Corinna Kelley
Contributing Writer
Tyler, The Creator (Tyler) is one of the best musical performers of this generation. His artistry has evolved from exploring and challenging societal expectations and stereotypes in his early work — using complex characters like “Goblin” and “Wolf” to dissect these themes — to a more introspective journey, where he delves into self-discovery and his relationship with the world around him. Each album represents a new chapter of his identity as he works through personal struggles to understand who he is. Despite his musical evolution, he embraces his past, highlighting the coexistence of the past and the present in his work. Seeing Tyler’s show on Feb. 21 in LA further opened my eyes to the genius of his art and how he presents himself and his environment on stage. This split between the old and the new was central to his performance, with his set design and costume changes mirroring this transition and nostalgia. In all, Tyler’s performance on his “Chromakopia” tour was a masterclass in imagery, symbolism, energy, and stage presence.
Tyler’s set design took over half of the stadium, ensuring that everyone could get close to the action. His energy alone could’ve traveled halfway around the world from the small stage at the center. He literally bridged the past and present in his set design — with the main stage featuring “Chromakopia” storage containers, a smaller stage in the center of the arena being a set-up living room, and an elevated bridge made from a broken-down green storage container connecting the two platforms. This construction represented his struggle and acceptance of his self-image: he feels as though a piece of him was shipped off and is unfindable (mirroring the semi-false idea of his father leaving him, explored heavily in his newest album). Yet he also showed that his fathers abandonment is not a defining factor in his life — he finds comfort in his music and his clothes, an identity created in the absence of his father and, thus, sacred.
Tyler had a unique bit in his song setup that built massive anticipation in the crowd. After finishing a set of songs, he would use a record player in the set that hinted at what he was going to perform next. He teased us by showing vinyls of “Chromakopia,” “Wolf,” “Cherrybomb,” and more, letting us feel the energy of each album before he brought it to life.
Tyler’s concerts always have impeccable energy. I’ve never been to a show where everyone in the audience seems to work together to compete with previous tour nights to see who can sing the loudest and be named the best crowd. Tyler mentioned that every tour date seemed to try to outdo the last with its energy. There was a point when he performed “IFHY” and left the song to the crowd, challenging them to prove themselves. Everyone screamed, trying to find the right words and show they knew the song. Even through a slur of gibberish, I was astounded at how long the crowd sang and how loud it was.
Night six of the “Chromakopia” tour was unforgettable, especially when he started performing “Balloon” and the crowd noticed Doechii walking up to the stage in the background, this being the only performance of the tour with her appearance. All the energy from the entire show, the whole night, seemed to be nothing in comparison to the sheer panic and absolute excitement from the crowd when she danced her way onto stage.
Tyler’s shows have transcended the simplicity of a concert to become a fashion show, with everyone rocking their ushankas, green sambas, and, of course, Golf Wang apparel. It truly brings a sense of community — looking into the crowd, almost all you see is forest green and stunning outfits. It has become one of the most anticipated aspects of the show — connecting with others through style.
Night six of Tyler’s “Chromakopia” tour was a memorable experience and will be held close to my heart forever. The sheer energy of his performance was outstanding — he never slows down and will do whatever it takes to make the crowd move. I highly recommend seeing a Tyler performance at least once, as it’s a truly unique concert experience.