By Michelle Bahhady, Class of ’24 — Correspondent
How would you define hip-hop/rap? What creates the limit to a specific musical genre? Is it the samples, the lyrics, the structure, the rapping, or rather, delivery of lyrics? In his release of his sixth studio album evoking the cycle of unrequited love, titled IGOR, Tyler Gregory Okonma, more commonly known as Tyler, the Creator, offers a response to his listeners: no right or wrong answers exist.
IGOR received a recognition tsunami after its release in May of 2019, winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in the following year. The once troubled, controversial artist sparked a major turning point in his musical career following the release of Grammy nominee Flower Boy back in 2017 – a completely foreign sound to those who followed him pre-2017. From his immense backlash due to his violent lyrics in his earlier albums to receiving not one, but two Grammy Awards for his works, Tyler has established his creative and artistic roots in today’s musical empire. Now of course, between his platinum blonde wig and slightly out of tune voice, IGOR may not be for everyone – in fact, I had to listen to the album at least three times before I was hooked – but bear with me. IGOR pulls into its unsettling behavior right from the get go with an abrupt yet encapsulating, almost crunchy sounding synth bass carrying the weight of the album from its introductory “Igor’s Theme” all the way to cycle-ending “Are We Still Friends?” – ending the cycle, but not breaking it. Like a controlled storm, Tyler meticulously uses synths throughout IGOR to establish a funky, hip/hop hybrid without making every song sound the same. It’s almost like the process of painting – as a painter myself, I love using specific, vibrant violets and blues in minimal amounts to give certain areas a little oomph. And Tyler does just that, accompanied with drums that fit like a puzzle piece into this intro. I’m aware I sound extremely biased right now (which is probably true), but if I had to rank intro songs of all albums found under the same genre, with no doubt, “IGOR’S THEME” would be number one. And no, that is not an exaggeration. Argue with the wall. Like many other first time listeners, I was caught completely off guard at any transition between each song – or rather, the lack of smooth transitions. Abruptness is often critiqued in the music industry due to its weird, off-putting properties – so why has IGOR, an album infested with this suddenness, gotten so much attention? Apart from almost possessive story-telling done by starring character Igor (who will never be caught without his funky suits, loafers, and of course, the wig), Tyler’s success also comes from his pure mastery in music production. Forty minutes, though seemingly short, is ample time for the display of his artistry. As someone with a short attention span, I find forty minutes to be the perfect length for this album specifically. Not too long to the point of boredom, yet not too short. Following his powerful intro comes “Earfquake,” a dazzling masterpiece layered with IGOR’s signature foundation, melodic, almost organic-sounding piano chords which are also echoed in the closing piano solo of “I THINK”, and with Blood Orange’s balmy chorus, Charlie Wilson’s jazzy vocals (which add a nice 70s feel may I add), plus a featured verse by rapper Playboi Carti. We see beginning signs of unrequited love in IGOR through somber lyrics detailing “Don’t leave/It’s my fault” masked by dazzling discos. With each layer, anyone can tell that every overlay, every aspect, every single sound in the song has been molded meticulously to form this sculpted masterpiece. As I’m listening to “EARFQUAKE” and writing this, I am actively using any willpower I have left in my body to not bust a move and purposely belt the lyrics in an off-key tune. It is dead silent in here, and I cannot handle the embarrassment. But oh, am I willing to sacrifice my dignity for this song.
Much like his use of synth, Tyler, the Creator’s harmonic piano riffs enter in scattering variations: solos, background chords, and even melodies. They make an appearance in both “I THINK”, where Tyler begins to confess his love, and “A BOY IS A GUN*”; a resentful Igor lamenting over unreciprocated love. But differences between these two equally masterful works go beyond the obvious deviation of their storylines. “I THINK”, much like its preceding track, has an upbeat disco percussion coupled with four chords that resonate throughout the song, pulling anyone in starting from its initial four counts – another track that I would willingly sacrifice my dignity for. Solange’s beautiful vocals flutter perfectly with Tyler’s deep, confronting ballads – paving the way to a leggiero piano dancing with freely played arpeggios. Moving through IGOR’s story, the piano makes a comeback in the subsequent track to the highly acclaimed “NEW MAGIC WAND.” With differing perspectives, solemn triads chime with aggression masked heartbreak, fueling Igor’s confusion. “A BOY IS A GUN” revolves around the metaphor that Tyler likes his love interest – like a gun – to be by his side. However, toxicity portrays itself through this relationship in the lyrics “Keep me safe/Wait, wait, depending on, you know/You could be dangerous to me.” From both a musical standpoint and simply a listener, this song is undoubtedly one of the most gut wrenching works I’ve listened to not because of its sorrowful lyrics, but rather their unease delivery. Using a sample from “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One – also used in Kanye West’s “Bound 2” – Tyler conveys every thought and feeling rushing in a storm of heartbreak. I could honestly write paragraphs upon paragraphs about how much I love this song. Chills flew down my spine when I first listened, which explains my five star rating on this sparkling gem of an album.
My only negative feeling towards IGOR is the fact that I will never get to listen for the first time again. In sampling the flavorful plethora found in every track, I questioned what also sparked amongst many fans’ minds: why do the words hip/hop and rap reveal themselves as IGOR’s genre? Tyler himself tweeted minutes before its release for listeners to not expect a rap album. To not expect any album. To “just go, just jump in.” Those words alone define music: use imagination, experiment, create. So, for any new listeners – or creators – looking for inspiration, use only those words as a guide for yourself.