Tyler, The Creator did it again. Continuing a midas touch streak of nearly a decade, CHROMAKOPIA landed him another #1 album placement (on our end, six of the album’s tracks sit in our top 50. One of them hit our Top 10!) It’s that unwavering winning streak that led to the cult following he now boasts, and less than a week after the LP’s release, he decided to give back to those dedicated fans. The rapper turned singer turned do-it-all artist began a limited, short-notice tour in Boston before hitting New York, a show we were lucky enough to attend. Here’s everything to know from that day’s festivities.
A Bare Bones Venue For Tyler, The Creator & BROOKLYN CHROMAKOPIA Show
While those who are long-time Tyler the Creator fans may know that this Brooklyn CHROMAKOPIA show was just the latest in a long line, we should take a moment to explicate that history. For IGOR, the California native announced a surprise show in London, expanding to a full slate of country-wide pop-up concerts in the wake of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. That said, while shows with little to no promo may have shocked new listeners, there were throngs of attendees eagerly awaiting the opportunity after the project’s release.
The peripherals for the venue were scant, more likely a victim of the short-notice nature of the show than an indication of an uncaring attitude from Tyler himself. A blow-up version of the artist, replete with emerald green formal wear and a bisected ‘fro, was essentially the only indication of what event you were at until you reached the rear of the pier. There, an identically verdant shipping container sat atop a barge, stamped with the CHROMOKOPIA title and true to the mini versions that’d gone up on his site in the lead-up to the project.
Piped-in pier SFX of seagulls and crashing waves melded with the Brooklyn Army Terminal’s natural sounds as the wait for Tyler drew on; each interspersed foghorn that came through the speakers drew increasingly loud pops from the crowd. At long last, the spoken word intro to “ST. CHROMA” erupted out of them, met shortly after by a fully CHROMAKOPIA-costumed Tyler, The Creator, jetting out to the Brooklyn crowd.
…A Performer Who Was Anything But
Even from the opening moments, it was clear — even on short notice, the multi-hyphenate wouldn’t eschew any of his trademark stage presence. He stomped in a Marine-like cadence, slowly arising from a mechanical lift before robotic choreo took over as he belted out the LP’s opener.
Though the pier may have lacked typical bells and whistles, it more than made up for in conceptual alignment with the CHROMAKOPIA experience. With the music video for “NOID” filmed on a concrete-laden airstrip, the militaristic chants echoing out over a similar venue felt oddly fitting.
All told, Tyler only ommited four songs from the 30-minute-and-change set, leaving “BALLOON,” “TOMORROW,” “JUDGE JUDY,” and “I KILLED YOU” on the cutting room floor. Of the ten remaining tracks, “DARLING, I” got arguably the most participation from the crowd. Teezo Touchdown’s tender chorus was one of the widest-known by the audience. “RAH TAH TAH,” brazen and brash with amped-up production, understandably got the biggest pop.
Tyler, The Creator Gets Personal For Brooklyn CHROMAKOPIA Show
After aptly removing his headwear following “TAKE YOUR MASK OFF,” Tyler finally broke to address the crowd, informed that this was a “flu game” performance by him, quite literally taking IVs earlier in the day. If the performance didn’t already live up to the sky-high expectations that Tyler sets up in his earnest touring efforts, his perseverance made it that much more impressive.
Additional highlights as the show drew on began with his delivery of “HEY JANE,” taking a seat on the edge of the container as he leaned into the confessional overtones that already dot the studio version. In similar fashion for a song with an opposite vibe, he ditched the instrumental entirely for “THOUGHT I WAS DEAD,” adopting a “do you believe this?” sort of demeanor as he conversationally recounted the boisterous lyrics for that one.
Things wrapped where the album does, with “I HOPE YOU FIND YOUR WAY HOME.” However, just before kicking off that number, he again pleaded his appreciation for those in attention, offering a rather candid reflection on his career. Among varied subjects, he noted he’s ultimately the most proud that his career has only further taken off as he has increasingly dedicated himself to artistic integrity. “Below all of this confidence… and what they call arrogance, I’m truly humbled,” he pledged, in the face of the audience that rode with him the whole way through.
High Marks For The Hip-Hop Icon
As genuinely one of the biggest stars in hip-hop, it may be hard to catch something like what Tyler, The Creator pulled off in Brooklyn for CHROMAKOPIA. Either a wait of multiple years for the next album cycle or sky-high ticket prices will be your barrier to entry. Yet, if you haven’t caught the jack-of-all-trades in person, believe the hype; his commitment to performing at the highest level is something best seen in person.
Catch CHROMAKOPIA wherever you stream your music.
For another live review, check out our coverage of Anna Shoemaker in NYC’s Lower East Side.
