By Hardcore Critic
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Two summers ago, the mainstream hip hop world had the chance to formally meet Tyler, the Creator and his Wolf Haley alter ego. Quickly, Tyler, the Creator was established as a force in hip hop and he appears impartial through it all. Goblin reached a bigger fan base and set the stage for Wolf.
Coming eleven months after, Tyler, the Creator initially planned to release the album, Wolf helps to get the audience in the mood for spring. While the calendar reads April, it still feels more like February in most places. But, Tyler, the Creator shut the game down with his Wolf LP.
Boasting collaborations with, of course, Odd Future and former member, Casey Veggies, the third Tyler, the Creator album showed a different side of him. Previously, Tyler, the Creator established himself through the shock of his lyrics. This time around, Tyler focused more on the music and he dumped zinger after zinger.
From the Intro, it is clear Tyler, the Creator is here to show the hip hop world he can do something besides shock everyone with his statements. Everyone who said Tyler, the Creator “can’t rap,” were in for a major surprise if they took the time out to listen to Wolf, which is probably one of 2013’s best albums here in the opening months. Though Tyler, the Creator was very current on Wolf, the tone of the album is reminiscent to the golden era of the 1990s in both sound and the way the album flows.
Of course, there are some who will never catch on to Tyler, the Creator. While everyone may not like him, his artistry should be respected, as he remains one of hip hop’s most-creative talents. He fits right in with his frequent collaborators, Frank Ocean and Pharrell, who appear on Wolf. Other collaborations come from Erykah Badu and Odd Future cohorts including Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Gensis.
Perhaps, years from now, hip hop critics will look back on Wolf and regard it as at least a very special album, if not a classic. Those who like alternative hip hop fused with old school and witty lyrics will be in for a treat, as Tyler, the Creator dominated this spectrum from one end to the other.
Hip Hop Vibe’s Rating: 9/10
