The album overall sounds beautiful and contains some of Tyler’s best songwriting. On this record his growth as a producer, composer and arranger, is evident throughout. However, we still get the same cynicism and juvenilia that we often come to expect from Odd Future members. On Tyler’s second studio album, we begin to see Tyler mature as he pulls back the curtain and shows us the talented introvert that he truly is. On the mixtape’s 10th anniversary Tyler said in a note on Instagram “I had ideas, an unmeasurable amount of energy and wanted to piss off/get a reaction from anyone who had ears.” He added, “I was 18, although a lot of these songs were made when I was 16/17.”
Despite its controversial subject matter, Bastard was ranked 32nd on Pitchfork’s list of Top Albums of 2010. It’s here that we begin to see how powerful of a storyteller Tyler truly is, as many of the characters and tropes would be seen again in his later albums. The album has the same violent depictions of rape, sexual assault, and murder, but Tyler also talks about his absent father. TC, the low-pitched, demon voiced school therapist Tyler is sent to, and we listen in on their session as Tyler describes himself as “depressed”, “possessed”, and “satan’s son”. The opening title track sets up the tone for the rest of the record as we hear Tyler on the piano singing, “This is what the devil plays before he goes to sleep.” He introduces the character Dr. The album is chaotic and foul-mouthed and gives us a glimpse into Tyler’s dark genius. On Christmas day of 2009, Tyler dropped his first mixtape, Bastard, which he produced himself. The group was even banned from entering New Zealand to perform, who stated they were a “potential threat to public order and the public interest.” The group has since disbanded but their influence is evident in the success of their surviving members, most importantly, Tyler. Tyler and the group stated that their shock factor was a gimmick, but nonetheless, it still received lots of negative attention.
Along with their success came tons of controversy, as their lyrics were sometimes homophobic and misogynistic and included depictions of murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. By 2011, the group had released 12 full-length albums online. The group was composed of ten members and launched the careers of not only Tyler, but other members including Frank Ocean, Syd the Kyd, and Earl Sweatshirt. The Los Angeles group was one of the first rap collectives born from the age of the internet and were known for their “skate rat-styled rap”, YouTube videos, and trendy clothing brand. “I’m sorry I know I’m annoying/ I just want your attention.Tyler’s career began in the late 2000s when he co-founded the rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), better known as Odd Future. “I never had the courage to tell you I adore you/I did it in a song I was too afraid to call you,” Tyler sings on the opening lines. not really mixed or anything.” As Pitchfork points out, the lyrics “rose tinted cheeks” eventually made their way onto the LP track “See You Again”.ĭespite being just a rough, early version, the song has the makings of a groovy yet reflective number, perfect for a rainy evening spent indoors. “ive had in laying around and figured i just put it out as the demo/ rough draft it is. “…it was a song i never finished or went back to,” he explained on Twitter. The track is called “Rose Tinted Cheeks” and is a leftover cut from his recording sessions for last year’s Flower Boy album.
Now, the Odd Future MC is back in the spotlight with a new song for his fans. Tyler, the Creator performed at Coachella this weekend, as well as made a surprise appearance during the set of rising R&B star and past collaborator Kali Uchis.