Scum Fuck Flower Boy - Tyler, The Creator - Album Review

Tyler's most personal album, feels like a grand artistic achievement in all places of his career. Easily one of the best albums 2017, it deserves the attention from hardcore Tyler fans, and from mainstream listeners alike.

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It often feels hard to breathe when you consider that this album has a cloud of scandal surrounding it, however Tyler clears that up by giving you his perspective of everything. Before all of the sexuality talk, Tyler used to serve as the figure head to the Odd Future collective, a posse that has disbanded and reunited. Tyler now addresses all the amassed fame he has garnered ever since he started discussing his sexuality, and he addresses this topic many times on this album.

I have never liked Tyler's music to a great deal, his past work has always struck the line of wanna-be shock rap with grotesque lyrics that did not strike me all that much. However, Tyler takes a different approach with this album, instead of giving the same old like how he has done in the past, he gives us more ambient/reverb sounds and deeply personal lyrics to digest. Songs like "Where This Flower Blooms" and "911/ Mr. Lonely" serve as prime examples of his departure from his old sound, and these well produced tracks compliment his lyrics greatly. Tyler has never opened up so personally as how he does on this album, and when listening you often find humor (That's actually funny) and charm that Tyler embodies. Of course the "comedic" and "chaotic" Tyler still resides in songs such as "Who Dat Boy" and "I Ain't Got Time!". Tyler's recruits many artist's that feel essential; without Rex Orange Country we would not have the introspective songs that pack a punch, and without Frank Ocean we would not have the beautiful choruses and verses that appear on the album. Jaden Smith was a waste of time though, his contributions to the album were worthless. What makes this album feel different comes down to the underlying themes of sadness and seclusion that Tyler details. I just wish Tyler would've have ended the album with something more meaningful than "Enjoy Right Now, Today".

The lyrics, did I mention them? Well as you can imagine with all the talk that surrounded this album, it obviously talks about Tyler's love-life, sexuality, and fame. Compared to other albums, this album definitely wins the "World's Smallest Violin" award. It feels hard not to feel sad and depressed for Tyler in songs like "Glitter" (BTW my personal favorite) that details a failed love that could not work. Even in the comedic and melodic "911/ Mr. Lonely" Tyler still manages to get a line in about his sexuality. The album has the best production out of any Tyler, The Creator album; Instrumentally, it has a nice vibe that takes all types of sonic directions, but lyrically it's pretty depressing most of the time.

Tyler has made his magnum opus, it is a grand achievement that deserves to be acknowledged by all fans and listeners alike. Tyler has outdone himself, both as a producer and writer. If you haven't listened to one of the best albums of 2017 and came late (just like how I did) then dive right in and lose yourself within the beautifully composed tracks. Shoutout to Tyler, he has set the bar high for himself, and I'm anxious to see what step he takes next in his career.

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8/10

Released: 2017

Label: Columbia

Favorite Tracks: Where This Flower Blooms, See You Again, Who Dat Boy, Garden Shed, Boredom, 911/ Mr. Lonely, Glitter

Worst Track: Pothole