Tyler, The Creator has officially announced his eighth studio album, Chromakopia, and fans won’t have to wait long to experience it. On Thursday (October 17), the Grammy-winning rapper and producer took to Instagram to reveal the news, confirming the album will drop on October 28. Uniquely, this release will land on a Monday, breaking the industry’s typical Friday release day.
In addition to the release date, Tyler shared the cover art, which features a sepia-toned image of himself dressed in a black mask and military suit, evoking a distinct and intense aesthetic. The album’s horned title, Chromakopia, sits boldly across the image, with a caption below reading: “All songs written, produced and arranged by Tyler Okonma,” nodding to his real name and reaffirming his role as the mastermind behind the project. This marks a return to a fully self-produced and written body of work, similar to his 2019 critically acclaimed album IGOR.
Tyler’s announcement immediately sparked excitement across the music community, with big names chiming in. Swizz Beatz boldly commented: “It’s already a Classic!!!! goodnight !!!!!!!!!!!” while famed TDE engineer MixedByAli dropped fire emojis, hyping up the project even further.
Though the tracklist for Chromakopia remains under wraps, fans have already gotten a taste of what’s to come. On October 16, Tyler made a surprise return to music by dropping a new track titled “St. Chroma,” which could serve as the album’s opener. The short but impactful song showcases Tyler’s whispered flow over stomps and handclaps, delivering confident lines like, “Really ballin’ in this bitch, I’m the hottest in this bitch / Give a fuck about no bark, I’m chasing dogs up out of this bitch.” The track builds into a soulful climax, featuring guest vocals from Daniel Caesar, before taking a sudden turn into a chaotic, hard-hitting beat.
Accompanying “St. Chroma” is a military-themed music video that mirrors the intense imagery of the album cover. Tyler, dressed in the same military suit, leads a group of masked extras into a shipping container, which later explodes in dramatic fashion, setting the tone for what may be his most visually and sonically ambitious project yet.
Chromakopia’s release comes just in time for Tyler’s annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, scheduled for November 16 and 17 at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. While the festival lineup hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s likely that fans will witness Tyler perform his new album live for the first time at the iconic event.
As fans eagerly await the release of Chromakopia, the album’s accompanying website is already live, offering physical copies and exclusive merch bundles. With a mix of hype from fans and peers alike, Tyler’s latest work is poised to make a significant impact on both the charts and the culture. Keep your eyes peeled for more surprises as the October 28 release date approaches.
