On Friday, May 17, 28 year old rapper Tyler, the Creator dropped his fifth studio album, IGOR. It is hard to say that this is purely a rap album, as it is extremely unique and experimental. Every song in the album was written, produced, and arranged by Tyler, the Creator.

The album features many big-name artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Solange, Cee Lo Green, Charlie Wilson, and more.

The first song, titled “IGOR’S THEME,” introduces the listener to the unique album with heavy synths and intriguing piano melodies. Lil Uzi Vert contributes to the song by singing without any autotune, which is rare for him and took many fans by surprise.

The second song, “EARFQUAKE”, seems to be the most popular from the album. It is an upbeat, happy song that features a catchy chorus and heartfelt lyrics. The memorable verse from Playboi Carti is the highlight of the song.

As the album progresses, many different styles and sounds are introduced. “NEW MAGIC WAND” includes intense, distorted bass, while “A BOY IS A GUN” is a more chill song, with samples and piano filling the beat.

Although it is categorized as a Hip Hop/Rap album, a lot of the songs have a pop vibe, “WHAT’S GOOD” being one of the only songs where Tyler raps like his old self. Nonetheless, the album has a distinctive sound that I thoroughly enjoyed.

It would be hard to predict from his first albums that Tyler, the Creator would be making this kind of music now. His old albums such as Goblin and Wolf consisted of aggressive rap songs that often contained vulgar language and controversial topics. His last two albums, Flower Boy and the brand new IGOR, are much more experimental, and his lyrics and tone are more optimistic. Tyler, The Creator’s new style has paid off for him as IGOR has been named the number one album in the country, this being his first number one.

I would definitely recommend giving IGOR a listen, as it may be one of the best albums of 2019. While listening, Tyler, the Creator stated that he wants people to be fully focused on the album, and listen to each song in order, all the way through.

Tyler has grown immensely these past few years, and only time will tell how his music and style will evolve in the future.