California rapper Tyler, The Creator, reached a new height of stardom with his eighth studio album “Chromakopia.”
“Chromakopia” was released in October, with the world tour being announced shortly after, so passing this opportunity up was not an option. Once tickets were secured back in November, living my full-time student life distracted me from the long-awaited and exciting night approaching in April. Before I knew it, it was time to head to Washington D.C. for the final show of the “Chromakopia” U.S. leg tour.
The D.C show was held at the Capitol One Arena with concert-goers in a sea of elaborate outfits that referenced various eras of the artist. The fan base was diverse, with everyone from Gen X to Gen Alpha being chaperoned by their parents in attendance. Paris Texas and Lil Yachty were the openers, and after about an hour of them setting the tone with crowd favorites, it was time for Tyler, The Creator to hit the stage.
Opening with “St. Chroma,” a kaleidoscope of dark green strobe lights and fireworks, the crowd erupted to the extravagant introduction and remained rowdy throughout the remainder of the show. The set itself was compilation of the musician’s work, with performances of more recent tracks like “Darling, I,” “Like Him” and “Rah Tah Tah, while also revisiting smash hits such as “See You Again” and “EARFQUAKE.”
The rapper was a conversationalist, taking pauses between songs to crack jokes with the crowd, sharing the personal experiences that serve as the subject matter of his songs and expressing appreciation for every fan who contributed to the show becoming a reality. He was also flirtatious, occasionally shouting out the beautiful women that he spotted in the crowd. The cinematography of the concert was out of this world, with no shortage of explosions, fire, colorful light displays, money throwing or stunning visuals to accompany each track.
I say all of this to say that a Tyler, The Creator show is worth every penny and this show was the best I have attended so far. I escorted my younger cousin, and don’t think she could have had a better experience as her very first concert.
It was more than just a show – it was an unparalleled experience, and a memory that I will get to share with one of my favorite people for years to come. With the music world currently being oversaturated with mediocrity, it was refreshing to see an artist who pours themselves into their craft and takes it seriously.