SORRY, NOT SORRY - Tyler, the Creator
Tyler, the Creator's alter egos come together to close out his most successful era
Tyler, the Creator is known for his ability to push boundaries and create music that is both innovative and thought-provoking. and he’s done it again with his latest project, a deluxe version of his Grammy-winning album, Call Me If You Get Lost.
Deluxe editions of albums are often seen as a way to boost sales, but Tyler, the Creator took a different approach. He used the additional tracks as an epilogue to the original album, adding to the story instead of changing it. The tracks on this project didn't fit the concept of the original album, but they set up the concept for the next album.
The deluxe version of Call Me If You Get Lost features collaborations with Vince Staples, ASAP Rocky, Madlib, and more. Tyler even referred to the tracks as "throwaway tracks," yet as a whole, they hold up against many other standalone rap albums.
The standout track for me on this deluxe edition is "SORRY, NOT SORRY." This raw and clean track looks back at Tyler's journey over the last ten years and reflects on the mistakes he's made along the way. It's a reminder that even artists at the top of their game are human and make mistakes.
The beat of "SORRY, NOT SORRY" has a classic feeling, and it ebbs and flows like a Brockhampton track. But where Brockhampton had seven performers, Tyler features just one, singing in his different styles from the last decade. He brings elements of every persona, every era of his albums into one track and showcases their flaws one by one before (quite literally in the music video) killing them off.
The closing lines of the track are "Another era is upon us," hinting at a new beginning for Tyler, the Creator. He's already hinted at switching to his African name instead of Tyler, the Creator.
In a decade of some of the most creative projects, Tyler, the Creator's Call Me If You Get Lost set a new standard for what he's capable of. The deluxe version of the album is an epilogue, a victory lap that adds to the story instead of changing it. "SORRY, NOT SORRY" is a raw and honest track that reminds us why Tyler, the Creator is one of the most exciting and innovative artists in the game today.