Nowadays, Tyler, the Creator, is a well-known name in the music industry, especially with his newest album Chromakopia. But how did he rise to such fame?
Tyler Okonma was born on March 6, 1991, in Hawthorne, California. His pride in being California-based is depicted in multiple songs, particularly in his new single “That Guy,” a freestyle over Kendrick Lamar’s “Hey Now.” The music video was filmed in the local area, with lyrics such as, “I’m a Hawthorne baby, [] is not warm, baby.”
Ever since he was a child, Tyler has been interested in music. When he was seven, he began taking the covers out of CDs and creating his own artwork, tracklists, and covers for imaginary albums. At 14, his mother bought him a keyboard, and he taught himself how to play. As a child, he moved schools frequently, attending 12 different schools in his 12 years of education, all in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Despite his interest in music, he wasn’t allowed to join band classes due to his inability to read music. He was also rejected from many drama classes because he was too restless and hyper. Nevertheless, he pursued his passion for music, partially motivated by his mother. However, Tyler himself believes that the reason he entered the rap industry was due to his absent father. In an interview with Larry King, he was asked if he was angry with his father for leaving when he was younger. Tyler responded, “Nah, dude, I’m stoked. I think if I had a dad, I would’ve gone the normal college route like a lot of other people.”
Songs such as “Answer” and “Like Him” also explore his feelings about his father. “Answer” reflects themes of resentment, while his more recent song “Like Him” shows forgiveness and acceptance. In another vinyl-exclusive song, he says, “Father told me nothin’, [] it. I understand as a man that I wasn’t his plan, had some other ideas in his head. I hold no grudges, I heard he’s a fan.” Whether driven by his mother’s support or his father’s absence, Okonma’s life has always revolved around his passion for music, evolving from a troubled teenager to one of the biggest names in the music industry today.
Tyler, the Creator released his first album on December 25, 2009. At the time, he was relatively unknown. He was truly propelled into fame in 2011 when he received an MTV award for Best New Artist. On the topic of achievements, Okonma has won 2 Grammys, 2 BET Awards, 1 Brit Award, and 1 MTV Award. He won Best Rap Album twice—once in 2020 for Igor, and again in 2022 for Call Me If You Get Lost. Today, he and his fans eagerly await the inevitable awards he’ll receive for his recent album Chromakopia.
While Okonma has a very successful career in the music industry, his popularity extends into fashion as well. He has two fashion brands: GOLF le Fleur* and Golf Wang. Le Fleur is his designer brand, while Golf Wang is a more affordable line. He sells an incredibly varied range of products. Le Fleur offers fragrances, clothing, eyewear, accessories, luggage, nail polish, footwear, and even home products like bedding. Golf Wang, on the other hand, is more clothing-focused, also featuring NFL merchandise. When he’s not focusing on music, he spends time designing clothing for both brands. Describing his unique style can be difficult. Most of his apparel consists of sophisticated leather garments, elaborate gold jewelry, and personalized suits, but he also experiments with streetwear-inspired looks.
If this article has piqued your interest, you may want to give his music a listen. But where should you start? Okonma has a wide variety of music, ranging from rap to a more melodic hip-hop style. His most famous album is Igor, and for good reason. The album features popular tracks like “Earfquake” and “New Magic Wand.” However, his latest album Chromakopia is on track to becoming his biggest hit. It features his current top-trending song, “Like Him.” While his popular music is fantastic, he also has many underground gems. If you’re planning to dive into his discography, fans recommend starting with songs like “IFHY” from Wolf, “Sweet/I Thought You Wanted to Dance” from Call Me If You Get Lost, and “Are We Still Friends?” from Igor.
Overall, Okonma has an expansive range of music and a dynamic personality. Whether you’re drawn to his upbringing, music, or fashion ventures, there’s something in his character for everyone. If you haven’t yet explored his world, now is a great time to start.