After a very slow year of production in 2016—He was only featured on two songs, “Go (Gas),” by Domo Genesis and “Telephone Calls” by A$AP Mob—Flower Boy is Tyler, The Creator’s return to relevance in the hip-hop community. With Odd Future (the rap group Tyler is most commonly associated with) basically disbanding, many fans were expecting a return to the outrageous antics and songs Tyler has always been known for. Instead, he delivers a mature, surprisingly deep and emotional project, where he acknowledges his own insecurities, tackles philosophical questions about his own identity, questions his sexuality, and gives fans a deeper look into himself: something many have been waiting for.

In the song “November,” Tyler not only addresses his fears and anxiety about a variety of things, but also reflects on a time in his life called ‘November,’ which is a metaphor for a place of genuine happiness, a simpler time where he didn’t need to worry about the pressures of fashion, music, and his celebrity lifestyle. His ‘November’ is the summer of ‘06, where, according to Rap Genius, he spent his days skateboarding and hanging out with fellow rapper, Vince Staples. Tyler was 15 in the summer of 2006, and he longs for the carefree, nonchalant lifestyle of his early teens, which is in stark contrast to his current celebrity status. His lyrics, masterfully laid over a jazzy beat, explore his paranoia about his finances, his manager (Christian Clancy), his own friends’ reaction to the album, and his relevancy in the music making community. As a controversial artist —many of his early works include imagery of rape and murder— Tyler is insecure about his legacy and what he will be known for years down the line. He worries that his alternative take on rap is “too weird for the masses” (Verse 1, Line 8), and expresses concern that he will just be the flavor of the month, rather than making a lasting impact on the genre. He wants his music to be well received and known, rather than the cult-classic reputation that his earlier projects garnered.

His need to be relevant and his insecurity about his popularity displayed in the song are especially ironic, because with the release of Flower Boy, Tyler established himself as the breakthrough artist of the Summer; his work has received wide acclaim, whether from fans or critics—Tyler jumped from being ranked 18th on Complex’s “20 Best Rappers In Their 20’s”, to 4th, ahead of mainstream artists such as Quavo, Travis Scott, Big Sean, and A$AP Rocky.    

With the song “November”, Tyler, The Creator displays a previously unforeseen level of woke-ness that left many music fans stunned. Not only did he put to rest questions surrounding his dedication and sincerity to Hip-Hop, but he also showed a deep and personable side of his character, that has undoubtedly created many more Tyler, The Creator fanatics and fans.

Hope you all have a great October and ‘November,’ Suibhne.