Best Songs on Chromakopia, Ranked

Track: 12

Features: Lola Young

What's It About? Tyler grows up without his father. He recognizes his mother's sacrifices but still chases the relationship that might have been. The song's outro shows Tyler's father didwant to be in his life, but his mother got in the way.

Standout Lyrics:

You gave me love and affection
Attention (Go), protection
How could I ever miss somethin' (Go)
That I'd never had?

Track: 4

Features: Teezo Touchdown

What's It About? Tyler struggles with monogamy and staying with one person forever. This idea fascinates and scares him; he keeps falling in love with new people when old ones bore him. Music is his only constant soulmate, so his Grammys must stay with him. The track continues similar ideas from IGOR.

Standout Lyrics:

Life is short, but forever is so goddamn long
I like a long time, I'm on my own time
I love this girl though, I hit the gold mine
I'm thinkin' new crib, I'm thinkin' two kids
Until I get infatuated with a new b*tch

Track: 1

Features: Daniel Caesar

What's It About?The first voice heard on ChromakopiaTyler's mother and biggest supporter, not Tyler, starts "St. Chroma." Tyler writes lyrics about his origins in Hawthorne, California.

Standout Lyrics:

El Segundo felt like colosseum
P said I could do it too, and I believed him.
I built a path to freedom because of the words he said.
"Give a f*ck about traditions, stop impressin' the dead," ah

Track: 11

Features: ScHoolboy Q & Santigold

What's It About? Tyler brings longtime collaborator and TDE affiliate ScHoolboy Q for a feature on “Thought I Was Dead.” Tyler briefly discusses his place in hip-hop and his early edgy tweets, contrasting them with today's culture vultures in the rap scene.

Standout Lyrics:

Same boys with me since back, back then
Everything I said I'd do, I did (True story)
Talk my shit? I sure damn will
You ain't like that shit? I's do it again

Track: 2

What's It About? With “vroom” ad-libs and mentions of Hellcats, Tyler's love of cars continues on “Rah Tah Tah.” Lyrically, he succumbs to nostalgia, mentioning the local high schools he would skate to back in the day while rocking a Supreme five-panel hat. He also shouts out successful former Odd Future member Lionel Boyce, who is now best known as The Beef's resident pastry chef on The Bear.

Standout Lyrics:

Me and Lionel Boyce in drama class, my boy can act now (Mm)
Was really Odd Future, all them other n****s whacked out
The biggest out the city after Kenny, that's a fact now

Track: 9

Features: Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams

What's It About?“Take Your Mask Off” shows crafted images of people and societal hypocrisy. Tyler talks about examples: an upper-crust kid getting trouble for clout, a closeted religious man, and a married woman with an unfulfilling life.

Standout Lyrics:

A good kid, fine home, mom and dad in the pic.
A little middle-class money, every Christmas legit.
Family trips, Ivy-bound, and one day, hit the switch.
You ain't wanna be seen as a b*tch, cuz.
None of the face tats hide the fact that you sad, bruh.
You ain't a thug; you were in drama club; you're an actor.

Track: 3

Features: WILLOW

What's It About? Short for “paranoid,” “Noid” was the first single from the Chromakopia rollout. Tyler struggles with fame's demands, frustrated he cannot act privately or trust others. He ends up spiraling into full paranoia.

Standout Lyrics:

Privacy? Huh, yeah, right, I got a better shot in the NBA.
Ain't no respect for nothin'; voice records our discussions.
Her, him, they, them, or anybody, I don't trust 'em at—
At all (Noid), some pray for my fall (Noid).

Track: 8

Features: GloRilla, Lil Wayne and Sexyy Red.

What's It About? “Sticky” is the album's top banger and party track. Glo, Wayne, Sexyy Red, and Tyler switch over a stomping beat and horns. "Sticky" likely refers to a fight about to start.

Standout Lyrics:

See, I'm a Westside n***a from the zone (What's goin' on, nigga?).
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knockin' at the door (I'm knockin' at the door).
I keep them mutants on hip 'cause I keep on my 'fits (Mm).
N***a, give a fuck 'bout pronouns; I'm that n***a and that b*tch.

Track: 14

What's It About? The last track puts together the album's ideas. It returns to having kids, looks back at success, shouts out Los Angeles, and mentions cars again. Tyler is just Tyler.

Standout Lyrics:

See, that's my interest, so as of now, raising a child is not on my wish list (Nope).
Neither is bein' safety net for b*tches.
I'm too selfish, contradiction (Ah).
Maybe I should before I'm too old and washed up like dishes (Washed).

Track: 10

\What's It About? Being in your 30s puts people on one edge, including Tyler on “Tomorrow.” His mother starts the track by begging for a grandchild. Tyler's friends have babies, marry, and settle down while he collects sports cars and lives untethered, worrying about that tomorrow.

Standout Lyrics:

My mother's hands don't look the same.
These jet black strands are turning gray.
I'm gaining weight; I'd rather rest.
The thought of children brings me stress.
Time is changing.

Track: 5

What's It About?"Hey Jane" shows the mixed feelings of an unplanned pregnancy. Tyler embodies both sides, each getting a verse to share his thoughts.

Standout Lyrics:

Hey, T, I'm scared too (I am too)
It was so hard for me to tell you the truth.
I ain't wanna tell me; I look in the mirror, damn, I failed me.
I'm scared to tell my momma, scared to tell my b*tches.
I fear everyone who doesn't know what we are doing.
I fear all their advice and my intuitions.
I am scared of not knowing, but I am too scared to make choices.

Track: 6

Features: Childish Gambino

What's It About? Similar to Solange's “Don't Touch My Hair,” “I Killed You” uses Black hair as cultural context. Childish Gambino adds dreamy background vocals and a nice outro.

Standout Lyrics:

B*tch, I killed you, you were so essential.
How we used to pick you 'cause you was a simple (Away).
Berries and oils; your nature was simple.
But I guess the coils and kinks became an issue (Away).

Track: 7

Features: Childish Gambino

What's It About? Gambino stays on this track. Taking a break from big topics, “Judge Judy” is a raunchy, playful love song.

Standout Lyrics:

We chop and chop it up; I like her thoughts and time flew.
She said she had no plans and asked me what I was about to do.
I stuffed us in the Phantom and wiggled through the streets.
She said she'd never do this, but she thinks I'm sweet.

Track: 13

Hidden Feature: Doechii

What's It About? "Balloon" features a hot new rapper from Doechii and an interesting sample of "I Wanna Rock" by Luke. It is probably the most celebratory track on the album.

Standout Lyrics:

Why I can't settle down? I like options.
Why I hate small talk? I like topics.
House shoppin', I'm a pig, I love coppin', ugh.