Tyler Gregory Okonma 

(born March 6, 1991), professionally known as Tyler, the Creator, is an American

rapper and record producer. Following a large contribution to Odd Future's early work, Tyler released
his debut solo mixtape, Bastard, in 2009. After releasing his debut studio album, Goblin, via XL
Recordings in April 2011, he signed a joint deal with RED Distribution and Sony Music Entertainment for
himself and his label, Odd Future Records.[2]

With his gritty, horrorcore-influenced earlier releases, Tyler was often criticized for his use
of homophobic and misogynistic slurs in his lyrics. He released the albums Wolf (2013) and Cherry
Bomb (2015), the latter of which was considered to be a contrast from his previous releases as he
experimented with melody-focused and jazz-fused sounds. Tyler's following albums, Flower
Boy (2017), Igor (2019) and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021), were all released to widespread critical
acclaim, with the latter two also debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.

Tyler has won a Grammy Award,[3] a BRIT Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and three BET Hip Hop
Awards. He created the cover art for all of Odd Future's releases,[4] and has also designed the group's
clothing and other merchandise.[5] In 2011, Tyler started the clothing company, Golf Wang. In 2012, he
began hosting an annual music festival called Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. He created his own streaming
service app named "Golf Media," which ran from 2015 to 2018 and contained original scripted series
from Tyler and a livestream of each Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.[6]

Contents

 1Early life and education

 2Career

o 2.12007–2011: Odd Future, Bastard, and Goblin

o 2.22012–2014: Wolf and Loiter Squad TV show

o 2.32015–2016: Cherry Bomb

o 2.42017–2018: Flower Boy, television, and WANG$AP

o 2.52019–present: Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost

 3Artistry

 4Impact

 5Controversy

 6Personal life

 7Discography
  8Tours

o 8.1Supporting

o 8.2Headlining

 9Filmography

o 9.1Films

o 9.2As director

 9.2.1Music videos

 10Awards and nominations

 11References

 12External links

Early life and education

Tyler Gregory Okonma[7] was born on March 6, 1991, in Ladera Heights, California,[4] the son of a
Nigerian father with Igbo ancestry and an American mother of mixed African-American and European-
Canadian descent.[8][9] He never met his father[10] and spent his early life living in Ladera Heights and
nearby Hawthorne.[4][11] At the age of seven, he would take the cover out of a CD case and create covers
for his own imaginary albums—including a tracklist with song lengths—before he could even make
music.[12] At the age of 14, he taught himself to play the piano.[13] In his 12 years of schooling, he
attended 12 different schools in the Los Angeles and Sacramento areas.[14] He worked at FedEx for just
under two weeks and at Starbucks for over two years.[15] Okonma took his stage name from
a Myspace page he used to post his creative endeavors.[16]

Career

2007–2011: Odd Future, Bastard, and Goblin

Main articles: Odd Future; Bastard (Tyler, the Creator mixtape); and Goblin (album)

Okonma in April 2011

Okonma co-founded the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future in 2007, alongside Hodgy, Left Brain,
and Casey Veggies. They self-released their debut mixtape, The Odd Future Tape, in November 2008. On
December 25, 2009, Okonma self-released his first solo mixtape, Bastard. The mixtape was eventually
ranked 32nd on Pitchfork Media's list of the Top Albums of 2010.[17] On February 11, 2011, Okonma
released the music video for "Yonkers". The video received attention from several online media outlets.
[18][19][20][21]
 An extended version with a third verse was made available on iTunes.[22] Okonma won Best
New Artist for "Yonkers" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[23] Okonma's thematic content in these
first two solo projects led fans and publications alike to categorize him in the horrorcore scene, although
he vehemently rejected his connection with it.[24]

In early 2011, Okonma was gaining the interest of a number of figures in the music industry,
including Steve Rifkind, Jimmy Iovine, Rick Ross and Jay-Z.[25][26] Okonma and the rest of Odd Future
eventually signed a deal with Red Distribution/Sony in April 2011.[27] His debut studio album, Goblin, was
released May 10, 2011.[28] Okonma and fellow Odd Future member Hodgy Beats made their television
debut on February 16, 2011, when they performed "Sandwitches" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
[29]
 On March 16, Okonma and Hodgy performed "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" at the 2011 mtvU Woodie
Awards, being joined by other members of Odd Future during "Sandwitches".[citation needed] During an
interview with Okonma for Interview, Waka Flocka Flame expressed his interest in collaborating with the
Odd Future frontman to direct a music video for him.[30] In early 2011, Okonma told fans through
his Formspring account that his second album would be called Wolf and it was scheduled to be released
in May 2012.[citation needed] Okonma also announced that Odd Future would establish their own TV show
called Loiter 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 created Jackass, was scheduled to
produce the show.[citation needed]

2012–2014: Wolf and Loiter Squad TV show

Main articles: Wolf (Tyler, the Creator album) and Loiter Squad

Odd Future's television show Loiter Squad premiered on Adult Swim on March 25, 2012. The show ran
for three seasons and featured guest appearances from celebrities, including Johnny Knoxville, Lil
Wayne and Seth Rogen. In 2015, Okonma stated that the show "is no more".[31] On February 14,
2013, Odd Future uploaded a video to their YouTube account, which includes L-Boy skydiving and stating
that Wolf would be released on April 2, 2013. The same day, Okonma would reveal the three album
covers via his Instagram account.[32]
Okonma and Earl Sweatshirt performing at the Pomona Fox Theater in 2013

In promotion of Wolf, Okonma performed several guest verses for other artists, notably "Trouble on My
Mind" by GOOD Music artist Pusha T, "Martians vs. Goblins" by The Game (also featuring Lil Wayne),
"I'ma Hata" by DJ Drama (also featuring Waka Flocka Flame and D-Bo), the title track from fellow Odd
Future member Domo Genesis' collaboration album with The Alchemist, No Idols, and "Blossom & Burn"
by Trash Talk (also featuring Hodgy Beats). Okonma also co-produced the song "666"
from MellowHype's third album Numbers, which featured Mike G.[citation needed]

Through March and April 2013, Okonma toured North America and Europe.[32] The first single from the
album was released on February 14, 2013, titled "Domo23" along with the music video which features
cameos from Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Jasper Dolphin and Taco Bennett.[33] On February 26, 2013,
Okonma performed the songs "Domo23" and "Treehome95" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[34]

Wolf was released on April 2, 2013, by Odd Future Records and RED Distribution under Sony Music

Entertainment. It featured guest appearances by Frank Ocean, Mike G, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt,
Left Brain, Hodgy Beats, Pharrell, Casey Veggies and Erykah Badu. The album was produced solely by
Okonma, 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 the Billboard 200, selling 90,000 copies in its first week.[citation
needed]

On January 31, 2014, Okonma was reported to be recording with Mac DeMarco.[35]

2015–2016: Cherry Bomb

Main article: Cherry Bomb (album)

Okonma performing Cherry Bomb in Moscow in August 2015

On April 9, 2015, Okonma 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".
[36]
 Okonma announced on the same day that the songs will be featured on his upcoming album Cherry
Bomb, set for release on April 13, 2015.[37] Okonma announced via his Twitter account that the album
would feature Charlie Wilson, Chaz Bundick and Black Lips member Cole Alexander.[38] Two days later,
Okonma performed the songs "Fucking Young" and "Deathcamp" for the first time at Coachella. During
the set, Okonma notably criticized VIP members in the audience, of which many were celebrities, for
their lack of enthusiasm.[39]

Cherry Bomb was released digitally on April 13, 2015, through Odd Future Records,[40] with physical
copies of the album, featuring five different album covers,[41] set to be released on April 28, 2015.[42]
[43]
 The album features performances from notable artists such as Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Schoolboy
[44][45]
Q.  The album was supported by a world tour through North America, Europe and Asia, beginning
at Coachella music festival on April 11, 2015, and ending in Tokyo, Japan in September 2015.[46] Okonma
cancelled the Australian leg of his Cherry Bomb World Tour following a campaign by the grassroots
organization Collective Shout against the portrayal of women in his music.[47]

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 a string of tour dates supporting the Cherry Bomb album,
including the Reading 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
Secretary Theresa May.[48] May cited lyrics from the mixtape Bastard as the reason for the ban, although
Okonma had toured multiple times in the UK since its release.[49][50] Okonma 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".[51]
2017–2018: Flower Boy, television, and WANG$AP

Main article: Flower Boy

On April 8, 2017, Frank Ocean released a song titled "Biking" on his Beats One radio station "blonded
RADIO", which features both Tyler, the Creator and Jay Z. Eight days later it was announced Okonma
would write, produce, and perform the theme song for scientist Bill Nye's new show, Bill Nye Saves the
World.

On June 28, the trailer for Okonma's TV show Nuts + Bolts premiered on Viceland. 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.[52]

On June 29, 2017, Okonma released the song "Who Dat Boy" featuring ASAP 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" featuring Steve
Lacy, Frank Ocean, and Anna of the North. On July 6, 2017, he announced the title, tracklist and release
date of his fourth album, Flower Boy,[53] which was released on July 21, 2017.[54] Several singles were
released following up to the album's release date, including "Boredom" and "I Ain't Got Time!". The
album was released via iTunes, 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.
[55]
 Flower Boy received rave reviews from critics and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 60th
Annual Grammy Awards, giving Tyler his second Grammy nomination after contributing to 2013 Album
of the Year nominee Channel Orange, but was beat out by Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album Damn.

On March 29, 2018, Okonma released "Okra",[56] amongst a string of freestyles and remixes. Okonma
referred to it as a "throwaway song",[57] 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.[58] On May 22, 2018, he released
"435",[59] continuing this string of singles. On July 23, 2018, Okonma and ASAP Rocky announced a
collaborative project, WANG$AP, by releasing a music video for a remix of Monica's "Knock Knock"
named "Potato Salad" on "AWGE DVD (Vol. 3)", a video compilation by AWGE, ASAP Rocky's creative
agency.[60]

2019–present: Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost

Main articles: Igor (album) and Call Me If You Get Lost

Okonma performing in Pittsburgh in 2019

On May 6, 2019, Okonma 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 a grill; he donned the same style for pictures on his social media and the music
videos for the album's singles. He soon announced his fifth studio album, Igor, which was released on
May 17.[61] Igor was met with widespread critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the
US Billboard 200, becoming Tyler's first number-one album in the United States.[62] The album also
features the song "Earfquake", which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[63] On December
23, 2019, Okonma released two songs, "Best Interest", a song that did not make the cut of Igor that was
released with a music video, and "Group B".[64] Igor won the award for Best Rap Album at the 62nd
Grammy Awards.[65]

For Okonma's sixth studio album, Call Me If You Get Lost, the artist placed billboards in major cities
across the world containing a phone number that when called, a recorded conversation between
Okonma and his mother played.[66] That recording is included in the album as "Momma Talk".[67][68] Soon
after the billboards were spotted, a website of the same name was discovered.[69] The album's lead
single, "Lumberjack", was released on June 16.[70] The following day, Okonma revealed the album's cover
and confirmed its release date of June 25.[71] Upon release, it received widespread critical acclaim and
debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming Okonma's second number-one album in the
United States.[72] On January 5, 2022, Tyler, the Creator was announced as a headliner of
Louisville's Forecastle Festival scheduled for May 27–29, 2022.[73]

On March 25, 2022, Okonma appeared on two tracks off Nigo's album I Know Nigo!, the opening track
"Lost and Found Freestyle 2019" with A$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.[74]
Artistry

Okonma in September 2012

Okonma's music has been variously considered alternative hip hop,[75] bedroom pop,[75] jazz rap,[75] R&B,
[76]
 and neo soul,[75][77] while his earlier music was considered horrorcore.[78] Over the years, his style of
production has progressed from gritty and dark in early projects to a jazzy and soulful approach with the
albums Cherry Bomb, Flower Boy, Igor, and Call Me If You Get Lost.

Okonma is known as the leader of Odd Future, and the group as a whole has been compared to the
influential hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.[79] Since the beginning of his career, Okonma has largely self-
produced songs for his projects and other Odd Future members; he has been heavily influenced by the
production work of The Neptunes member Pharrell Williams, whose debut solo album, In My
Mind (2006), had a substantial impact on Okonma, inspiring him to co-found the Odd Future collective.
[80]
 He has also cited Williams' band N.E.R.D's debut album In Search of... (2001) as an impactful album
for him.[81][82][83] Tyler has named Washed Out, Beach House and Broadcast as influences.[84] He was also
initially influenced by rapper Eminem, calling Eminem's album Relapse (2009) one of his favorite albums
in 2011.[85][86]

Impact

Artists who have cited Okonma as an influence include Billie Eilish[87] and Brockhampton member Kevin

Abstract.[88]

Controversy

This article's Criticism or Controversy section may compromise the

article's neutral point of view of the subject. Please integrate the
section's contents into the article as a whole, or rewrite the
material. (June 2021)
Okonma as Cornell on the Showtime comedy-drama series Kidding, 2020

Okonma has been criticized for his use of homophobic slurs, in particular, his frequent use of the epithet
"faggot" in his lyrics and on Twitter.[89][90] He has denied accusations of homophobia, stating, "I'm not
homophobic. I just say faggot and use gay as an adjective to describe stupid shit,"[91][84] and, "I'm not
homophobic. I just think faggot hits and hurts people."[92] However, he later said in an interview
with MTV about the slurs, "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 a nigger, 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."[93][94] Notably, Okonma was
among the first to openly support fellow Odd Future member Frank Ocean after Ocean publicly revealed
a past relationship with another young man.[95] Lyrics on the album Flower Boy led to speculation that
Okonma himself was coming out as gay. The tracks in question were "Foreword", "Garden Shed", and "I
Ain't Got Time!"[96][97] Okonma further fuelled the discussion when he seemingly revealed in an August
2017 interview that he had a boyfriend when he was 15 years old,[98] though he later tweeted that it was
a figure of speech.[99][third-party source needed]

Okonma has also been criticized for his graphic depictions of violence against women and lyrics that
observers have called misogynistic.[100][101] Brent DiCrescenzo of Time Out Chicago writes that rape is a
"predominant theme" of Okonma's 2011 album Goblin[102] and Hermione Hoby of The Guardian writes
that Okonma's "rape and murder fantasies (are) graphic enough to send the vomit rising along with the
bile."[103] The Fader tallied 68 uses of the term "bitch" over Goblin's 73 minutes.[104] The music critic
Allison Stewart wrote that "critics (read: mostly white guys) have largely given [Okonma] a pass" for the
album's many "homophobic and misogynistic slurs and rape and murder fantasies".[105] An open letter
questioning the lack of media condemnation of Okonma's lyrics,[106][107] written by Sara Quin of the
Canadian pop duo Tegan and Sara shortly after the release of Goblin, spurred additional debate and
provoked comments ranging from supportive of Quin's message to labeling her as racist.[105]

The commentator Emma Jane describes the harassment of two Australian activists critical of Okonma's
lyrics, spurred by Okonma naming them on Twitter. Fans of the rapper targeted the women with rape
and death threats in response to reports that they sought to have Okonma barred from the country, in
what Jane cites as exemplary of "the way high profile figures are able to incite – either intentionally or
otherwise – large fan bases to engage in mob attacks on named women".[108]

A series of three commercials for Mountain Dew directed by Okonma created controversy in May 2013,
accused of using "racial stereotypes" and "making light of violence against women". In the spots an
energy drink-loving goat character called "Felicia the Goat" is consecutively being "scapegoated" in a
diner, in prison, and on the road. During the 60-second ad in prison, a battered white woman on
crutches examines a police line-up consisting of several African-American men and one goat, while the
goat antagonizes the woman. Syracuse professor and social critic Boyce Watkins stated that the ad was
"arguably the most racist commercial in history." PepsiCo pulled the ad and apologized. Okonma
released a statement claiming that the ad was not meant to "spark a controversy about race" and that
"it was simply an, again, admittedly absurd story that was never meant to be taken seriously."[109][110]

Okonma at Lollapalooza in 2018

On March 15, 2014, Okonma was arrested in Austin, Texas for inciting a riot after telling fans to push
their way past security guards at his South by Southwest performance. Due to this incident, Tyler faced
up to one year in prison and a $4000 fine.[111] Tyler's lawyer, Perry Minton, argued that the riot charge
was overblown and perpetuated misconceptions of his client, who has no previous arrests. These
charges were later dropped.[112]

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 a string of tour dates supporting the Cherry Bomb album,
including the Reading 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
Secretary Theresa May.[48] May cited lyrics from the mixtape Bastard as the reason for the ban, although
Okonma had toured multiple times in the UK since its release.[49][50] 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."[51] According to the BBC, it is believed the
ban was lifted in February 2019,[113] concurring with a scheduled performance in London to promote his
fifth studio album, Igor. However, this show was forcibly cancelled by police due to safety concerns: the
venue was claimed to be "overcrowded" and "too rowdy."[113]

Personal life
Okonma has been an avid skateboarder since 2002 and collects BMX bicycles.[114][115][116][117] Okonma is
an atheist.[118][119][120][121][122][123]

Okonma has been the subject of speculation regarding his sexuality and has made numerous direct
references in lyrics and interviews to having had same-sex relationships or experiencing same-sex
attractions.[124][125][126] He described himself in a 2015 Rolling Stone interview as "gay as fuck" and said
"My friends are so used to me being gay. They don't even care."[127] In a 2018 interview with Fantastic
Man, while discussing the Flower 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.”[127] Igor follows what some
have interpreted as a romantic relationship between Okonma and a closeted bisexual man,[128][129]
[130]
 while the song "Wilshire" on Call 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".

Okonma has asthma,[131] and has been seen using an inhaler while on stage.[132] For this reason, he
follows a straight edge lifestyle.[133]

Discography

Main articles: Tyler, the Creator discography and Tyler, the Creator production discography

See also: List of songs recorded by Tyler, the Creator

 Goblin (2011)

 Wolf (2013)

 Cherry Bomb (2015)

 Flower Boy (2017)

 Igor (2019)

 Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)

Tours

Supporting

 Kid Cudi - Cud Life Tour (2013)[134]

Headlining

 Wolf Tour (2013)[135]

 Cherry Bomb Tour (2015)

 Okaga, CA Tour (2016)[136]

  Flower Boy Tour (2017-2018)[137]

 Igor Tour (2019)

 Call Me If You Get Lost Tour (2022)

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes

2011: Performed "Sandwitches" with Hodgy

2011– Beats
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2013 2013: Performed "Treehome95" with Coco
Himself
O and "Domo23"

When I Was 17

Workaholics Extra Episode: "Heist School"

2011
Blitz
Comet
Regular Show Voice roles (Episode: "Rap It Up")
Big
Trouble

Punk'd 2 episodes; Season 9, Episodes 2 and 4[131]

Himself
Season 2, Episode 10: Tyler, The Creator & Taco
2012 Ridiculousness
Bennett

The Mindy Project Rapper Season 1, Episode 10: Mindy's Brother

2012–
Loiter Squad Co-creator, Producer, Composer
2014

Late Show with David Himself Performed "Rusty" with Domo Genesis and Earl

Letterman Sweatshirt

2013
The Arsenio Hall Show

Axe Cop Liborg 2 episodes

 Black Dynamite Broto Season 2, episode 10: "The Wizard of Watts"

Season 3, episode 8: "Jimmy Kimmel; Tyler, the

2015 The Eric André Show
Creator"[138]

Tavis Smiley Himself

The Late Show with Stephen

2017 Performed "911"
Colbert

2020 Kidding Cornell Season 2[139]

Films

Year Title Role Notes

2022 Jackass Forever Himself Guest appearance

As director

Music videos

Year Song Artist Notes

"Bastard"
Credited as Wolf
Haley
2010 "French!" (featuring Hodgy Beats)
Co-directed by Taco
Bennett
"VCR"
Tyler, the
Creator
"Yonkers"

2011 "She" (featuring Frank Ocean)

"Bitch Suck Dick" (featuring Jasper Dolphin & Taco)

Credited as Wolf
Haley
"Rella" (featuring Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis and Tyler,
the Creator)
2012 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

Tyler, the
"Domo 23/Bimmer"
Creator

2013
"Whoa" (featuring Tyler, the Creator) Earl Sweatshirt

"IFHY/Jamba" (featuring Pharrell and Hodgy Beats)