a jubilant mess of unbridled energy, an apocalyptic rager of an artist in free-falling, truly fearless reinvention. 3. Flower Boy Flower Boy is the arrival. It's arguably one of the most consequential albums for modern hip-hop, and the fully fleshed transformation of Tyler, the Creator from talented troll to whimsical, lovestruck rap auteur. Okonma breaks his heart wide open for an intensely personal album about self-discovery and the romance intertwined. Some of the songs on Flower Boy play as revelatory for the artist Tyler was a few discs prior, tender to the ears and warming to the soul. The lighter tough unquestionably made him a better rapper, too, with "I Ain't Got Time!" and "Who Dat Boy" blistering examples of laser-focused delivery and jolt-force lyricism. If you got used to the brash Tyler, the Creator, Flower Boy hit with the kind of grounded shock that lasts. It's an album that grows on you the more you listen to it. Okonma blossoms into the artist he was meant to be with Flower Boy, completely unencumbered with his rusted switchblade angst. It's an act of artistic elevation, for him and us. 2. Chromakopia Chromakopia is one of the best albums of the 2020s. Here, Tyler is in full command of his new self and fully prepared to dole out his earned wisdom while also popping our ear holes with sucker-punch rap classics. "Noid" stands as the album's statement track, one where Okonma deals with the unending stardom that has followed him since his music became fully accessible. It's a gripping dive into the universal psychosis of the outside world looking in on the chosen few. The astounding track works perfectly as a spine-chilling anthem for that funny feeling many of us had in late 2024, that "Goodfellas Henry Hill watching the helicopters" paranoia of a new age creeping up right behind us with and without waring. Tyler taking a pulse check of his newfound acclaim gave us one of his most singularly riveting works to date, one full of empathy and bravado. Features from Schoolboy Q, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne and particularly Doechii add even more life to what may well be Okonma's most balanced album between his joyous surge rapping and his soulful ballads. It's a special album that crash landed to Earth during such an uneasy time, meeting the moment with unreal might. 1. Igor If Flower Boy was Tyler, the Creator breaking his heart open, Igor is him fully giving it to his audience for good... even if we just wind up being friends. Igor is an unbelievable mode shift for Okonma, a bare-soul love letter to "the one" that ends in friend-zone tragedy. "Earfquake" is Tyler's masterpiece, a bold declaration of affection as deep as the Grand Canyon and as moving as a rushing river after a hard rain. Charlie Wilson's backing vocals will give you goosebumps, as will the fact that Tyler can take your whole breath away with a song with exactly no rapping. The song is even more remarkable when you consider where we started with Okonma, as the vulnerability to plead with his beloved to the world not to leave him would've been unheard of a decade prior when Bastard hit Odd Future's Tumblr profile. This is Tyler's "Channel Orange," and it's just as extraordinary. By the end of it, you're emotionally spent and thoroughly stunned. It's a perfect album.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lee Dong Wook takes on a gangster role in ‘Nice Guy'; says fantasy felt 'exhausting'
Actor Lee Dong Wook has found major fame in the industry through doing fantasy-related roles. However, he has now opted for a romantic and dramatic story to make his comeback to the small screen. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The star recently revealed all about his upcoming role, from what pulled him to it to how he prepared for it. Why Lee Dong Wook opted for 'Nice Guy' The upcoming Korean drama ' Nice Guy ' is about a gangster and his first love, a departure from the actor's past few years of work. In a report from Xports News, the 'Goblin' actor revealed that he is aware of the fact that this is a step away from the fantasy genre that has garnered him a lot of fan following. He shared that the script brought him back to 'reality'. He continued, stating that with the Korean drama's script, 'it felt like my feet were finally back on the ground. I wanted to act out something realistic'. While talking about making the decision to shift from fantasy to noir and drama as a genre, the actor revealed how exhausting the unrealistic genre felt. 'It was exhausting to constantly create a new world view, to fly through the sky on wires, or to become an uncle from another realm', his statement read. He also emphasised on the fact that this new role also allowed him to relax, as it did not feel like he had to prepare anything extra. He shared that prepping and shooting in ' Nice Guy' felt like 'everyday acting'. About 'Nice Guy' 'Nice Guy' is an upcoming drama that is set to air on July 18 this month. The drama will feature 14 episodes and will tell the story of a third-generation gangster alongside his first love, whose main goal in life is to become a singer. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lee Dong Wook will be taking on the lead role in the story alongside actress Lee Sung Kyung as the female lead. Kyung has featured in a lot of major roles such as 'The Player 2: Master of Swindlers', 'Record of Youth', 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo ', and 'Cheese in the Trap'. Other cast members include, but are not limited to, Park Hoon , Ryu Hae Young, Oh Na Ra and Cheon Ho Jin.
Pink Villa
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lee Dong Wook finds fantasy ‘exhausting' despite Goblin and Tale of the Nine Tailed fame, here's why he chose The Nice Guy
Lee Dong Wook is leaving behind the supernatural for something far more down to earth. At a press conference held on July 14, the actor opened up about his decision to lead the new noir drama The Nice Guy. This project marks a sharp departure from the fantasy-heavy roles that have defined much of his recent career. Lee was joined by director Song Hae Sung and co-stars Lee Sung Kyung, Oh Nara, Park Hoon, and Ryu Hye Young. He spoke candidly about what drew him to this darker, more grounded story and why it was time for a change. Lee Dong Wook trades fantasy for realism in The Nice Guy Lee Dong Wook is known for his iconic roles in fantasy dramas like Goblin and Tale of the Nine-Tailed. He admitted that the genre, while creatively rich, had begun to wear him down. In his words, 'It was exhausting to constantly create a new world view, to fly through the sky on wires, or to become an uncle from another realm.' With The Nice Guy, he saw a chance to reset and to return to a character anchored in reality. 'When I read the script for The Nice Guy, it felt like my feet were finally back on the ground. I wanted to act out something realistic,' he said. Lee Dong Wook brings shades of his real self to The Nice Guy's role Lee revealed that he approached this role differently from his past characters. Unlike his fantasy projects that required intense preparation and physical training, The Nice Guy demanded something simpler: emotional honesty. 'I didn't prepare anything special for this role. It's more like everyday acting,' he explained. By peeling back the layers, Lee hopes to let audiences see more of his own personality shine through the role. It's something he hasn't always had the chance to do in his more theatrical past performances. About The Nice Guy In The Nice Guy, Lee plays Park Seok Cheol. He's the eldest grandson of a fearsome three-generation gangster family. On the surface, he's part of a criminal legacy. But underneath, he hides an unexpectedly sensitive soul. As the story unfolds, Seok Cheol is drawn into an emotional journey with Kang Mi Young (played by Lee Sung Kyung). She's a struggling singer and his first love. The noir-style drama brings grit and heart. It offers a nuanced look at family, loyalty, and the unexpected tenderness that can grow in even the harshest of worlds. The Nice Guy is scheduled to premiere on July 18, kicking off with two back-to-back episodes. The drama is expected to appeal to viewers looking for something more grounded, character-driven, and emotionally rich than the usual fantasy fare.
News18
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Goblin To Squid Game: 10 K-Dramas Everyone Should Watch At Least Once
Squid Game revolves around a secret contest where 456 players risk their lives to play a series of deadly games. There's no shortage of Korean dramas across a variety of genres. The endless options sometimes make it hard to decide what to watch. Whether you're a seasoned K-drama enthusiast or a newcomer exploring the genre, some shows have truly left a mark. So if you are free this weekend or catching up with a friend at home, this list is perfect for your K-drama binge. Mr. Queen Mr. Queen has to be Shin Hye-sun's best K-drama of all time. Based on the Chinese web series Go Princess Go, this period drama follows a chef who travels back to the Joseon era and finds himself waking up in Queen Cheorin's body. Mr. Queen has everything from heartfelt romance, comedy and action. Crash Landing On You This romantic comedy follows Yoon Se-ri, a successful South Korean businesswoman who is swept off course by a tornado while paragliding and crash-lands in North Korea. There, she is discovered by Ri Jeong-hyeok, a captain in the Korean People's Army, who decides to hide her and help her return home. What follows is a heartwarming story of love. Descendants Of The Sun This series tells a story of lovers who are drawn apart from each other due to the circumstances they find themselves in. Starring Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki, this drama attained wide acclaim for its emotional depth and chemistry between the lead characters. The Glory The Glory follows Song Hye-kyo's character, Moon Dong-eun, as she sets out on a gripping journey of revenge after enduring brutal bullying in high school. Each scene is packed with intensity, showcasing Dong-eun's unwavering resolve to bring her tormentors to justice. Queen Of Tears Queen of Tears perfectly explores the nuances of a married couple going through a rough patch. The drama delves into the themes of love, loss, redemption, and the complexities of family dynamics and social hierarchy. It uses contrasting colour palettes to represent the emotional state of the characters, emphasising the depth of the story. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha This slice-of-life K-drama follows a big-city dentist who moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman intent on helping his neighbours. The series explores their evolving relationship against the backdrop of a small-town community. This drama resonated with audiences globally and became one of the most-watched K-dramas on Netflix. Goblin Starring Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, this drama balances fantasy, romance, and comedy. Goblin tells the story of an immortal goblin cursed to live forever until he finds a human bride who can end his eternal life by removing a sword from his chest. Fight For My Way Fight For My Way beautifully explores the classic friends-to-lovers trope, following a former taekwondo champion and a spirited receptionist as they chase their dreams while navigating life's many hurdles. With a perfect blend of humour and heart, this K-drama takes viewers on the inspiring and emotional journey of Dong-man and Ae-ra's love story. Weak Hero A fan-favourite K-drama, Weak Hero follows a young studious man who refuses to back down from the bullies in his class and uses his intelligence to fight against them. From the fight scenes to heartwarming friendships, every little element in the show has been executed perfectly. Squid Game This thrilling K-drama has become a global sensation over the years. The drama revolves around a secret contest where 456 players risk their lives to play a series of deadly games for the chance to win a $39.86 million cash prize. This action-packed drama is undoubtedly one of the most relevant shows of our time. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
At TD Garden, a heart-pounding performance from Tyler, The Creator
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Themes of doubt, disquiet, and artistic dedication tumbled into one teeth-chattering rumble during the first of Okonma's two consecutive shows at TD Garden. The spectacle commenced to the march of 'St. Chroma,' which found Okonma decked in his dapper twist on military regalia, stomping on a main stage outfitted with storage container walls (not unlike the setup for last fall's local show, where he performed atop actual storage containers). Advertisement With Okonma's eighth and newest LP serving as the anchor of his current world tour, it's to be expected that the 'CHROMAKOPIA'-heavy first segment of the show was also the strongest. The first third of the set flexed Okonma's range as a performer, at times mechanically swiveling to the hip-hop jangle of a song like 'Rah Tah Tah,' or sitting down, storytime-style, to rehash an ill-fated relationship on 'Judge Judy.' Advertisement A catwalk that was lowered from the rafters served as the artist's own green-steel road to and from 'CHROMAKOPIA,' offering him a path to a B stage and a place to cast off his mask (to 'Take Your Mask Off,' naturally). On the secondary stage, he transitioned into older material that stretched back as far as his 2011 album 'Goblin,' sampling songs from his LPs 'IGOR' and 'CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST,' among others. Emphasis on 'sampling.' Okonma shortened many songs during his run-through of past records, even fan favorites like the irreverent 'Tamale' and neo-soul standout 'ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?' that the crowd was audibly ecstatic to hear. But the artist seemed to save his most urgent performances for the main stage, and he recrossed the catwalk to transform the last of his stamina into a few more show highlights: an a cappella rendition of 'Thought I Was Dead' and one final eruption via 'NEW MAGIC WAND.' His choice to stick the turbulent landing? 'I Hope You Find Your Way Home,' a softer (but no less vulnerable) finale that also closes 'CHROMAKOPIA.' Amidst the chaos, it felt just right to end the show with a blessing rather than a bang. TYLER, THE CREATOR With Lil Yachty and Paris Texas. At TD Garden, Tuesday.
