Tyler, The Creator: Igor 12"

Tyler, the Creator's fifth full-length is about Tyler, the producer, Tyler, the singer, and Tyler, the rapper, in that order. A meticulously produced project, his ever-experimental approach births a beautiful, messy mix of R&B, funk, jazz, and rap. The attention to detail is on a different level: "the version you hear is the ninth one, kept going back until it was perfect," Tyler notes. The arching feel of the LP jumps right out from the opening seconds of "Igor's Theme." On the surface, Tyler narrates his vision of love over warm synths, understated-but-pristinely-arranged drums, and pitched-up falsetto. Perfect summer listening. On a deeper level, a complex array of samples, ideas, and textures looms about. Still a provocateur, but Tyler's approach to his craft has shapeshifted tremendously, and Igor is a proper follow-up to 2017's Grammy-nominated Flower Boy. Kanye West, Palyboi Carti, Solange, Jerrod Carmichael, Frank Ocean and Lil Uzi Vert make guest appearances. Check out "Earfquake," "New Magic Wand," "Running Out of Time" and "A Boy Is A Gun," but Igor is better consumed as a whole!