All Tyler, the Creator personalities.

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05.10.22

Tyler showed a dual version of himself: a genuine, authentic, somewhat awkward boy; on the other side an eccentric, irreverent, mysterious personality. All contrivances to creatively process his past family traumas, suicidal thoughts, marginalization and the absence of a father figure in his life.

Igor, Tyler Baudelaire, Flower Boy…: the L.A. rapper’s most eccentric alter-egos.

Since his first appearance in 2011 – at just 19 years old – Tyler, the Creator has accustomed us to a picturesque variety of characters, which he has pulled out of his hat with each album to amaze and make people talk about him, influencing the world of fashion and music.

He has built his reputation on exploring different alter egos throughout his recording career, modulating his voice according to them, earning him the appellation of one of the most eclectic rappers in Hip Hop music.

In his early albums, Bastard, Goblin and WOLF, Tyler showed a dual version of himself: on the one hand a genuine, authentic, somewhat awkward boy; on the other an eccentric, irreverent, mysterious personality. All contrivances to creatively process his past family traumas, suicidal thoughts, marginalization and the absence of a father figure in his life.

Here is a brief guide to all the characters created by Tyler, the Creator.

Dr. TC

The opening track of his first self-produced mixtape, Bastard, opens with what would become the rapper’s first alter ego, Dr. TC: better known as Tyler’s psychiatrist, recognizable by a deep, gravelly tone of voice. We will find him on almost all the rapper’s future albums.

Ace.

Who is Ace? He is one of Tyler’s most aggressive alter-egos, expressing his frustration with society through piquant, frustration-filled bars. He makes an appearance in Bastard, rarely returning on subsequent albums.

Sam.

Sam is the opposite of Ace. Sam is first introduced in WOLF and is portrayed as an insecure and hostile character who tries to prevent Tyler from sharing his true emotions.

Wolf Haley.

The key character in Tyler’s discography. The two are all but inseparable, at least until IGOR, who will take Wolf Haley‘s place with dignity. With “Sam is Dead,” Tyler finally kills off Sam and his evil twin Ace, rediscovering a personal quest for freedom.

Chur Bum.

Chur Bum is not an actual alter-ego, but only the mascot of the rapper’s third album, “Cherry Bomb.” A character imagined and drawn by Tyler as if he were a chewing gum commercial character, we will find him in some live shows and in the DEATHCAMP video, but his personality will not be as punchy or impactful as the others.

Flower Boy.

Flower Boy is Tyler’s exploration of a softer, more melodic approach, diametrically opposed to what he has done so far. The sounds sung by Flower are more harmonious, softened by more modulated bars. Despite the punchy personality, this character does not constitute a true alter-ego, rather a maturation of the rapper’s musical journey.

IGOR.

IGOR represents everything Tyler has always been afraid to be. He expresses thoughts that the rapper has always kept hidden and has had difficulty sharing: he is the alter-ego that the rapper uses to externalize his love pains, the themes of breakup, through a glam-rock character who flaunts confidence and a certain swagger.

Tyler Baudelaire

The last great alter-ego of Tyler, the Creator, a key character on the album “Call Me If You Get Lost.” The only two things that make him happy are a passport and a suitcase: an aftertaste of nostalgia always brings him back to Los Angeles, though he’s happy to wear his pastel-colored tailored pants, v-neck cardigan, and colbacle while waiting for his next adventure.

Who knows what the next Tyler, the Creator will be, where his personal and artistic evolution will take him, and whether he has really fought all his past demons.

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