Tyler the Creator has had one of the most interesting careers out of anyone in the Hip Hop world. He has had a profound effect on the sound, fashion, and overall culture of Hip Hop over the last 10 years. After popping off with solo hits like ‘Yonkers’ in the early 2010s, Tyler’s collaborative group, Odd Future, had major success with their music, clothing lines, and tv show Loiter Squad. Since the early 2010s, Tyler’s image and art have gotten progressively more mature and complex. In 2017, Tyler the Creator started to reach his potential in regard to music. This is when he released Flower Boy, an alternative Hip Hop record with elements of Jazz Rap and Neo-Soul music spread throughout the record. This project received critical acclaim and is considered by most music listeners to be one of the top albums released in 2017. Tyler followed up this effort with his 2019 album, IGOR, which is his most well-received record to date. This record earned Tyler a Grammy, and it was also his first album to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. IGOR also has alternative sounds, combining Hip Hop, Neo-Soul. Old school R&B, Pop, and Funk in a very eclectic and fun way. On June 25, 2021, Tyler the Creator released his 6th full-length album, Call Me If You Get Lost, which has also been received positive reviews and also went number one on the Billboard Top 100. With that all being said, here is my review of Tyler the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost. Please let me know in the comments below if you agree with this review and also let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from this album.
This record starts with the feeling of a late 2000s/early 2010s blog era mixtape. The whole album has an early 2010s mixtape era feel to it. Call Me When You Get Lost starts with a short and crisp into called ‘SIR BAUDELAIRE,’ which features DJ Drama. This track has a sporadic sounding jazz melody with no beat for an instrumental, with DJ Drama sprinkling classic mixtape era ad-libs and sound effects throughout the track. In ‘SIR BAUDELAIRE,’ Tyler introduces the character the album is about, Tyler Baudelaire, who is a rich young black man with an affinity for expensive things and who loves to be wild and have fun. Tyler’s rapping style on this song has a dark energy that reminds me of what he did early in his career. This is a very interesting and different way to start a rap record in 2021. The second song, ‘CORSO,’ continues with the Jazz Rap theme, adding a 90s feeling to the beat. This track has a sound that reminds me of early alternative Hardcore Hip Hop artists like The Pharcyde or A Tribe Called Quest. On ‘CORSO,’ Tyler is acknowledging how much influence and power he has accumulated over the years. He knows that people hang on his words and that he is a force in the Hip Hop and fashion industries: everything he says and does is pretty much a big deal at this point. Following this, we get ‘Lemonhead’ featuring 42 Dugg. This song has a very mean and foreboding tone to it; it is meant to bring up the energy level of the listener and does just that. For a two-minute song, it packs a hell of a punch. The instrumental for this one has an early 2000s feeling; the melody is so large and grand, and the beat reminds me of the early 2000s sparse drum patterns made by Pharrell. This is another song where Tyler(and 42 Dugg, for that matter) is flaunting how much money and power he has. Once again, Tyler wants the listeners to know who is in control. The next track, which is called ‘WUSYANAME’ and features Ty Dolla Sign and Youngboy NeverBrokeAgain, slows down the tempo and calms down the mood after how chaotic the start of the record was. On this track, Sir Baudelaire is indicating that he is in love with a woman he knows as bummed that she isn’t single. He is trying to prove to her he is better than her current partner and that she should leave this person for him. This song has a smooth and glamorous sounding R&B feeling to it that is very retro; the instrumental reminds me a lot of R&B and softer Hip Hop from the early 2000s. This song is a much-appreciated change up after the intense energy of the few songs that precede it.
Rolls Royce pull up, black boy hop out. Shoutout to my mother and my father, didn’t pull out. MSG sell out, fuck these niggas yap ’bout? Whips on whips, my ancestors got they backs out… – ‘LUMBERJACK’
‘LUMBERJACK’ was the only single released in anticipation of this record, having come out about a week before the album’s release. This song brings back the grimey and rowdy energy the first couple tracks on this record have. ‘LUMBERJACK’ is another song that has an instrumental which has a 90s Hardcore sound to it. This one, however, reminds me a lot more of the Wu-Tang Clan or Onyx than it does The Pharcyde or A Tribe Called Quest. On ‘LUMBERJACK,’ Tyler is addressing his haters, asserting that they will never be as rich or successful as him. It is yet another song where Tyler flaunts all the wealth he has accumulated, rubbing it in the face of everyone who doubted him. The next track, ‘HOT WIND BLOWS’ which features Lil Wayne, is a song that is very aptly named. This track has a Jazz Rap instrumental that makes me want to go on a summer drive on a hot night with the windows down. ‘HOT WIND BLOWS’ is a feel-good song where Tyler and Wayne talk about how lavish they live. It has a very carefree and fun feel, and it is a major highlight for me. The next song, ‘MASSA,’ is a song that reminds me of the music that Tyler the Creator got famous for making. The tone and instrumental of this track remind me a lot of songs like ‘Yonkers’ and ‘She.’ It has a dark energy that draws in the listener in a strange way. On this track, Tyler is talking about how he has beaten the racism and bigotry of society and how he wants to help others beat it too. He sees how hard it is for a black man to make it in America, and he wants to change that since he has the power to. ‘RUNITUP,’ featuring Teezo Touchdown, is a song with a sound that is a lot different from the rest of the record stands out. The instrumental for this one reminds me a lot of the “Gospel Trap” feel which is reminiscent of the kind of music Chance the Rapper made a few years ago. Tyler and Teezo glide over this instrumental, both of them sounding very regal and natural on this kind of production. ‘RUNITUP’ is a song about living life and spending all your money to have fun while you’re here. No one knows how long we have on this earth, so we may as well take advantage and do as many cool things as we can while it’s possible.
‘MANIFESTO,’ which features Domo Genesis, is a song that brings a strange and unique energy. The instrumental starts similarly to some of the other smooth Jazz Rap cuts on this record but quickly switches to more of a gritty and rough sound that has an underground Hip Hop feel to it. The second part of the instrumental sort of sounds like something El-P or Aesop Rock would rap on back in the day. On this track, Tyler and Domo are rapping about how grateful and happy they are to be very successful black men in America. They know that the odds have been stacked against them, and they want everyone to know that they beat the system in their ways. The next song is ‘SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,’ which includes Brent Faiyaz and Fana Hues. This is a 9-minute two-part track that sort of serves as an easy-going dance break. Both sections of the song have an old-school smooth and silky R&B sound to them. In the first half of this track, Tyler is once again expressing his love for the girl he just met. In the second half, Tyler is realizing she may not be into him in the same way as he is into her and he is lamenting this fact. Following this, we get ‘MOMMA TALK,’ which is a one-minute intermission where Tyler and his mom are speaking. Tyler’s mom mentions how she would do anything for her son, including fight with teachers and other authority figures he pissed off. Tyler has always known that no matter what he does, his mom has his back. ‘RISE!’ which features DAISY WORLD sees Tyler tackle yet another kind of music. This track has a New Jack Swing sound that reminds me of a lot of the upbeat R&B music from the late 1990s. This instrumental will make anyone want to dance and groove. On this track, Tyler is talking directly to his haters, telling them they will never make it to his level. He knows how much better and more talented he is than them and he wants them to know it.
Uh, say the money comin’ in, yeah, that’s true. The more money I get, I don’t wan’ sex you. Can’t think about the last time that I text you. It’s probably once I kicks out them belt loops. Sign my John Hancock on a bitch every time I check you. Just like a brand new Lamb’, I wreck you. So if it’s mine, it’s yours, woo, woo, woo… – ‘JUGGERNAUT’ feat. Pharrell Williams and Lil Uzi Vert
‘BLESSED’ is the second interlude on this record. In this interlude, Tyler expresses gratitude for how successful he has been throughout his career. He realizes that he is lucky to have gotten to the position he is at and is very excited to be living the life he is living. ‘JUGGERNAUT,’ featuring Pharrell Williams and Lil Uzi Vert, is probably my favorite song from this record, which is saying something. This song has an ultra-modern Trap beat that is so bass-heavy and dirty and punchy and in your face. This track just gives me so much energy. ‘JUGGERNAUT’ is a straight-up banger. On this track, all three artists are very braggadocious and aggressive. Tyler was in his bag as always, and both guest verses were my favorites out of all features on this album. Pharrell and Lil Uzi Vert both murdered this beat. The next track, ‘WILSHIRE,’ is eight and a half minute track that tells the story of a former relationship of Tyler’s. Over a funky and slow Jazz Rap instrumental that is sort of a cross between Psychedelic 90s Rap and the music from Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Tyler expresses how much he loved and misses this person while acknowledging that the relationship was far from perfect. Even though he wanted to push through and make it work, Tyler knows that it is better for him and his former partner to stay apart. The album closes out with the song ‘SAFARI,’ a bold and grandiose Jazz Rap track that has a very climactic feeling to it. On ‘SAFARI,’ Tyler speaks of all his wealth and accomplishments, once again informing us listeners there are levels to the game and we are not on his. After an album like this, ‘SAFARI’ is a perfect ending.
Tyler the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost has a Blog Era Mixtape feeling to it. The instrumentals are all over the place, ranging from super retro to ultra-modern, and almost every track has ad-libs from DJ Drama sprinkled in that make the songs sound like they were on a mixtape uploaded to DatPiff or HotNewHipHop back in the late 2000s or early 2010s. The energy of this album reflects the era from when Tyler was coming up as a rapper; it transports the listener back to a very unique era of the internet and in the Hip Hop genre. Every beat on this record is masterful and every vocal performance is great; Tyler knew exactly what he wanted to do with this one and accomplished it. On Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler proves that it’s his world and we are just living in it.
EAST SIDE VIBES 