The CHIEF October 2023

Music Review

By Jack Demopoulous

IGOR by Tyler, the Creator

For this month's music review I decided to stay within the theme of spooky season by going over Tyler, the Creator’s IGOR . The character IGOR derives from the assistant to Dr. Frankenstein in the old story, Frankenstein. Now, why is this important? Well, this name is implemented to follow the gothic “Igor” archetype as a villain's assistant and represents a darker, apathetic side of Tyler that is revealed. The music is a masterclass of tracks and every song could be debated to be the best on the album. It should come with no surprise that this took home rap album of the year for 2019. The album itself is actually a loop as if you were to listen to the beginning of the album with “IGOR’S THEME.” You hear a sudden rift, and at the end with “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” we hear the same familiar rift. Now the reason for this is because IGOR tells a story about Tyler who falls in love with another man. But this man is in love with a woman, which makes Tyler feel like a sidekick AKA “IGOR,” after being strung out for so long. He then claims to have fallen out of love and tries saying goodbye. But then the last song “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” ends with the line “Can’t say goodbye.” Thus begins the cycle where if he stays friends with this guy he’ll inevitably fall in love again, starting the whole painful process over again. This comes back to one of the songs earlier in the album being “EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING.” This album is, without a doubt, one of the best albums I ever listened to with a strong theme throughout the album and downright beautiful music throughout. I highly recommend this album whether you already have listened to it, or if this will be your first time.