Nathaniel Clark – A&E Editor 

nuc5002@psu.edu

“The Estate Sale” is the hurray before another musical exploration for Tyler, the Creator.

After around a year of silence, California musician Tyler Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, announced a deluxe edition of his 2021 Grammy-winning album “Call Me If You Get Lost.” Titled “The Estate Sale,” the collection was set to release on March 31. 

On Twitter, Tyler stated, stylized in all caps, “‘Call Me If You Get Lost’ was the first album I made with a lot of songs that didn’t make the final cut. Some of those songs I really love, and knew they would never see the light of day, so I’ve decided to put a few of them out.”

In conjunction with the announcement, Tyler put out the single “DOGTOOTH” along with an accompanying music video. In the lead-up to the release, Tyler released another music video, this time for “SORRY NOT SORRY.” Said video pictures Tyler and his various personas throughout the years on display; however, a new version of the musician. This new version quickly dispatches every previous iteration of Tyler. The video ends with Tyler’s “Call Me If You Get Lost” persona pummeled with a flurry of punches from this new figure. 

Since the project’s release, videos for “WHARF TALK” and “HEAVEN TO ME” have also been released. 

“The Estate Sale” is the first taste of Tyler, the Creator’s B-sides and demos. Since the start of his career in 2007, Tyler has kept very secretive about his musical output. In a world where singles and complete albums leak randomly years before their scheduled release, Tyler’s choice keeps his music under only his control. 

With this secrecy in mind, “The Estate Sale” is Tyler opening his vault for the first time. Unsurprisingly, his B-sides and demos are equal in quality to his album and single cuts. 

Coming from the “Call Me If You Get Lost” era, these new songs are similar style-wise to that project. The most evident of these continuing motifs is the inclusion of DJ Drama handling ad libs throughout the project. Drama’s music, specifically his “Gangsta Grillz” mixtape series, is cited as a heavy inspiration for Tyler’s music, especially with “Call Me If You Get Lost.” 

Lyrically, Tyler is still playing with braggadocio-tinged reminiscence. Looking back on his past, Tyler is setting sail on his future journeys while enjoying his newfound exploits.

A clear example of this lyrical format is “WHARF TALK.” On the track, Tyler attempts to seduce his love interest, trying everything to convince her to stay with him. Using the metaphor of a wharf, Tyler pleads with the woman to come onto his boat, inviting her in with promises of great adventures, chill rides, and her favorite music. Similar to Tyler’s qualms, featured collaborator A$AP Rocky is shown having similar troubles getting his partner to join him as well. 

Speaking of features, “The Estate Sale” has a lot of talent both on and off the mic. Vocally, a majority of the features are California natives: YG hailing from Compton and Vince Staples from Long Beach.

Staples’ cut “STUNTMAN” is the most evidence of California influence as production-wise the song takes heavy inspiration from the West Coast Hip Hop scene. 

While Tyler handled the majority of production on “Call Me If You Get Lost” and “The Estate Sale,” genre legend Madlib produced the track “WHAT A DAY.” Using the producer’s iconic sample-flipping abilities adds another level to Tyler’s poetic waxing. 

“The Estate Sale” is a great collection of tracks barely cut from “Call Me If You Get Lost.” However, Tyler is not done releasing new music this year. With the musician’s two-year musical release cycle, the new iteration of Tyler in the “SORRY NOT SORRY” video, and DJ Drama’s closing line being “I guarantee another era is upon us,” Tyler, the Creator’s year is just beginning.