CHROMAKOPIA THE WORLD TOUR by Tyler, The Creator

IMPACT Arena, Bangkok

By Ayush Madan

A direction sign at IMPACT Stadium

 FOREWORD 

Since I was 17 years old, living in Ventura, California, I have been tuned into the genre-defying music made by one Tyler Okonma AKA Tyler, The Creator. Even in the crowded hip-hop landscape of the late 2010s, when rap legends like Kendrick, Cole, and Kanye still dominated the charts, Tyler, The Creator found his own voice. What sets Tyler apart from his contemporaries - then and now - is the unique way he is able to pour his soul into his work. Not just in his penmanship, but in the sonic textures, synths, and vocal samples that he curates and chops for his tracks. From Cherry Bomb to Flower Boy to his magnum opus IGOR, Tyler has never held back any of his emotions, unafraid to sing about yearning, anxiety, love, or heartbreak.

While I wish I could say I have been a fan since the Odd Future days, I discovered Tyler when he entered the mainstream with his smash success Flower Boy, a rap album that was overall more jazzy, soulful, and melodically brighter than anything he had released prior. While songs like Who Dat Boy still echo back to the chaotic and abrasive energy of Yonkers, most of the tracks on this album lean more towards R&B. Songs like Boredom encapsulate the laid-back, smooth, and sticky energy of this album perfectly. Tyler’s signature low-register rap verses are beautifully contrasted by Rex Orange County and Tyler continually singing the refrain, “Find some time, find some time to do something,” before the chorus hits.

In the years that followed, I kept up with every album release. I listened to IGOR on day one, a high concept record following the story of a character caught in a love triangle. After a few listens, it ended up becoming my favorite album of the year. In 2021, he dropped Call Me If You Get Lost, yet another #1 record where Tyler perfected his signature R&B sound with collaborators Pharrell, Teezo Touchdown, Brent Faiyaz, Lil Wayne, and more.

Two fans from Phuket documenting the aftermath of the show

 SHOWTIME

In 2024, Tyler releases one of his most personal record to date — CHROMAKOPIA. The themes of this record follow Tyler coming to terms with the costs of stardom, the loss of anonymity, the constant pressure of paparazzi and people snapping photos of him since he was 19. To my surprise, this was the first time Tyler announced an Asia tour for his album, with a show in Bangkok on September 16th. 

Not making it to the show was never an option. I arrived to the IMPACT  Forum in a shirt from Tyler’s Flower Boy x Vince Staples’ Big Fish Theory tour. Everyone here was dressed to the 10s. There were pillbox hats, baby blue sweaters, and neckties as far as the eye could see.

After an opening set by Paris, Texas, Tyler came out to a raucous crowd, hungry for their first dose of Tyler in the flesh. I was in the pit with my friend Suyeon, and coincidentally bumped into Lana and Mafai from college as well. He entered to the first track from DON’T TAP THE GLASS: Big Poe, before sending the  crowd to the stratosphere with one of the year’s biggest hits: Sugar On My Tongue. 

The setlist mostly featured songs from CHROMAKOPIA, with my personal highlights being Sticky and Darling, I — a track that I connected with heavily during the live experience. My friends witnessed me have an out of body experience when DOGTOOTH came on, not to mention the few seconds of Who Dat Boy ft A$AP Rocky. Other favorites included WUSYANAME and See You Again, the latter of which was a wave of pure teen nostalgia I wasn’t ready for.

As a performer, at 34, Tyler is a performer with the bravado, charisma, and fluidity to match his sensational music. He makes full use of the lights and the camera, rather than just zooming into his face, the camerawork is directed like a movie. This allows the shots in the screen to be framing the narrative rather than repeating what you can already see with your eyes. The results in a truly immersive live experience, where as a fan, you can feel your favorite album come to life around you. 

Tyler The Creator Chromakopia Bangkok concert