Tyler, The Creator Brings The Boogie With Don’t Tap The Glass
Hip-hop and style megastar Tyler, The Creator just dropped a wildly danceable rap record without the usual fanfare and build-up, and we're crazy about this record that pays homage to classic 90s R&B and hip-hop
The only thing the rapper revealed before releasing Don’t Tap The Glass was that it was just going to be a fun record and for fans not to expect anything complex conceptually.
His ninth studio album evokes his peak zaniness and his iconic cartoony flow that translates into a no-skip record for the dance-floor that is classic Tyler, The Creator.
Even the LP’s cover art features what looks like Tyler dressed up in a caricature of what 80s rappers look like (enormous chains, bright red leather pants, and disproportionate limbs) in action figure form.
The rapper is channeling old school hip-hop swagger from that time period with his preference toward classic R&B, disco, synth-funk compared to the more experimental and esoteric beats from his last album Chromakopia released in October last year.
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We can hear tracks reminiscent of his days in the Odd Future rap collective and his older record from his catalogue such as Cherry Bomb (2015), which he himself admits was not one of the albums he was most proud of.
Don’t Tap The Glass kicks off with “Big Poe” with the legendary producer and fellow fashion innovator Pharrell, for a track that would make even the most coy listeners boogie.
“Number one: body movement, no sitting still,” a vocoder-like voice says at the beginning of the album as Tyler makes it clear from the get go that he doesn't do any “of that deep shit” in this record as he wants you to just funk it up.
“Big Poe” has a healthy helping of Pharrell-style synth beats, and Lo-fi N.E.R.D sounding drums that could be one of the next club bangers of the year.
We can hear the rapper unapologetically goofing off in his flow as he takes a pause on the intensive introspection from his previous records.
Chromakopia (2024) turned out to be one of his most vulnerable projects, while Call Me If You Get Lost (2021) and IGOR (2019) gave the world one of the grooviest mixtape-style albums, and one of the best breakup albums of all time, respectively.
“Sugar on My Tongue” is driven by an almost 8-bit style melody that is a dead-ringer for old electronic Casio keyboards from the 1980s, and a staccato kick drum that tickles your ears. The rapper croons “Like sugar on my tongue” hook hypnotically and we can’t get enough of it.
Tyler then says he’s “that guy” in “Sucka Free” over head bob-inducing percussion, modulated synth chords and the escalating keyboard melodies. He also leans into a voice-box effect in the vocal department to complement his trademark outlandish delivery.
The album then takes a drastic sonic turn in “Mommanem” as the artist ramps up the aggression and gravel in his voice into an emotional outburst about resentment and disillusionment.
Seamlessly, the track transitions into “Stop Playing With Me,” a brief old-school rap cut with Tyler going back to his rowdiness and amped up energy.
Throughout the record Tyler doubles down on the edgy rap deliveries and stylings such those found on the title track Don’t Tap The Glass/ Tweakin’.
“Ring Ring Ring” is probably the catchiest and most radio-friendly track from the album and will be a song on repeat for the foreseeable future. The earworm quality of this track is much like "Earfquake" from Igor, "Darling, I" from Chromakopia , Wusyanam from Call Me If You Get Lost, and "See You Again" from his Flower Boy (2017) record.
The last three tracks evoke more melodic and pop-R&B sonic avenues with "Don’t You Worry Baby" with guest vocals from Madison McFerrin, "I’ll Take Care of You" featuring Yebba and the close-out song "Tell Me What It Is."
