Review of Tyler, the Creator’s Lead Single ‘NOID’ from the Upcoming Album ‘Chromakopia’

In light of the favorable feedback surrounding Tyler, the Creator’s ST. CHROMA, the rapper has officially unveiled the eagerly awaited lead single, NOID, from his forthcoming seventh studio album titled Chromakopia.

On October 21, NOID was made available on streaming services, coinciding with the release of its official music video, which Tyler directed himself, featuring cinematography by Luis “PANCH”Perez.

Spanning 2 minutes and 42 seconds, the visuals for NOID only feature the first half of the song, while the full version, clocking in at 4 minutes and 47 seconds, was released to major streaming platforms through Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment.

Unconventionally, NOID launched on a Monday, diverging from the typical Friday music release schedule, which garnered significant media attention and illustrated Tyler’s distinctive approach to music marketing.

This mid-week release strategy resonates with Tyler’s perspective on release timing, which he shared in a 2023 conversation with journalist Nardwaur, advocating for music to drop on “Tuesdays”to enhance listeners’ engagement:

“I think we should put music out again on Tuesdays, instead of Fridays. I think it’s a lot of passive listening, at parties or people get the time to the gym, so they’re not really listening. And people on the weekends just wanna chill and hang out, so they’re not really listening.”

“If you put it out during the week, that commute to work or school, you really have that hour or thirty minutes to really ‘dive in’ and really listen. When that time is shorter, you get more done,”he elaborated.

Lyric Analysis: An Insight into Tyler, the Creator’s ‘NOID’

The themes present in NOID starkly contrast the imagery depicted in the St. Chroma music video, where Tyler encapsulates the persona of “Chroma The Great,”a powerful figure who leads followers into a shipping container before destroying it.

This self-directed video, shot in a muted sepia palette, captures the challenges of Tyler’s celebrity life while also addressing the perils he faces living in Southern California and his desire for privacy.

A notable aspect of the video is the appearance of Ayo Edebiri from “The Bear,”portraying an overly enthusiastic fan. She approaches Tyler amidst a crowd, initially aiming for a photograph before her iPhone transforms into a gun, underscoring the overwhelming influence of fandom in today’s digital age.

In NOID, Tyler, the Creator presents a compelling track characterized by exceptional production quality, which includes a sample from Zambian rock band The Ngozi Family, while simultaneously conveying the palpable anxiety that accompanies fame.

Key themes explored in the lead single for Chromakopia include:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Mental Health
• Stalking
• Privacy
• Personal Space
• Paparazzi
• Fame
• Success
• Wealth

(Intro)

“Paranoid, paranoid, paranoid (Ayy) / Things feel out of order / Look and look around, I’m not sure of / Pair of paranoia, no (Such a—) / I can feel it in my aura (Woo) / Living between cameras and recorders, ah, yeah (Woo, woo) / I want peace but can’t afford ya, no (Such a—)”

In collaboration with singer-songwriter WILLOW, Tyler’s introduction to NOID lays the foundation for the verses to follow, expressing his ongoing struggle with paranoia and his yearning for a peace that feels increasingly unattainable.

(Chorus)

“When you come at my house, please be respectful because I don’t like talking too much. Talking too much breeds gossip. [translated from Nyanja]”

In the chorus, he incorporates a sample from The Ngozi Family’s classic 1977 track “Nizakupanga Ngozi,”featured on their album titled 45,000 Volts.

Setting the stage for NOID, the late Paul Ngozi’s vocals in Nyanja underline the necessity of personal space, privacy, and respect.

As the sample fuses with aggressive electric guitar riffs, Tyler delves into Chroma The Great’s anxious mindset, constantly aware of fans encroaching on his personal space.

Driving away in his sports car, he becomes increasingly paranoid, picturing an unseen vehicle tailing him in his rearview mirror.

(Verse 1)

“I can’t even buy a home in private / Home invasions got my brothers dyin’ / Notice every car that’s drivin’ by / I think my neighbors want me dead / I got a cannon underneath the bed.”

In the opening verse, Tyler exposes themes of personal safety and the drastic lengths he goes to protect himself—highlighting his awareness of every passing car and his keeping a firearm for protection.

This reference to home invasions could be a nod to the tragic murder of Pop Smoke in 2021, an incident that affected many in the hip-hop community.

“Triple checkin’ if I locked the door / I know every creak that’s in the floor / Motherf–ker, I am paranoid (Such a—) / I loop around the block, eyes glued to the rearview / Rather double back than regret hearin’, Pew, pew.”

Continuing the narrative, Tyler emphasizes the extremes of his anxiety, feeling compelled to ensure his home is secure and being hyper-aware of his environment, ultimately proclaiming his paranoia.

As depicted in the visuals, Chroma The Great scurries through his house, peeking through windows—a depiction of his relentless fear of being followed.

“Never trust a b—h, if you good, they could trap you / So just strap it up ‘fore they f–k around and strap you, b—h.”

Here, Tyler cautions against trusting individuals, referencing the potential for women to pursue him for monetary gain, thus asserting that he remains “strapped up”in both protective senses—armed and sexually cautious.

The music video reinforces this notion, depicting Chroma The Great in a room with a woman, juxtaposing the scene with a child in the background, hinting at the complexities of relationships and parenting.

The infectious hook from The Ngozi Family returns, transitioning into the latter part of the track, which is exclusively available on streaming platforms.

(Interlude)

“Don’t trust these people out here / Please, whatever you do / Keep to yourself, keep your business to yourself / Don’t even trust these motherf–kin’ accountants / ‘Cause they will try to get off on you, okay? Please, because I don’t wanna have to f–k nobody up / I promise to God.”

The interlude features a spoken message from Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, as she imparts wisdom regarding the treachery of the music business, urging him to maintain his distance from opportunistic characters.

(Refrain)

“Don’t it seem so good? Ooh, ooh (Oh, na-na, oh, na-na, ayy) / Don’t it feel so good? (Oh, na-na, oh, na-na, ayy) / Don’t it feel so good? (Left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, look, ooh)”

The refrain, sung by Bonita alongside Tyler, amplifies the allure of a peaceful life devoid of the stress and anxiety associated with celebrity.

“Left shoulder, right shoulder (Watch your surroundings), left shoulder, look, ooh (Oh, na-na, oh, na-na, ayy) / Who’s at my window? Na-na, who’s at my window? (Oh, na-na, oh, na-na, ayy) / Who’s at my window? (Okay, okay, okay—yeah), who’s at my window? (Oh, na-na, oh, na-na, ayy)”

This section reflects Tyler’s incorporation of his mother’s teachings, signifying that his anxiety largely stems from her warnings about trust and safety, which he’s adapted to his own battles with fame.

(Verse 2)

“No cameras out, please, I wanna eat in peace / I don’t wanna take pictures with you n—-s or b—hes / Nervous system is shook, way before nineteen (Yeah) / LA’ll do that to you, where you from, n—a? Who ya?”

In the second verse, Tyler expresses frustration towards fans seeking photos in social settings, criticizing the culture that prioritizes capturing moments over genuine interactions.

Referring to remarks from a 2018 interview, where Tyler voiced his irritation at being recorded rather than engaged with, he articulates his discomfort living in Los Angeles, which amplifies his anxiety due to its competitive entertainment landscape.

“Satellite (Satellite), screenshot (Noid) / Paparazzi (Noid), NDAs (Noid) / Privacy? Huh, yeah right, I got a better shot in the NBA / Ain’t no respect for nothin’, voice recordin’ our discussions / Her, him, they, them, or anybody, I don’t trust ’em at—”

Tyler humorously reflects on the improbability of retaining a private life, comparing it to the slim chances of being drafted into the NBA, highlighting his disillusionment with the lack of respect for personal privacy.

Moreover, he expresses skepticism, believing people around him are infiltrating his private discussions, reinforcing his distrust of others.

“At all (Noid), some pray for my fall (Noid) / Hearin’ clicks on the calls (Noid) / N—-s hackin’ for some rough drafts / B—hes lookin’ for a buff bag / Risk that for some jaw, nah.”

In this part, Tyler shares experiences that have led to his trust issues, such as paranoia of hacking and personal intentions of opportunistic individuals seeking to leverage his fame.

He mentions incidents like “group buys” where hackers sell unreleased material, demonstrating his concern over his music’s privacy being compromised by greedy fans.

“You sing along, but you don’t know me, n—a / Nah, never ever, not at all, y’all / N—-s crossed the line, like f–k the stop sign (Noid) / They wonder where I close my eyes at, I keep my eyes wide / On God, this s–t cooked, brodie.”

Tyler criticizes those who superficially engage with his art without understanding his essence, emphasizing that listeners often seek personal information over appreciating his artistry.

He illustrates that fame has made it difficult to find peace, requiring him to remain vigilant at all times, remaining aware of potential threats.

“Look, brodie (Noid), handshakes got me shook, brodie / N—-s want info about me? (Read a motherf–kin’—) / Read a book on me, ugh.”

Wrapping up the verse, Tyler concludes that trust issues extend to even casual encounters, suggesting that instead of prying into his life, people should immerse themselves in his previously published work to understand him better.

(Other)

“Leave me alone, leave me alone (Baby, I’m paranoid) / Left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, look (Don’t it feel so good?) / Left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, look (Ugh) / Left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, look.”

In the outro, Tyler openly acknowledges his anxiety, signaling that he will consistently be on guard, perpetually seeking to maintain his solitude.

“Leave me alone, what you want? / Leave me alone, what you want? / Leave me alone (Who’s at my window, my window?) / F–k, damn (Who’s at my window?) / Paranoid.”

With NOID, Tyler, the Creator provides a profound lead single for his anticipated album Chromakopia.

Through sharp insights on fame, privacy challenges, captivating visuals, and energetic production, this track establishes a compelling narrative for what fans can expect from the upcoming album.

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