Tyler, the Creator | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Tyler, the Creator atPrimavera Sound 2022 | |
| Born | Tyler Gregory Okonma (1991-03-06)March 6, 1991 (age 34) |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Organization | Golf Wang |
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| Awards | Full list |
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Musical artist | |
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally asTyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor.[2] He has been described as an influential figure inalternative hip-hop during the 2010s and 2020s.[3] In the late 2000s he led and co-founded the music collectiveOdd Future. Within the group, Tyler participated as a rapper, producer, director and actor, releasing studio albums that he produced for its respective members. Tyler also performed on the group's sketch comedy showLoiter Squad (2012–2014).
Along with his collaborations with the group, Tyler developed his solo career beginning with his self-released debut studio album,Bastard (2009). His second studio album,Goblin (2011), brought him mainstream media exposure, aided by the popularity of the single "Yonkers" and its accompanying music video. During this period, Tyler faced controversy in the media for hishorrorcore-influenced sound and his violent,transgressive lyrical content.
After the release of his third studio album,Wolf (2013), Tyler began to separate himself from his horrorcore productions, turning to more accessible sounds incorporating fusions ofjazz,soul andR&B. In 2015, Tyler released his fourth studio album,Cherry Bomb, which featured guest appearances from artistsLil Wayne andKanye West. In 2017, Tyler releasedFlower Boy, which earned him widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.Igor (2019) andCall Me If You Get Lost (2021) debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200 and wonBest Rap Album at the2020 and2022 Grammy Awards, respectively.[4] His following albums, the eclecticChromakopia (2024) and thedance-imbuedDon't Tap the Glass (2025), both debuted at number one in the US, with the former yielding the highest first-week sales of his career.
Aside from his musical productions, he embarked on clothing venturesGolf Wang andLe Fleur, collaborating withLacoste,Converse andLouis Vuitton. Tyler is the founder of theCamp Flog Gnaw Carnival music festival, which has been held annually since 2012, and has featured appearances from Kanye West,Drake,Kendrick Lamar,Lana Del Rey, andBillie Eilish. He has also directed all of the music and promotional videos of his career, under the pseudonym "Wolf Haley". Tyler has won twoGrammy Awards,[5] threeBET Hip Hop Awards, aBRIT Award, and aMTV Video Music Award. In 2019, he was named "Music Innovator of the Year" byThe Wall Street Journal.[6] In 2024, theLos Angeles Times featured Tyler in its "L.A. Influential" series as a "creator who is leaving their mark" in Los Angeles.[7] In 2025, Tyler collaborated withFortnite to create 2 skins, 4 backblings, 3 emotes, and other cosmetic items.[8]
Tyler Gregory Okonma[9] was born on March 6, 1991 inHawthorne, California, a suburb ofLos Angeles.[10] the son of a NigerianIgbo father[11] and an African-American and European-Canadian mother.[12] He spent his early life living in Hawthorne before moving toLadera Heights at 17.[10][13][14] At the age of seven, Okonma took covers out of CD cases and create covers for his own imaginary albums—including atracklist with song lengths—before he could make music.[15] At the age of 14, he taught himself to play the piano.[11]
In his 12 years of schooling, Okonma attended 12 different schools in the Los Angeles andSacramento areas.[16] In the eighth grade, he joined a drama class and was removed for being toohyperactive, while in the ninth grade, he was not allowed to join the band class because he could not read music.[17] He attendedWestchester High School, where he befriendedLionel Boyce in a theater class.[18]
Okonma worked atFedEx for under two weeks, and atStarbucks for over two years.[19] He took his stage name from aMyspace page he used to post his creative endeavors.[20]
When Okonma was 15, he had a YouTube channel named "bloxhead".[21] His first YouTube video was released on February 28, 2008. He posted videos until October 2009, when he stopped uploading to focus on his debut album,Bastard. The channel was originally titled "I Smell Panties" named after his comedy hip-hop duo group with Jasper Dolphin.[22]
Tyler co-founded thealternative hip hop collectiveOdd Future in 2007, alongsideHodgy, Left Brain, andCasey Veggies. They self-released their debut mixtape,The Odd Future Tape, in November 2008. On December 25, 2009, Tyler self-released his first album,Bastard. It was eventually ranked 32nd onPitchfork Media's list of the Top Albums of 2010.[23] On February 11, 2011, Tyler released the music video for "Yonkers". The video received attention from several online media outlets.[24][25][26][27] An extended version with a third verse was made available oniTunes.[28] Tyler won Best New Artist for "Yonkers" at the2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[29] Tyler's thematic content in these first two solo projects led fans and publications alike to categorize him in thehorrorcore scene, although he vehemently rejected his connection with it.[30][non-primary source needed]
In early 2011, Tyler was gaining the interest of a number of figures in the music industry, includingSteve Rifkind,Jimmy Iovine,Rick Ross andJay-Z.[31] Tyler and the rest of Odd Future eventually signed a deal with Red Distribution/Sony in April 2011.[32] His second studio album,Goblin, was released May 10, 2011.[33] Tyler and fellow Odd Future member Hodgy Beats made their television debut on February 16, 2011, when they performed "Sandwitches" onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon.[34] On March 16, Tyler and Hodgy performed "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards, being joined by other members of Odd Future during "Sandwitches".[35] During an interview with Tyler forInterview,Waka Flocka Flame expressed his interest in collaborating with the Odd Future frontman to direct a music video for him.[36] In early 2011, Tyler told fans through hisFormspring account that his third album would be calledWolf and it was scheduled to be released in May 2012.[citation needed] Tyler also announced that Odd Future would establish their own TV show calledLoiter Squad. On September 8, 2011, the show was finally confirmed as a 15-minute live-action show composed of various sketches, man on the street segments, pranks and music made by Odd Future.Dickhouse Productions, the production partnership that createdJackass, was scheduled to produce the show.[citation needed]
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Odd Future's television showLoiter Squad premiered onAdult Swim on March 25, 2012. The show ran for three seasons and featured guest appearances from celebrities, includingJohnny Knoxville,Lil Wayne andSeth Rogen. In 2015, Tyler stated that the show "is no more".[37] On February 14, 2013,Odd Future uploaded a video to their YouTube account, which includes L-Boy skydiving and stating thatWolf would be released on April 2, 2013. The same day, Tyler would reveal the three album covers via his Instagram account.[38]
In promotion ofWolf, Tyler performed several guest verses for other artists, notably "Trouble on My Mind" byGOOD Music artistPusha T, "Martians vs. Goblins" byThe Game (also featuringLil Wayne), "I'ma Hata" byDJ Drama (also featuringWaka Flocka Flame and D-Bo), the title track from fellow Odd Future memberDomo Genesis' collaboration album withThe Alchemist,No Idols, and "Blossom & Burn" byTrash Talk (also featuringHodgy Beats). Tyler also co-produced the song "666" fromMellowHype's third albumNumbers, which featuredMike G.[citation needed] Through March and April 2013, Tyler toured North America and Europe.[38] The first single from the album was released on February 14, 2013, titled "Domo23" along with the music video which features cameos fromDomo Genesis,Earl Sweatshirt, Jasper Dolphin andTaco Bennett.[39] On February 26, 2013, Tyler performed the songs "Domo23" and "Treehome95" onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon.[40]
Wolf was released on April 2, 2013, byOdd Future Records andRED Distribution underSony Music Entertainment. It featuredguest appearances by Frank Ocean, Mike G, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Left Brain, Hodgy Beats,Pharrell,Casey Veggies andErykah Badu. The album was produced solely by Tyler, except for the final track "Lone". Along with the lead single "Domo23", music videos were filmed for "Bimmer", "IFHY" and "Jamba". Upon release, the album was met with generally positive reviews and debuted at number three on theBillboard 200, selling 90,000 copies in its first week.[citation needed] On January 31, 2014, Tyler was reported to be working withMac DeMarco.[41]
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On April 9, 2015, Tyler released the music video for the song "Fucking Young" to Odd Future's official YouTube channel. The video also included a short snippet of another song, "Deathcamp".[42] Tyler announced on the same day that the songs will be featured on his upcoming albumCherry Bomb, set for release on April 13, 2015.[43] Tyler announced via his Twitter account that the album would featureCharlie Wilson,Chaz Bundick andBlack Lips member Cole Alexander.[44][non-primary source needed] Two days later, Tyler performed the songs "Fucking Young" and "Deathcamp" for the first time atCoachella. During the set, Tyler notably criticizedVIP members in the audience, of which many were celebrities, for their lack of enthusiasm.[45]
Cherry Bomb was released digitally on April 13, 2015, throughOdd Future Records,[46] with physical copies of the album, featuring five different album covers,[47] set to be released on April 28, 2015.[48][non-primary source needed][49][non-primary source needed] The album features performances from notable artists such asKanye West,Lil Wayne andSchoolboy Q.[50][51] The album was supported by a world tour through North America, Europe and Asia, beginning atCoachella Festival on April 11, 2015, and ending in Tokyo, Japan in September 2015.[52] Tyler cancelled the Australian leg of his Cherry Bomb World Tour following a campaign by the grassroots organization Collective Shout to bar him from returning to Australia due to their opinion that his music promotes and glorifies violence against women.[53]
On August 26, 2015, Tyler revealed that he had been banned from visiting the United Kingdom for three to five years, which forced him to cancel a string of tour dates supporting theCherry Bomb album, including theReading and Leeds Festivals. The reason for the ban comes from lyrics dating back to 2009. His manager Christian Clancy said they were informed of the ban via a letter from then-Home SecretaryTheresa May.[54] May cited lyrics from the albumBastard as the reason for the ban, although Tyler had toured multiple times in the UK since its release.[55][56] Tyler later claimed that he felt he had been treated "like a terrorist" and implied that the ban was racially motivated, stating that "they did not like the fact that their children were idolizing a black man".[57]
On April 8, 2017, Frank Ocean released a song titled "Biking" on hisBeats 1 radio station "Blonded Radio", which features both Tyler, the Creator, andJay Z. Eight days later it was announced Tyler would write, produce, and perform the theme song for scientistBill Nye's new show,Bill Nye Saves the World. On June 28, the trailer for Tyler's TV showNuts + Bolts premiered onViceland. The show focuses on things Tyler, the Creator, finds interesting or is passionate about, and explains how they are created. The series premiered on August 3, 2017.[58]
On June 29, 2017, Tyler released the song "Who Dat Boy" featuringASAP Rocky on a new YouTube channel, following many promotional countdown posts on his social media accounts. Later that night, he released the song on streaming services alongside a new song titled "911 / Mr. Lonely" featuringSteve Lacy, Frank Ocean, and Anna of the North. On July 6, 2017, he announced the title, tracklist and release date of his fifth album,Flower Boy,[59] which was released on July 21, 2017.[60] Several singles were released following up to the album's release date, including "Boredom" and "I Ain't Got Time!". The album was released viaiTunes,Spotify, and other major music services. On September 14, 2017, Tyler, the Creator, announced his third TV show to date,The Jellies!. It premiered on October 22, 2017.[61]Flower Boy received rave reviews from critics and was nominated forBest Rap Album at the60th Annual Grammy Awards, giving Tyler his second Grammy nomination after contributing to 2013Album of the Year nomineeChannel Orange, but was beat out byKendrick Lamar's fourth studio albumDamn.
On March 29, 2018, Tyler released "Okra",[62] among a string of freestyles and remixes. Tyler referred to it as a "throwaway song",[63] stating that it was not going to be included on any upcoming album, and was not an indication of the sound of any future projects.[64][non-primary source needed] On May 22, 2018, he released "435",[65] continuing this string of singles. On July 23, 2018, Tyler andASAP Rocky announced a collaborative project,WANG$AP, by releasing a music video for a remix ofMonica's "Knock Knock" called "Potato Salad" on "AWGE DVD (Vol. 3)", a video compilation by AWGE, ASAP Rocky's creative agency.[66]
On May 6, 2019, Tyler released two short video clips on his online profiles which featured new music. The videos showed him dancing erratically while wearing a long blonde wig, multicolored suit, black sunglasses, and agrill; he donned the same style for pictures on his social media and the music videos for the album's singles. He soon announced his sixth studio album,Igor, which was released on May 17.[67]Igor was met with widespread critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200, becoming Tyler's first number-one album in the United States.[68] The album also features the song "Earfquake", which peaked at number 13 on theBillboard Hot 100.[69] On December 23, 2019, Tyler released two songs, "Best Interest", a song that did not make the cut ofIgor that was released with a music video, and "Group B".[70]
On January 26, 2020, Tyler won his first-ever Grammy at the62nd Grammy Awards, winningBest Rap Album forIgor.[71] Tyler admitted that while he was "very grateful" for his win, the categorizing of his music as rap is a "backhanded compliment".[72] "It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that's genre-bending or that's anything they always put it in a rap or urban category. I don't like that 'urban' word — it's just a politically correct way to say then-word to me," he said. He also added that he would love to be recognized on a more mainstream level and not forever pigeonholed in "urban" categories.
For his seventh studio album,Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler placedbillboards in major cities across the world containing a phone number that when called, played a recorded conversation between Tyler and his mother.[73] That recording is included in the album as "Momma Talk".[74][75] Soon after the billboards were spotted, a website of the same name was discovered.[76] The album's lead single, "Lumberjack", was released on June 16.[77] The following day, Tyler revealed the album's cover and confirmed its release date of June 25.[78] Upon release, it received widespread critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200, becoming Tyler's second number-one album in the United States.[79] On January 5, 2022, Tyler, the Creator, was announced as a headliner of Louisville'sForecastle Festival scheduled for May 27–29, 2022.[80]
Louis Vuitton's Men's Fall-Winter 2022 fashion show, held atCarreau du Temple, Paris was one of the last shows put together by the late fashion designer andLouis Vuitton creative directorVirgil Abloh. This show was scored by Tyler, the Creator. His score was arranged byArthur Verocai and it wasGustavo Dudamel who conducted the live performance by theChineke! Orchestra.[81][82]
On March 25, 2022, Tyler appeared on two tracks offNigo's albumI Know Nigo!, the opening track "Lost and Found Freestyle 2019" withA$AP Rocky, and the closer, "Come On, Let's Go", the latter of which was released along with a music video showcasing Tyler's Golf le Fleur* clothing line.[83]Call Me If You Get Lost won the award for Best Rap Album at the64th Grammy Awards.
On March 27, 2023, Tyler revealedCall Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale, which would include songs recorded forCall Me If You Get Lost but did not appear on the final album, including the single "Dogtooth", which was released on the day of the announcement, alongside a music video.[84] On Twitter, Tyler stated that "Call Me If You Get Lost was the first album I made with a lot of songs that didn't make the final cut".[85] On March 29, 2023, another single "Sorry Not Sorry" was released, alongside a music video.[86]The Estate Sale was released on March 31, 2023,[84] along with a music video for the song "Wharf Talk".[87]
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On April 13, 2024, Tyler performed a headliner set atCoachella, closing out Saturday night with a performance that included guest appearances fromChildish Gambino,ASAP Rocky, andKali Uchis along with a duet of "Earfquake" withCharlie Wilson.[88] He began the set bursting through the wall of a fake trailer usingpyrotechnics, before performing tracks from across his discography. Critics labeled the performance as an "exhilarating, high-stakes spectacle",[89] and a "brilliant reminder of a cult hero's power".[90]
On October 16, 2024, Tyler revealed the name of his next album asChromakopia in a teaser video titled "St. Chroma". On October 21, Tyler released the single, "Noid".[91] The album was released on October 28.[92][93] Following this, Tyler performed the album at smaller venues and in public.[94] He also performed the album at the 10th edition of the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival on November 16. He announcedChromakopia: The World Tour, his seventh headlining concert tour in support of the album on October 23, 2024.[95] It started on February 4, 2025, inSaint Paul and is set to conclude on September 21, 2025, inQuezon City. He also announced thatLil Yachty andParis Texas would serve as supporting acts for the tour.
Tyler made a guest appearance onClipse's fifth album,Let God Sort Em Out on the album's third track, "P.O.V." Unbeknownst to many of his fans, Tyler began work in January onDon't Tap the Glass, his ninth album while on tour.[96] On Instagram and Twitter, he began teasing its release as well as erecting an art installation outside the venue during a concert on July 18. On July 19, a website (donttaptheglass.com) was established and all products from the Golf Wang website were briefly removed and were replaced with merchandise for the album, including a pre-order for a vinyl and CD format of the album.[97] On the eve of the album's release, Tyler held a listening party for 300 guests at theHollywood Forever Cemetery, disallowing phones and camera from the venue. The album was released on July 21 through Columbia Records and received generally positive reviews, critics describing it as adance,techno andhouse album. A music video was uploaded to YouTube for the track "Stop Playing With Me", with Clipse,LeBron James andMaverick Carter appearing in the video.[98] Following its release, Tyler said his inspiration for the album was video recording at concerts, attributing it to the decline of dancing publicly. He encouraged listeners to enjoy the album "at full volume" and to dance while doing so.[99]
On August 12, 2025, Tyler released the self-directed video for "Sugar on My Tongue," featuring a provocative and surreal narrative set in a white-tiled room, blending elements of rave culture, BDSM, and absurdist humor, as part ofDon't Tap the Glass.[100] The song also spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard Top 100, marking Tyler's longest-charting song.[101] Tyler earned five nominations for the 68th Annual Grammy awards for his work onChromakopia andDon't Tap the Glass, including Album of the Year and Best Rap Album forChromakopia, Best Alternative Music album forDon't Tap the Glass, and Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his songs "Sticky" and "Darling, I", respectively.[102] Tyler also made his feature film debut, starring in the upcomingA24 sports filmMarty Supreme alongsideTimothée Chalamet.[103] On November 20, Tyler was named Apple Music's Artist of the Year for 2025.[104]
Tyler's music has been described asalternative hip-hop,[105][106]hip hop,[107]neo soul,[105]West Coast hip hop,[108]jazz rap,[105] andhardcore hip hop, while his early music has been described ashorrorcore.[107][109] When Tyler emerged on the music scene as a "strange figure" of the Internet and one of the leaders of the music collectiveOdd Future, his musical productions instinctively became noted for resembling those ofPharrell Williams and his works inN.E.R.D andThe Neptunes during the 2000s,[110][111] which Tyler has referenced as his greatest inspirations and references.[112] Thehorrorcore-based aesthetics and transgressive lyrical content of his debut and second albumsBastard andGoblin were influenced by Eminem, especially his albumRelapse (2009), which according to Tyler, is one of his favorites.[113][114][non-primary source needed] When asked about the reason for his offensive content in his lyrics, Tyler responded that "they are not offensive" and that "I just like to piss off old white dudes."[115] The "nihilistic" and dark aesthetic of his early work was heavily criticized in online music communities for including lyrics in which he talked about rape and murder. The music video for "Yonkers", which featured Tyler eating a cockroach and committing suicide at the end, attracted controversy in the media, as well as being posted byKanye West on his Twitter account, calling it "the video of 2011".[116]
As the de facto leader of Odd Future during the early 2010s, the group quickly gained notable attention from the media and the Internet, comparing them to theWu-Tang Clan for their rebellious attitude and refusal to fall within industry standards.[117] However, Tyler quickly denied these comparisons: "we are in a completely different thing".[118] The group's "DIY" approach made a strong impact on hip-hop, releasing music and content whenever they wanted through unconventional platforms such as YouTube,Tumblr orMyspace, influencing artists to take an alternative path in building their careers.[119][120] The group and Tyler also influenced fashion, beginning to popularizeurban clothing under thestreetwearSupreme andConverse brands, in addition to their own brand "Golf Wang" with its striking colorful aesthetic.[121] Tyler also brought a new wave of attention toskateboarding andbiking as he was constantly seen riding aBMX or skateboard around Los Angeles.[122][123] Several members of the group, such asFrank Ocean andEarl Sweatshirt, would go on to have successful musical careers, while alternative groups such asThe Internet, led bySyd andSteve Lacy, would spawn.
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From the release of his third studio albumWolf, critics noticed a musical change in Tyler's productions, venturing into more accessible and melodic sounds through fusions ofjazz,R&B andsoul, including collaborations with artists from those genres such asErykah Badu,Charlie Wilson or Frank Ocean.[124] He also took a more intimate approach in his lyrics, talking about his father's abandonment in the song "Answer". However, his next release, Cherry Bomb, had a mixed reception from fans and critics for its experimental production, in which Tyler decided to "create only songs" without any connection between them, with a more "aggressive" and "noisy" aesthetic.[125]The Medium would write in an analysis that "(Cherry Bomb) is the album that signaled this change and would pave the way for his follow-up'sFlower Boy andIgor to build upon, in terms of Tyler's style of production and lyricism." Around this time, Tyler would indefinitely step away from his responsibilities with Odd Future, signing with the record labelColumbia Records.
Tyler's fifth album,Flower Boy, "marked the beginning of a new era — a complete departure from the wildly offensive lyrics and dark themes that defined his previous works".[126]Igor, Tyler's first Grammy-winning album, was a deeply personal concept album about "the emotional journey of being the odd man out in a love triangle",[127] whileCall Me If You Get Lost, his second Grammy-winning album, was a concept album about "the persona of "Tyler Baudelaire", a suave, well-traveled gentleman with a sophisticated taste for high art". This latest trilogy established Tyler as one of the most acclaimed and highest-rated artists of his generation and decade.[128] During his acceptance of the Cultural Influence Award at theBET Awards, Tyler thankedQ-Tip,André 3000,Chad Hugo,Kanye West,Missy Elliott,Busta Rhymes, andHype Williams as his influences.[128] In addition to music, Tyler also established himself in the fashion industry with Golf Le Fleur, a high-end luxury line described to "embody the globe-trotting mise en scène of his 2021 albumCall Me If You Get Lost".[129]
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Okonma has been a skateboarder since 2002 and collectsBMX bicycles.[130][131] He is anatheist.[132][133][134][135][136] Okonma hasasthma,[137] and has been seen using aninhaler while on stage.[138] For this reason, he follows astraight edge lifestyle.[139]
Okonma has been the subject of speculation regarding hissexuality and has made numerous direct references in lyrics and interviews to having had same-sex relationships or experiencing same-sex attractions.[140][141][142] He described himself in a 2015Rolling Stone interview as "gay as fuck" and said "My friends are so used to me being gay. They don't even care."[143] In 2017, during an interview withNoisey, Okonma said that by age 15 he already had a boyfriend.[144] In a 2018 interview withFantastic Man, while discussing theFlower Boy lyric "I been kissing white boys since 2004" and the public response to it, Okonma said "It's still such a grey area with people, which is cool with me. Even though I'm considered loud and out there, I'm private, which is a weird dichotomy."[143]Igor follows what many interpreted to be a romantic relationship between Okonma and a closetedbisexual man,[145][146][147] while the song "Wilshire" onCall Me If You Get Lost has the lyric "I could fuck a trillion bitches every country I done been in/Men or women, it don't matter, if I seen 'em, then I had 'em". The song "Sorry Not Sorry" from the deluxe version of the album includes the lyric "Sorry to the guys I had to hide/Sorry to the girls I had to lie to", referring to his hiding male lovers from the public.[148]
Okonma has been criticized for his use ofhomophobic slurs, particularly his frequent use of the epithet "faggot" in his lyrics and on Twitter.[149][150] He has denied accusations of homophobia, stating, "I'm not homophobic. I just sayfaggot and usegay as an adjective to describe stupid shit,"[151][152] and, "I'm not homophobic. I just thinkfaggot hits and hurts people."[153] However, he later said in an interview withMTV, "Well, I have gay fans and they don't really take it offensive, so I don't know. If it offends you, it offends you. If you call me anigger, I really don't care, but that's just me, personally. Some people might take it the other way; I personally don't give a shit."[154][155] Okonma supported fellowOdd Future memberFrank Ocean after Ocean publicly revealed a past relationship with another man.[156] Lyrics on the albumFlower Boy led to speculation that Okonma wascoming out as gay; the tracks in question were "Foreword", "Garden Shed", and "I Ain't Got Time!"[157][158]
On December 22, 2011, Okonma was arrested on suspicion of vandalism after allegedly destroying equipment during a show atThe Roxy Theatre inWest Hollywood. A fan recorded video depicted Okonma throwing a microphone at a sound engineer.[159] Okonma subsequently paid $8,000 in damages to The Roxy.[160]
On March 15, 2014, Okonma was arrested inAustin, Texas, for inciting a riot after telling fans to push past security guards at hisSouth by Southwest performance. Okonma faced up to one year in prison and a $4,000 fine.[161] Okonma's lawyer, Perry Minton, argued that the riot charge was overblown and perpetuated misconceptions of his client, who had no criminal record. The charges were later dropped.[162]
On August 26, 2015, Okonma revealed that he had been banned from visiting the United Kingdom for three to five years, which forced him to cancel tour dates supporting theCherry Bomb album, including theReading and Leeds Festivals. His manager Christian Clancy said they were informed of the ban via a letter from then-Home SecretaryTheresa May.[54] May cited lyrics from the 2009 albumBastard as the reason for the ban, although Okonma had toured multiple times in the UK since its release.[55][56] Okonma later said that he felt he had been treated like a terrorist and implied that the ban was racially motivated, stating that "they did not like the fact that their children were idolizing a black man."[57] According to the BBC, it is believed the ban was lifted in February 2019,[163] concurring with a scheduled performance in London to promoteIgor. However, the 2019 show was forcibly cancelled by police due to safety concerns that the venue was "overcrowded" and "too rowdy."[163] After winningInternational Male Solo Artist at the2020 Brit Awards, Okonma referenced the ban. "I wanna give a special shout out to someone who I hold dear to my heart, who made it where I couldn't come to this country five years ago," he said. "I know she's at home pissed off. Thank you Theresa May."[164]
From 2010 to 2011, Okonma made a series ofsexually explicit comments directed towardsSelena Gomez over Twitter.[165][166] In a 2013 interview, he stated that he and Selena were not on good terms, explaining, "We don't really get along. She don't like me. We don't like each other. Because I'm kicking it withJustin — like that's my homeboy. She always be mean muggin' me. Like why are you hating on me?"[167] In 2021, Okonma made the public apology in his song "Manifesto" in his studio albumCall Me If You Get Lost.[168][169] Tyler Aquilina ofEntertainment Weekly wrote of the controversy, "Tyler was known as a provocateur at that point in his career, and was frequently criticized for what many observers called homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, including depictions of violence against women".[170]
In October 2025, when Okonma made a tribute towards American singerD'Angelo shortly after his death on X, he criticized his white fans for disrespecting the singer's death. Social media users made arguments against Okonma, claiming he had cultivated an anti-black white fanbase early in his career and that Okonma hated himself and his own Blackness.[171] Controversial tweets resurfaced among the drama. Amidst theFerguson riots, Okonma tweeted "AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY MAD RIGHT NOW BUT IN 2 WEEKS WILL BE OVER IT CAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T CARE, COOL HASTHAG THO RIGHT?" and had also criticizedaffirmative action, tweeting "Hahahahaha, Some Black Chick Works Here. Affirmative Nigga."[172] X users also highlighted images of Okonma wearingKu Klux Klan robes andwhiteface.
Eminem, in his 2018 single "Fall", referred to Okonma as a "faggot" and implied that he explored sexuality in his music for attention.[173] Eminem also attacked Okonma for being critical of his single "Walk on Water" andShady XV (2014).[174] After receiving backlash for his lyrics,[175] Eminem responded in an interview withSway, saying, "I think the word that I called him was one of the things where I felt like this might be too far. In my quest to hurt him, I realized I was hurting a lot of other people. It was one of the things that I kept going back to. Not feeling right with this." In an interview withThe Guardian, Okonma responded, saying, "[The "Fall" line] was okay. Did you ever hear me publicly say anything about that? I knew what the intent was. He felt pressured because people got offended for me. We were playingGrand Theft Auto when we heard it. We rewound it and [shrugged]. Then kept playing."[176]
In June 2019, afterIgor debuted at number 1 on theBillboard 200 overDJ Khaled's albumFather of Asahd, DJ Khaled posted a video on Instagram, criticizing Okonma's music saying, "I make albums so people can play it and you actually hear it. [If] driving your car, you hear another car playing it, go to the barbershop, you hear them playing it [and] turn the radio on, and you hear them playing it. It's called great music. It's called albums [where] you actually hear the songs. Not no mysterious shit you never hear the songs".[177] He then deleted the video.
On August 6, 2021, Okonma spoke about the DJ Khaled controversy onHot 97, stating that he enjoyed "just watching a man die inside because the weirdo is winning". He claimed that DJ Khaled "had to deal with that because his whole identity is being number one and when he didn't get that, that sat with him longer in real life time than that moment. I moved on."[178] Okonma made multiple references to "mysterious music" on Twitter, writing "MYSTERIOUS MUSIC! HA!" after winning Best Rap Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards forCall Me If You Get Lost.[179]
Rolling Stone reported in a November 7, 2023feature story about DJ Khaled that he had expressed interest in collaborating with Tyler, the Creator, and that he asserted they now have a good rapport.[180]
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2013 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Himself | 2011: Performed "Sandwitches" withHodgy Beats 2013: Performed "Treehome95" withCoco O and "Domo23" |
| 2011 | When I Was 17 | ||
| Workaholics | Extra | Episode: "Heist School" | |
| Regular Show | Blitz Comet Big Trouble | Voice roles (Episode: "Rap It Up") | |
| 2012 | Punk'd | Himself | 2 episodes; Season 9, Episodes 2 and 4[137] |
| Ridiculousness | Season 2, Episode 10: Tyler, the Creator, andTaco Bennett | ||
| The Mindy Project | Rapper | Season 1, Episode 10: Mindy's Brother | |
| 2012–2014 | Loiter Squad | Himself | Co-creator, producer, composer |
| 2013 | Late Show with David Letterman | Performed "Rusty" withDomo Genesis andEarl Sweatshirt | |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | |||
| Axe Cop | Liborg | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Black Dynamite | Broto | Season 2, episode 10: "The Wizard of Watts" |
| The Eric André Show | Himself | Season 3, episode 8: "Jimmy Kimmel; Tyler, The Creator"[187] | |
| Tavis Smiley | |||
| 2015, 2017–2019 | The Jellies! | Various | Creator, Executive Producer, composer |
| 2017 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Himself | Performed "911" |
| 2020 | Kidding | Cornell | Season 2[188] |
| 2022 | Big Mouth | Jesus Christ | Season 6, episode 1: The Hookup House[189] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jackass Forever | Himself | Guest appearance |
| Jackass 4.5 | Cameo | ||
| 2024 | Piece by Piece | Mr. Thoroughgood | Cameo; voice role |
| 2025 | Marty Supreme | Wally | Post-production;[190] Credited as Tyler Okonma |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Additional voices | Credited under The Local Population[191] Credited as Tyler Mr. Hot Sauce Haley Wolf 2010 |
| Year | Song | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Bastard" | Tyler, the Creator | Credited as Wolf Haley Co-directed byTaco Bennett |
| "French!"(featuringHodgy Beats) | |||
| "VCR" | |||
| 2011 | "Yonkers" | Credited as Wolf Haley | |
| "She"(featuringFrank Ocean) | |||
| "Bitch Suck Dick"(featuringJasper Dolphin &Taco) | |||
| 2012 | "Rella"(featuring Hodgy Beats,Domo Genesis and Tyler, the Creator) | Odd Future | |
| "NY (Ned Flander)"(featuring Hodgy Beats & Tyler, the Creator) | |||
| "Sam (Is Dead)"(featuring Domo Genesis and Tyler, the Creator) | |||
| "F.E.B.N." | Trash Talk | ||
| 2013 | "Domo 23/Bimmer" | Tyler, the Creator | |
| "Whoa"(featuring Tyler, the Creator) | Earl Sweatshirt | ||
| "IFHY/Jamba"(featuringPharrell and Hodgy Beats) | Tyler, the Creator | ||
| "Tamale/Answer" | |||
| "Glowing" | D.A. Wallach | ||
| 2015 | "Fucking Young/Deathcamp" | Tyler, the Creator | |
| 2016 | "Buffalo/Find Your Wings"(featuring Shane Powers,Roy Ayers, Syd, andKali Uchis) | ||
| "Perfect"(featuring Kali Uchis and Austin Feinstein) | |||
| 2017 | "Who Dat Boy/911"(featuringA$AP Rocky) | ||
| 2018 | "Okra" | ||
| "Potato Salad"(featuringA$AP Rocky) | |||
| "See You Again / Where This Flower Blooms"(featuringKali Uchis andFrank Ocean) | |||
| 2019 | "Earfquake" | ||
| "A Boy Is a Gun" | |||
| "I Think" | |||
| "Best Interest" | |||
| 2021 | "Lumberjack" | ||
| "WusYaName"(featuringYoungboy Never Broke Again andTy Dolla Sign) | |||
| "Juggernaut"(featuringLil Uzi Vert andPharrell Williams) | |||
| "Corso" | |||
| "Lemonhead"(featuring42 Dugg andFrank Ocean) | |||
| 2022 | "Come On, Let's Go"(featuringNigo) | Credited as Tyler Okonma | |
| 2024 | "Noid" | ||
| "Thought I Was Dead"(featuringSchoolboy Q andSantigold) | |||
| 2025 | "Sticky"(featuringGloRilla,Sexyy Red, andLil Wayne) | ||
| "Stop Playing With Me" | |||
| "Sugar on My Tongue" |
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| EPs | |
| Singles | |
| Featured singles | |
| Promotional singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Filmography | |
| Concert tours | |
| Related articles | |
