Flower Boy is released

Why it matters

Flower Boy came out July 21, 2017, on Columbia. It is Tyler, the Creator's fifth solo album. He produced almost all of it himself. The album marked a substantial pivot in his catalog: from the deliberately abrasive shock-rap aesthetic of his early Odd Future days (Goblin in 2011, Wolf in 2013) toward a much more melodic, structurally adventurous, audibly emotionally vulnerable register. The most-discussed thing about the album was that Tyler appeared to be coming out, in coded but identifiable lyrics across several tracks. He had not previously publicly addressed his sexuality. The album also features a who's-who of guest vocalists (Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy, Estelle, Rex Orange County, Jasper Dolphin, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne), most of whom Tyler arranged to function as melodic counterpoints to his rapping. "See You Again," "911 / Mr. Lonely," "Boredom," "Foreword." The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys (lost to Kendrick's DAMN.) and would be retroactively treated as the start of Tyler's mature creative period. The IGOR album two years later would consolidate the pivot. You should hear Flower Boy in order. The album is the bridge.