Tyler, The Creator has experimented with rap, R&B, lo-fi, and soul music throughout his career, but in “Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale,” the deluxe edition of his Grammy-winning sixth studio album, Tyler proves once again that he is truly a rapper at heart.
Tyler has defined the “Call Me If You Get Lost” era by giving fans a throwback to his Odd Future days, where he was known for his grimy flows. And the “Estate Sale” ties all of these elements together to poetically conclude this chapter of Tyler’s career.
He illustrates his versatility as a rapper as he effortlessly glides onto both dark and serene instrumentals. No matter the type of song, Tyler can simply execute as a rapper.
For instance, “Stuntman,” featuring rapper Vince Staples is a track that exhibits Tyler’s ability to glide on a piercing and thundering beat.
This track resembles “Yonkers” from his first studio album, “Goblin,” as it creates this villainous energy through the hard-hitting bass that truly makes you want to run through a brick wall.
To contrast “Stuntman,” Tyler proceeds to peacefully admire the beauty of life in “Heaven to Me,” which samples John Legend’s 2006 track “Heaven.”
Tyler has shown that he is never truly satisfied, even with his colossal success, but on this track he decides to illustrate the idea that the secret to having it all in life is knowing that you already do. This track illustrates Tyler stopping to smell the roses and appreciating what life has to offer.
Although this track has sentimental value, he still is able to effortlessly flow on the beat, regardless of its tranquility and the calmer energy than the other tracks.
The most notable track in this project is the outro, “Sorry Not Sorry.” This monumental track serves as a monologue where Tyler reflects on his life decisions and apologizes for his past mistakes throughout his time in the spotlight.
A lyric that stands out is “Sorry to my old friends. The stories we could’ve wrote if our egos didn’t take the pen.” Similarly to “Heaven To Me,” this track is more of an example of the calm side of Tyler as a rapper.
Instead of an optimistic approach, though, this track is more of a remorseful message to some of the closest and most important people in his life, specifically as his family and closest friends, for his perceived lack of support.
Although the change of tone is drastic when you compare tracks like “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Stuntman,” Tyler ties everything together by creating this feeling that he’s reading the pages to the novel that is his life.
The infinite ways Tyler can express himself through his skillful rapping is what allows fans to see the many sides of him and to better understand who he truly is.
When reflecting on this era of Tyler, The Creator’s career, what stands out most is that even if he ventures into other musical lanes, he has always shown the ability to be the rapper that made him the creator he is today.
“Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale” is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services.