Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator

Senior Staff Writer Justin Keyo '25

In his last three albums, Tyler, The Creator has firmly established himself not just as one of the greatest rappers of our time but also as a visionary artist, bringing a distinct sound and fresh creativity to each project. Chromakopia is no exception. Across its 14 tracks, Tyler takes listeners on a journey through his paranoia about constantly being watched by fans, his complicated past relationships, and his fraught dynamic with his parents. This album is yet another masterpiece that builds on Tyler’s incredible streak of groundbreaking projects, further solidifying his place in the rap world.

This record feels deeply introspective and marks a significant leap in maturity compared to his earlier works. At its core, Chromakopia revolves around Tyler’s relationships, offering a raw and personal glimpse into his life. One of the most compelling narratives is his relationship with his father. Throughout his discography, Tyler has often expressed anger toward his father’s absence. However, this sentiment is turned on its head in the standout track "Like Him." Here, Tyler questions whether he shares traits with the father he never knew. In the song’s outro, Tyler’s mother—who narrates the album—drops a bombshell: she reveals that she was the one who kept Tyler’s father out of his life, even though his father wanted to be there. This revelation is a gut punch, leaving Tyler’s once-stable relationship with his mom hanging in uncertainty. A figure who was his rock suddenly becomes a source of unanswered questions, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the album.

Overall, Chromakopia is another triumph for Tyler, The Creator. It seamlessly blends introspection with catchy hits, offering an album that’s as enjoyable to listen to as it is thought-provoking. Tyler once again proves he’s a master of his craft, delivering both personal vulnerability and musical brilliance.

Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

Senior Staff Writer Justin Keyo '25

In her sixth studio album, Sabrina Carpenter leans fully into what sets her apart as a pop artist. Although her lyrics are frequently risqué and open to who she is behind bedroom doors, she delivers them with a depth that resonates with listeners. There's a playful quality to her writing, as she doesn’t take herself too seriously, even when tackling heavier subjects. One example of this is the track “Slim Pickins,” where Carpenter creatively uses a country-esque style to sing about her struggle to find the perfect guy. The song stays true to the album’s theme, which is her difficulty in finding partners who are up to snuff, while maintaining a lighthearted tone that contrasts with the rest of the project, making it both fun and refreshing.

While the album doesn’t suffer significantly from weaker moments, I found “Dumb & Poetic” and “Don’t Smile” to be its low points. Although I respect Carpenter’s efforts to expand her stylistic range, the sad and muted tone of these tracks doesn’t play to her strengths, and they fall short compared to the album’s standout moments.

Plan A by Lil Tecca

Senior Staff Writer Justin Keyo '25

After nearly a year since his last release, Lil Tecca dropped his album Plan A. The project blends smooth melodies with futuristic rap, showcasing his versatility. With only one feature, the album gives Lil Tecca space to explore a variety of sounds and genres. While his signature melodic rapping is present throughout, tracks like “4U” and “ALL THE TIME” stand out with their unique sounds. Despite experimenting with different styles, Tecca puts his own twist on them to deliver standout tracks.

The album's production is where Plan A really shines, raising the bar with its deeply layered sound. Tecca rides each beat well, creating a smooth listening experience. Transitions between songs enhance the flow of the album, with many tracks featuring beat changes toward the end that seamlessly blend into the next. This makes the album feel cohesive and eliminates any awkward pauses. Don Toliver makes the only guest appearance on the record on the track “I CAN’T LET GO.” Although the song has a slightly different vibe, it fits well within the album's overall sound.

The album does become boring in the middle. It starts to drag, with “SELF2SELF” being a lowlight of the album. The song feels disconnected from the rest of the album, both lyrically and in its production. Tecca’s flow comes off as dull, and the production feels uninspired, which contrasts sharply with the rest of the album’s energy. It’s clear he wanted to experiment with a new style here, but it didn’t quite land for me.

Despite this dip, Plan A is packed with great tracks, and if not for the weaker middle section, it could have been a hit from start to finish.

GNX by Kendrick Lamar

Senior Staff Writer Justin Keyo '25

To me, Kendrick Lamar is the greatest rapper of all time. Each of his albums is a masterpiece, with every song carefully crafted to fit a specific concept. But as a fan, I’ve always wondered what Kendrick could do if he set aside the thematic structure and simply focused on making straight-up hits. GNX answers that question—and what an absolute banger it is.

The album kicks off with Kendrick addressing his feud with Drake, delivering sharp commentary on the drama surrounding him. However, he shifts gears after the first track, seemingly letting that song serve as his final word on the matter.

What follows is nothing short of incredible: GNX is packed with hit after hit, showcasing Kendrick’s versatility and genius in crafting infectious, high-energy tracks. Additionally, throughout the album, Kendrick features lesser-known artists from his hometown of Compton. This choice highlights Kendrick’s commitment to uplifting others and giving back to the community that shaped him, proving he’s not just a top-tier rapper but also a true leader in the industry.

Overall, GNX is a testament to Kendrick’s enduring greatness and shows he’s still in his prime. This album delivers undeniable hits while reinforcing why he stands at the top of the rap game.

Coyote by Tommy Richman

Senior Staff Writer Justin Keyo '25

When I first heard that “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” and “DEVIL IS A LIE” were being left off of this album, I was a bit confused. In my eyes, two blockbuster songs should be attached to a greater body of work. However, it excited me because I assumed the album itself would have great songs of its own to allow it to stand apart from those two songs. I was wrong. 

Compared to the two hits, the production quality of almost every song on the album felt dry and meager with no standout tracks. I expected the album to have a uniqueness and style similar to Frank Ocean’s ”nostalgia, ULTRA” (not to say it would’ve been as good, I just expected a similar testing of styles). Instead, every song sort of blended together which is unfortunate because I felt that Richman had the potential to change the mainstream sound. I fear the album may instead fade into obscurity.

This isn’t to say there aren’t good things about the album. The theme of the album is introspective as Richman reflects on different aspects of his life. On “seems like time moves forever.” Richman delivers one of his strongest performances in terms of lyricism and flow. He rides the beat probably the best on this song than any other and the lyrics, which discuss how he’ll make a comeback despite someone bringing him down, stands out on the project and showcase his potential. The best part of the song is the feature, mynameisntjack, which speaks volumes as the best part of the album’s best song isn't even sung by Richman himself.

Overall, this album was a difficult listen between Richman’s falsetto and beats that were mixed way too loud. I can’t say the album itself is worth a listen as there is not even one song that strongly stands out. I encourage Tommy Richman to break out of just the “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” style; however, I don’t think this album was a step in the right direction.