| "St. Chroma" | |
|---|---|
| Promotional single byTyler, the Creator featuringDaniel Caesar | |
| from the albumChromakopia | |
| Released | October 28, 2024 |
| Genre | [1][2][3] |
| Length | 3:17 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriters | |
| Producers | Tyler, the Creator |
| Music video | |
| "St. Chroma" onYouTube | |
"St. Chroma" is a song by American rapper and producerTyler, the Creator featuring Canadian singerDaniel Caesar. It was released on Tyler, the Creator's eighth studio album,Chromakopia (2024), released throughColumbia Records. The song is ahip-hop,R&B, andneo-soul record. It was written by Tyler, the Creator and Caesar themselves, with the former also producing the song. The song was released as apromotional single on the October 28, 2024, the same day the album was released.
Upon its release, the song was positively received bymusic critics, who praised the instrumentation and vocals. Commercially, the song charted at number 7 on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Tyler, the Creator's highest-peaking song on the chart. It also topped theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and peaked within the top 10 of charts in Australia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. It was additionally certified Platinum in the United States. A brief music video served as the album's trailer.
The song is ahip-hop,R&B, andneo-soul record. It was written by Tyler, the Creator and Caesar themselves, with the former also producing the song. The song finds Tyler, the Creator rapping in a whispering tone,[4][3] over a beat consisting of marching stomps and handclaps,[3][5] synthesizers,[6][7] choir[6][8] and flute.[7] Daniel Caesar performs in soulful vocals reminiscent of gospel, singing "Can you feel the light inside? Can you feel that fire?"[3][5] The artists' vocals also intertwine during this part.[9] The title refers to Tyler, the Creator's new alter-ego.[10]
The song was acclaimed by music critics. Tom Breihan ofStereogum remarked, "Judging by its brief length and past precedent, the video probably doesn't include the entire song. What we hear, however, is awesome. Tyler raps in a menacing whisper over marching boots, eerieJohn Carpenter-ass synths, and gospel-informed choirs. Just as the video ends, the beat drops and immediately slides into the chaoticPlayboi Carti song. Mission accomplished. I'm excited."[6] Niall Smith ofClash stated "The march-bound opener 'St. Chroma' sets pace pretty effectively. The song's soulful vocals crescendo into a fiery, sweltering cocktail of self-doubt, rumbling drums and mantras of anti-fame."[11] Jeff Ihaza ofRolling Stone wrote of the song, "a familiar constellation of sounds that arrives with a level of precision that seems final, as if Tyler's now seen his signature sound to completion. Tyler's penchant for angelic-sounding string arrangements is at its most potent on the track, with vocals from Daniel Caesar, while, lyrically, he's vibrant and dynamic, switching up his flow as he brags from a place less material and more metaphysical."[12]
Heven Haile ofPitchfork wrote, "A flute mimicking ululations sounds like a battle cry under militaristic stomps on opener 'St. Chroma.' Tyler whisper-raps as if to say, Listen close, I have something important to tell you. That, along with Daniel Caesar's ethereal gospel vocals asking 'Can you feel that fire?' and a modular synth speeding up its frequency like a kettle about to blow, makes it feel like we're traversing space and time straight into Tyler's psyche."[7] David Crone ofAllMusic considered it "Tyler's strongest intro to date", calling it "an immediate collage of intent, flip-flopping from scratchy militarism to soaring gospel", and described the song as part of a "militia-like opening trio" (alongside the songs "Rah Tah Tah" and "Noid") that "creates a brilliant, unified new sound".[13]
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In theUnited States, the song charted at number 7 on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Tyler, the Creator's highest-charting song on the Hot 100 to date. It would also top theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It would later be certified Platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for equivalent sales of 1,000,000 units in the country. InAustralia, the song charted at number 15 on theAustralian Singles Chart and peaked at number 2 on their Hip-Hop/R&B chart. InCanada, the song charted at number 21 on theCanadian Hot 100. It would later be certified Gold byMusic Canada (MC) for equivalent sales of 40,000 units in the country. InNew Zealand, the song charted at number 11 on theNew Zealand Singles Chart. In theUnited Kingdom, the song charted at number 15 on theUK Singles Chart and peaked at number 2 on theUK Hip Hop/R&B Chart. The song also charted at number 10 on theGlobal 200.
In theCzech Republic, the song charted at number 71 on the Singles Digital Top 100 chart. InIceland, the song charted at number 10 on theTónlistinn chart. InIreland, the song charted at number 10 on theIrish Singles Chart. InLatvia, the song charted at number 4 on theLatvian Music Producers Association (LalPA) charts. InLithuania, the song charted at number 9 on theAGATA charts. InNetherlands, the song charted at number 53 on theDutch Single Top 100. InNorway, the song charted at number 37 on theVG-lista chart. InPoland, the song charted at number 41 on the Polish Streaming Top 100. InSlovakia, the song charted at number 48 on their Singles Digital Top 100. InSouth Africa, the song charted at number 20 on theThe Official South African Charts. InSweden, the song charted at number 93 on theSverigetopplistan chart. InSwitzerland, the song charted at number 43 on theSchweizer Hitparade.
A music video was released for the song on October 16, 2024, and was the first promotional material for the album. Initially shot with a sepia filter, a masked Tyler (also known with the pseudonym "St.Chroma") with a green suit leads a line of 10 men wearing matching suits, their faces hidden. Tyler steps out of the line and directs the men to a large green shipping container with theChromakopia logo spray-painted on the front. The men go inside, as well as Tyler who rejoins the line. The container closes, and Tyler appears in the foreground and detonates the container via button press. At the end of the video, it cuts to the word "Chromakopia" in all black against a solid green background.[3][14][excessive citations]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[38] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[40] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| EPs | |
| Singles | |
| Featured singles | |
| Promotional singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Filmography | |
| Concert tours | |
| Related articles | |
