“I’m gon’ make it out, promise I’m gon’ make it out mama, I’m gon’ make it out”
The Album Chromakopia was created by American rapper and songwriter, Tyler, The Creator also known as Tyler Okonma.
This is Okonmas’ Eighth studio album, it was released on Oct. 28, 2024. Chromakopia’s track list consists of 14 songs, each telling a different story of his life. Okonma addresses issues he’s experienced like the fears of fatherhood, discussing the impact of materialism, and sharing his battles with maturity. The album features many famous rappers and singers such as Daniel Caesar, Teezo Touchdown, Glorilla, Sexxy Red, Lil Wayne, LaToiya Williams, Santigold, ScHoolboy Q, Lola Young, and Doechii.
The first track in the album is titled St. Chroma (ft. Daniel Caesar) released on Oct. 16 of this year. It starts Chromakopia introducing the masked character Saint Chroma who is shown on the album cover. Chroma represents the free side of Okonma, mentally and in his music. The topic of light is mentioned repetitively from start to end, later described as a fire. “You are the light, it’s not on you it’s in you. Don’t you ever, in your life, dim your light for no one,” said Bonita Smith in the song’s introduction.
The second track in the album is titled Rah Tah Tah, which was teased on Oct. 22 of this year for Okonmas’ vinyl promotion video. This Track is chaotic and features Okonmas’ aggressive rap style, which is seen most in his earlier album. Okonma talks about his earlier life, mentioning Celebrities such as Lionel Boyce and Odd Future, along with a memory from his childhood.
The album’s third track, Noid, is short for paranoid and was released on Oct. 21 of this year. Noid is Chromakopia’s commercial single, as it was the first and (as far as Nov. 26) the only song with a music video. In the music video, Saint Chroma is highly paranoid, constantly feeling like he is being watched and people are following him. The track consists of two parts, which start in a frantic state and then slow down.
The fourth track on the album is titled Darling, I (ft. Teezo Touchdown). The song reflects Okonmas’ love, self-awareness, and overall freedom but also shows his emotion about commitment. Teezo Touchdown’s verse goes in depth to back up Okonmas’ struggles. Overall, the track is about self-acceptance and honesty in relationships.
The fifth track in the album is titled Hey Jane. Hey Jane is in letter format from Okonma to his partner. Every verse builds their mixed emotions and fear of responsibility for an unexpected pregnancy. Okonma shares his raw lyrics to show a loving couple who was caught between love, fear, and anxiety, revealing how they both faced changes in their ways.
The sixth track in the album is titled I Killed You. This track centers on cultural identity and captures the struggles of self-identity and making others happy. It shares the complicated relationship black people have with their hair, as we are in a generation where everyone dislikes natural styles. This causes many people to cut it off or to “kill” their hair.
The seventh track in the album is titled Judge Judy. This track shares a story on Okonma and how he likes this girl, they start talking and have fun–until she stops communicating with him. As the track proceeds, she writes a letter for Okonma sharing she was struggling with cancer and is about to pass away.
The eighth track in the album is titled Sticky (ft. Sexxy Red, Glorilla, and Lil Wayne). This track is a fun song about just being themselves, embracing their true selves, and their success. Many verses are about taking on haters and showing off their accomplishments. Every creator’s features show off their bold and creative styles.
The ninth track in the album is titled Take Your Mask Off (ft. Daniel Caesar, and LaToiya Williams). It’s about exposing the mask that people often wear to hide their true selves, thoughts, and feelings. Okonma talks about “thugs” not wanting to be one anymore but wanting to fit in and hiding their sexual identity from a preacher of a church. Okonma then ends the track talking about a single mom who is exhausted from everything she does, turning to him and “taking her mask off”–talking about her issues.
The tenth track in the album is titled Tomorrow. It’s a very gloomy and tender track, Okonma sings in a high key for most of the track. He talks about topics of starting his own family and just ending his whole music career for his family. The intro is a voice note of Okonmas mother talking about how she wants a grandchild from him, which sets the mood for the whole song.
The eleventh track in the album is titled Thought I Was Dead (ft. ScHoolboy Q, and Santigold). This track was the third and final teaser of this album. This track shares Okonmas mentality and how he honestly feels about the people deeply interested in hip-hop and trying to put himself above that.
The twelfth track in the album is titled Like Him (ft. Lola Young). Okonma shares the complicated emotions he feels due to his father’s absence. He reflects on resembling a man he barely knows, psychically and emotionally. Okonma often asks “Do I look like him,” worried he could end up like his father.
The thirteenth track in the album is titled Ballon (ft. Doechii). This track is about reflecting on self-success, ambitions, and unique perspectives on life. Okonma compliments his work ethic and desires his options by expressing his dislikes for things like a lack of toughness, character, and depth.
The fourteenth track in the album is titled I hope you find your way home. This track goes more in depth on the fifth track Hey Jane and his feelings towards having a kid and how he feels he isn’t ready out of pure fear. Overall sharing an angry but upsetting feeling on the topic. In the outro of the track his mom quotes, “I’m proud of you, bro Like, you just never cease to amaze me, like, you just— There are no words right now how I feel”
