Tyler, The Creator's ninth studio album, ‘DON'T TAP THE GLASS’, moves away from the usual tired and stretched-out format, embracing instead playfulness, spectacle, and rhythmic energy.
Released without much announcement in the early hours of Monday morning, this concise 10-track album follows last year's experimental psychodrama, ‘Chromakopia’. While ‘Chromakopia’ delved into Tyler’s previous musical personas, examining the deceptive nature of youth and fame through a mask-wearing protagonist experiencing turmoil, ‘DON'T TAP THE GLASS’ sees Tyler discard the pretense and indulge in a state of bliss.
Regarding the album's goal, Tyler remarked: “This isn’t about control or how it will be received. It’s just me again. A bit louder and more relaxed. It felt right to let the paint spill this time… This album isn't meant for staying still. Movement—whether dancing, driving, or running—is encouraged to grasp its essence.” Created in response to the diluted pleasure filtered through phones, the ‘DON'T TAP THE GLASS’ collection retains Tyler, The Creator's signature inner conflict, but this time it’s devoid of turmoil: just genuine, unrestrained emotion expressed through the Black dance music tradition. This is Tyler, The Creator’s call to immerse oneself in a constantly moving, colorful landscape.
The album opens with ‘Big Poe’—a whirlwind of bright synths, static, and Tyler’s relaxed sneer—sampling ‘Pass the Courvoisier, Part II’ by Busta Rhymes and Pharrell, with raw, progressive-pop sounds intensifying at the peak. Tyler channels tantric post-disco vibes in ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ while evoking ‘Midnight Love’-era Marvin Gaye in the airy space journey, ‘Sucka Free’. His curatorial prowess shines on tracks like ‘I’ll Take Care Of You’, which samples ‘Knuck If You Buck’ by Crime Mob, transforming a crunk and hardcore moment into a dreamy homage to ‘Cherry Bomb’.
The avant-funk of ‘Ring Ring Ring’ showcases Tyler's smoothest sound to date; the light, catchy track stands out in a collection that feels more like an eclectic assembly of retro-futuristic pieces than a cohesive album. Perhaps that’s intentional. Tyler’s extensive catalog serves as a lesson in world-building and crafting narratives within rap. ‘DON'T TAP THE GLASS’ delights in the excitement and energy of the present, opting for playfulness, spectacle, and rhythmic propulsion over the typical weighed-down complexity and serious introspection.
On the slow-groove closing track ‘Tell Me What It Is’, which ends with the same ethereal voice that initiated the “body movement” at the beginning, Tyler, The Creator channels Michael Jackson’s youthful croon, returning to the reflective self-dialogue that featured in his recent projects. With an uncertain plea, Tyler leaves matters unresolved for the first time here. What lies ahead? Only his ever-changing mind knows. However, as a refreshing interlude, ‘DON'T TAP THE GLASS’ effectively resets the narrative: a blend of clever and sleek dance tracks that reduce conceptual overload.
7/10
Words: Shahzaib Hussain
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Making his entrance with minimal publicity and without a lengthy, meticulously planned introduction, Tyler, The Creator launched his ninth studio album, 'DON'T TAP THE