As if this summer hasn't been stacked enough for hip-hop, Tyler, The Creator has thrown another project into the mix. Despite being in the midst of the world tour for his previous album, CHROMOKOPIA, Tyler is back with new music.
On Friday (July 19,) Tyler made the announcement of his ninth studio album, DON'T TAP THE GLASS, with a release date set for July 21. With this, Tyler throws his name in an already stacked list of summer releases that includes names such as Clipse, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, JID, and Joey Bada$$.
Needless to say, this has been an amazing year for hip-hop, so it makes sense that Tyler would insert himself in the mix.
Almost instantly, social media began to come up with predictions of what the album would sound like or what the possible features could be. Going into the album, I went in with the expectation of a rap-heavy album similar to his 2021 release, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. However, upon first listen, I was incredibly mistaken.
A review of Tyler, The Creator's DON'T TAP THE GLASS - Did it live up to expectations?
In the very first track, "Big Poe," we are greeted with a message from Tyler, who sets some ground rules for anyone who may be listening. He encourages body movement, asking that no one sit still throughout the duration of their listening experience. I quickly realized that this wouldn't be much of a rap album, but more of a dance record.
With this album, Tyler takes a big risk by going beyond the limits of the hip-hop genre, perhaps further than he has before. DON'T TAP THE GLASS has elements of funk, house music, and even dirty south rap.
In a message posted to his Instagram, Tyler explained where the idea for the album came from, stating, "I asked some friends why they don't dance in public and some said because of the fear of being filmed." What came out of the conversation was the motivation to create a liberating experience in which the listener could feel free from judgment.
"This album was not made for sitting still. Dancing, driving, running, any type of movement is recommended to maybe understand the spirit of it." Tyler added. Without a doubt, the album achieves what it was set out to do. It's full of incredibly funky melodies that make you jump out of your seat.
Though deciding on my favorite tracks was a difficult task with this album, "Stop Playing With Me," "Ring Ring Ring," and "Don't You Worry Baby" were the tracks that stood out. "Ring Ring Ring" evokes a heavy disco groove, receiving comparisons to Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall." However, its sample is actually taken from Ray Parker Jr's "All in the Way You Get Down."
Even with its heavy dance influences, the album also feels like a tribute to early 2000s hip-hop. "Big Poe" features and is co-produced by Pharrell Williams. Williams' unmistakable flow, along with the sample from Busta Rhymes' “Pass the Courvoisier Part II,” gives the song a similar feel to that of a classic 2000s rap anthem.
The same can be said about "I'll Take Care of You," which takes a sample of Killa C and Princess' verses in the song, "Knuck If You Buck." The track feels like a tribute to the southern hip-hop subgenre, commonly referred to as Crunk, which dominated in that era.
In retrospect, this was not the album I initially wanted, but it was certainly the album that was needed at the moment. If there's one thing that I've learned about Tyler as a longtime fan, it's that he is not someone who follows industry expectations.
Deciding to drop the album at 6 am on a Monday, ignoring the Friday release schedule the music industry typically employs, is perhaps the biggest testament of that.
Throughout his discography, Tyler has constantly reinvented his sound, refusing to be put in a box. Despite not being what I wished for, the album has that perfect summer vibe, which makes it impossible not to enjoy. DON'T TAP THE GLASS is an outstanding project that truly shows Tyler's range.