Ask anyone what their favorite Tyler, the Creator song is, and you'll get vastly different answers. With a whopping nine studio albums to his name, Tyler Okonma has proven to be a juggernaut of the alternative hip-hop space. He's got gruff tracks, delicate pieces, controversial creations, daydreamy singles...he's taken on various stage personas, and there's something for everyone within his expansive discography.
You may know him from his Grammy-winning LPs (Igor and CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST), as well as his most recent rollouts of CHROMAKOPIA and DON'T TAPE THE GLASS. But Tyler was first recognized for his deep roots within the the early 2010's hip-hop scene. Between his founding member status in Odd Future, deep involvement in critically-acclaimed albums like Earl Sweatshirt's Earl and Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, and taste for fashion through his clothing lines Golf Wang and Golf le Fleur, Tyler's definitely earned the "Creator" part of his stage name. He's constantly making things, and the things he makes are ALWAYS quality.
When it comes to his musical evolution, Tyler's come a long way. He started as a gravelly rapper unafraid to be crude in his tracks. His recent songs feature more experimental production and smoother vocals - some may say his tracks reflect an air of opulence and luxury. Whichever era of Tyler you're drawn to, there are standout tracks to be found in both his older and newer albums.
To celebrate Tyler's musical journey and success with his two most recent albums, we thought we'd share our personal top 10 picks for Tyler, the Creator songs! We're also including songs from CHROMAKOPIA and DON'T TAP THE GLASS on this list. Here are our faves!
10. "WUSYANAME"
Listen: we know many critics consider CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST to be one of the best, if not THE best, Tyler album. But as far as individual singles go, there aren't too many that glow as standouts. This is absolutely no flaw of the record, as all of the tracks on Tyler's seventh studio album blend together harmoniously to form something akin to a lavish mixtape. (It didn't win the 2022 Grammy for Best Rap Album for no reason!)
However, we can't leave CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST unrepresented on our list, so we're placing the track "WUSYANAME" at #10. This hit is sure to give you flashbacks to early 2000s' pop classics. Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Youngboy Never Broke Again, and continued involvement from DJ Drama, "WUSYANAME" has Tyler trying to seduce a woman even though he knows she's taken.
Lyrically, this song has a lot to unpack. Many wonder why Tyler tells the girl she looks malnourished, but Tyler explained in a tweet this is because he's using "the worst pick up line ever." It's an example of a comedy element he introduces in CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.
Additionally, the line "I can show you how you can really exfoliate skin" suggests a perk of having him as a boyfriend is that he'll bring skincare tips and tricks to the relationship. This reference is also a throwback to Flower Boy song "Where This Flower Blooms," in which Tyler elaborates on his personal self care methods, including skincare.
9. "IFHY (feat. Pharrell)"
Now for a track off of Tyler's 2013 album, Wolf. This emotional song addresses the critics of Odd Future and the pitfalls of fame. With gorgeous, heavy instrumentals, "IFHY" explores the rough and angry feelings that are linked with unrequited or troubled love.
Tyler is a big fan of Pharrell, and in a tweet, he even stated that working with Pharrell on Wolf was the "number one moment" of his life.
IFHY shows a mastery of music production from Tyler, as the song starts out coarse and techno-heavy. It takes a sweet-ish turn towards the middle, as Pharrell and Tyler suggest the couple can fix their relationship.
8. "Sugar On My Tongue"
DON'T TAP THE GLASS was an album created to make listeners stay away from electronic devices and dance their pants off. Of all the songs on the record, we feel "Sugar On My Tongue" achieves this goal the best. (And yes, in the track's music video, people do literally dance their pants off.)
We think Tyler strategically placed this banger right after his opener on the LP to get his audience to keep listening. Why? Because "Sugar On My Tongue" has one of the most infectious beats we've heard in a while. Shimmering synths and a springy kickdrum prove Tyler can do funk just as well as rap. While the title suggests something sweet, this number is nothing but spicy. Even the most innocent of listeners can probably taste the deeper meaning of that sultry chorus. (Very tongue-in-cheek, if you ask us.)
Most of the tracks on DON'T TAP THE GLASS weren't designed to have too deep of a meaning. This bop is no exception. But despite its simple and wonderfully dirty theme, "Sugar On My Tongue" works so well. During a year where it was hard to find a "song of the summer" (2025), this banger was a worthy contender.
7. "EARFQUAKE"
The most commercially successful track off his Grammy-winning album IGOR, "EARFQUAKE" is another classic love song from Tyler. Featuring a collaboration from Playboi Carti, "EARFQUAKE" is a bittersweet tune about a romantic partner Tyler depends on...despite not treating them the best. Cheery piano chords and distorted drums mask the hurt Tyler feels in this song, and an exploding chorus is sure to stick the lyrics in your head.
"EARFQUAKE" also comes along with an iconic music video, which features Tyler in a blonde wig as he performs on a television show for a wacky woman named Pearl Edwards (played by Black-ish star Tracy Ellis Ross). Tyler would adopt the blonde wig during subsequent IGOR performances.
In an interview with Rick Rubin on his podcast Broken Record, Tyler explained his inspiration for the title came from there being an actual earthquake when he was penning the song. "EARFQUAKE" was originally written for both Justin Bieber and Rihanna, but both artists turned it down. We're glad they did.
6. "911/Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy)"
Now for our favorite Flower Boy picks! At #6, we have "911/Mr. Lonely," which features Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy, A$AP Rocky, ScHoolboy Q, and Anna of the North. It has Tyler acting as a 911 operator of sorts. Metaphorically, it suggests he's there to listen to peoples' problems - but no one is willing to listen to his.
The first half of the song is upbeat but filled with somber lyrics. The second half has even more somber lyrics, but with a tension-filled and snare-heavy beat. It's an even mix of relaxation and adrenaline.
During the release of Cherry Bomb in 2015, Tyler stated he wasn't depressed anymore and wasn't eager to explore lyrics with darker themes like he used to. So when "911/Mr. Lonely" was released in 2017, it came as a shock to fans considering Tyler's more recent lyrics were focused around cars and wealth. By going back to his darker rap roots, Tyler demonstrated that money couldn't buy him happiness.
5. "See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)"
Probably Tyler's most commercially-successful track, and a staple of his catalogue. Our second Flower Boy choice is "See You Again": a dreamy track featuring vocals from Kali Uchis. (She also appeared on Tyler's previous album, Cherry Bomb.) With lyrics like "Wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind" and "Can I get a kiss? And can you make it last forever?" this song is sure to put you in a romantic mood.
Tyler claims "See You Again" is his favorite song from Flower Boy. With songs like this one and tranquil tracks like "Boredom" and "Where This Flower Blooms," it's no wonder Flower Boy was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in 2023.
"See You Again," as well as all of Flower Boy, began Tyler's transition into a more flowy, graceful sound. Many believe Flower Boy is the album where Tyler came out as bisexual, as the lyrics from the song "Garden Shed" and the more effiminate tones in Flower Boy hint at a new maturity from Tyler - as if to suggest the artist is blooming into his true inner self.
4. "Like Him"
The definitive standout on Tyler's 2024 LP CHROMAKOPIA, "Like Him" is a layered, mellow piano ballad about our Creator's complicated relationship with his estranged father. He explores a desire to not follow in his dad's footsteps - while also exploring his mother's opinions and side of the story.
Many fans praise "Like Him" for being a major plot twist within the story of CHROMAKOPIA...as well as a plot twist for Tyler, the Creator lore in general. Because for over a decade, he's blasted his father for not being a present figure in his life. (Look no further than the 2013 track "Answer" if you're curious.) But on "Like Him," we learn during the song's conclusion that Tyler’s mother, Bonita Smith, has actually kept Tyler away from his father - even though his dad wanted to be part of his life.
“It was my fault, not yours, not his, it was my fault, I'm sorry," she admits.
"You know, it was my fault. Not him, 'cause he always wanted to be there for you.
And I'm sorry I was young, but he's always wanted to be a father to you...he's a good guy.”
After that statement, "Like Him" then serves as a key for the emotional mysteries present throughout CHROMAKOPIA - like why the pregnancy scare of "Hey Jane" has affected Tyler so deeply, and why he says, "Boy, you selfish as f—, that’s really why you scared of bein’ a parent,” on the self-diss track "Take Your Mask Off." Few things are more humbling than seeing yourself in someone who once existed as a villain in your life.
As for other noteworthy details about this track, we love the inclusion of up-and-coming R&B queen Lola Young in the mix. Her higher-pitched harmonies beautifully blend with Tyler's lower voice on the lyrics "Do I look like him?" It's almost as if Tyler's adult self and inner child are asking the question together. (Also, shoutout to Baby Keem, whose voice can be heard during the song's second chorus!)
3. "Yonkers"
While many consider "She" to be the frontrunner of Tyler's early solo LP Goblin, we do think Tyler gets a little overshadowed by Frank Ocean's vocal chops on that track. So for this pick, we're going with the hard-hitting "Yonkers": a number we know is responsible for putting Tyler on the hip-hop map.
"Yonkers" was actually the first single off Tyler's 2011 debut album, and is a thesis statement of his personality as an artist. The title and heavyweight beat both reference and make fun of New York-style hip-hop.
While the lyrics of this song can be controversial, they also unpack Tyler's other two identities: Wolf Haley, which is the name Tyler uses for directing credits on his music videos, and Golf Wang - Tyler, Left Brain, and Julian Berman’s photography web page as well as Tyler’s fashion brand. The song even features Tyler and Wolf Haley, which Tyler describes as the "wild" part of himself, having a Jekyll and Hyde-like conversation.
"Yonkers" became critically acclaimed upon release. Its striking music video even earned Tyler the Best New Artist prize at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. It was also nominated for Video of the Year but lost to Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
2. "NEW MAGIC WAND"
Tyler has repeatedly stated "NEW MAGIC WAND" is his personal favorite out of his entire discography. It's also our favorite song of his, so it's only fair this standout IGOR track ranks high at #2 on our list.
This song has Tyler attempting to break up a relationship between his lover and their female ex. He persuades his lover not to leave him while dark, intense, buzzing sounds and snares accompany his pleas. The bridge slows things down before we're dropped right back into the hurricane of Tyler's emotions.
"NEW MAGIC WAND" features Jessy Wilson and Santigold. Tyler gave an earth-shattering performance of the song during the 2020 Grammy Awards, where he won Best Rap Album for IGOR.
"NEW MAGIC WAND" remains a classic and a great representation of Tyler as an artist because it has the ability to both pump you up and depress you. It shows unrequited love isn't just about getting all in your feels, but also about working hard to better yourself so the person you're fond of might cast their eyes in your direction. While jealousy and rage are some downsides of fighting for a lover's attention, Tyler makes the struggle relatable.
1. "A BOY IS A GUN*"
Graceful, heavy, and full of grandiose emotions, "A BOY IS A GUN*" is Tyler's deepest and most important song to date. It doesn't even feel like a song; it's closer to an epic that runs three minutes and thirty seconds long.
When it comes to musical inspiration, Tyler took a lot of influence from Kanye West for this bop. Like on the song "Bound 2" from Yeezus, Tyler sampled the Ponderosa Twins' "Bound" on this masterpiece. "A BOY IS A GUN*" is paradoxical in a way, as it's one of the softest cuts on IGOR, yet includes a booming chorus and loud gunshot bangs. We think it's a perfect yin and yang of Tyler's elegant and aggressive musical duality.
"A BOY IS A GUN*" features some of the greatest lyrics ever written by Tyler. Starting with the title...not only is it a full and unabashed confirmation of his bisexuality, but it is inspired by the phrase "a girl is a gun," which refers to both the power and danger women can inflict on male admirers. We love how Tyler starts this number's storytelling off with an air of snootiness and pride, only to feel trapped and desperate by its tragic end. Perhaps the bar that hits the hardest for us is: "How come you're the best to me? I know you're the worst for me / Boy, you're sweet as sugar, diabetic to the first degree."
True to the title's name, the lyrical insides of "A BOY IS A GUN*" tell the story of a complicated fling between Tyler and a male partner. It starts with Tyler showing full desire for the man, and concludes with the man choosing his ex over Tyler. Tyler learns to distance himself from the man, despite his continued infatuation with him.
And the music video? Don't even get us started. The visuals have a similar aesthetic to Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name, and are chock full of symbolism and wit. We don't know why we feel it necessary to both cry and jam out while listening to this song, but that's just the way "A BOY IS A GUN*" works.
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Article Image: Tyler, the Creator in 2011. (PoJay CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.)
