Tyler the Creator solidifies his legendary status in Hip Hop with CHROMOKOPIA

Elena Hernandez - Music Editor

Tyler the Creator released his seventh studio album, CHROMOKOPIA, at 6 a.m. on October 28. A few days before its release, Tyler said in an Instagram comment: “yall ***** can just wake up when yall finished sleeping and listen to it.” Tyler also seemed to tease no features on the album. After a glance at the tracklist, this was confirmed to be true. However, fans began hearing surprise, hidden features from artists dispersed throughout the record. So far there are confirmed appearances from Daniel Caesar, Lil Wayne, Glorilla, Sexyy Red, and more. It has also been confirmed that rapper Playboi Carti has a hidden verse on the album’s vinyl edition.

            The opener “St. Chroma” introduces the record’s masked central character, Saint Chroma. It’s followed up by the energetic, aggressive “Rah Tah Tah.’’ In it, Tyler raps: “Never raise a hand / the strap on ‘em like a d**e b***h / This dark work like night shifts, I’m thunder / I light s**t.” The track smoothly transitions into “Noid,” the album’s lead single. It deals with Tyler’s paranoia surrounding fame, fortune, friends, and family. The next track, “Darling, I,” is one of my favorites and has a surprise feature from past collaborator Teezo Touchdown. In it, Tyler ponders love, commitment, and self-awareness.

            It’s not often an artist can release a record without skips. Tyler the Creator, however, has done it yet again.

Megan thee Stallion reminds us that “Hot Girl Summer” is never over with MEGAN: ACT II

Last Friday Megan thee Stallion released the follow-up to her summer record MEGAN. There are 11 completely new tracks, each one more fun and cleverer than the last. She opens with “Bigger in Texas,” which is arguably the best she’s ever sounded. In its chorus, she declares: “I’m at the top of my game / I’m who they hate / This s**t come with the fame / That’s how I knew that I made it … If these b****es ain’t mad / I need to go harder, I can’t let ‘em think we the same.”

 “Bourbon” is a self-empowering anthem where Megan dismisses haters and promises to keep working hard. In it, she raps: “B***h, these ****** love this ass, I ain’t finna stop twerkin’ / B***h, I’m so in love with this money, I ain’t never finna stop workin’ / I’ve been balling for so long, I think I’m Kyrie Irving / I’m a tall drink of water, p***y like a shot of bourbon.” Followed by “Number One Rule,” Megan shares with us some advice: “Bad b****es choose / never chase a *****, let a ***** chase you … ****** chase p***y, p***y don’t chase d**k.”

There are a few tracks with special guests like Flo Milli, grammy-nominated metal group Spiritbox, TWICE, and RM of BTS. “Roc Steady” features Flo Milli and samples Ciara’s 2004 hit “Goodies.” The duo warns: “I’m the wrong ho to try, f**k your man ‘cause I’m petty.”