In 1991, Hawthorne, California was ground zero for the birth of its most influential artist since The Beach Boys. Tyler, the Creator turns 33 today, marking over a decade of consistent cultural fingerprints across music, fashion, and art by the Los Angeles native.
Tyler emerged onto the scene in 2009 with his mixtape Bastard, which asserted his defiant artistic attitude, but also generated controversy with his lyrics that often glorified violence. While the mixtape did not have mass appeal, Tyler found his niche among skateboarders and young people across the nation who were attracted to his avant-garde style.
In the years after, Tyler gradually expanded upon the ideas from this mixtape with albums like Wolf, Cherry Bomb, and Flower Boy that explored r&b, soul, jazz, and pop genres. His 2017 album Flower Boy, brought him the most acclaim and crossover appeal, establishing him as a credible songwriter with songs like See You Again that is certified six-times platinum as of 2023.
As the music grew in popularity, so did Tyler’s other business initiatives like the Los Angeles music festival Camp Flog Gnaw and his brand Golf Le Fleur. His next album kept the show rolling.
Having already demonstrated his ability to collaborate with artists like Pharrell, Kanye West, and close friend A$AP Rocky, in 2019 he placed all bets on himself by writing, producing, and arranging all the songs on his fifth studio album, IGOR. This album earned him a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2020 and a five-time platinum single for the single EARFQUAKE.
His latest album, Call Me If You Get Lost, earned him another Grammy and further cemented his creative director chops with tighter narratively structured music videos, elaborate stage props, and synergetic placements of his brand within the music.
His most recent endeavor is a Golf capsule collection within Louis Vuitton that was commissioned by longtime friend, Pharrell, the fashion house’s latest men’s creative director.
Tyler’s legacy isn’t his ability to sell music, clothes, or festival tickets, it’s the way he’s able to shift culture and inspire young people across the globe to pursue art through music, fashion, and more.
Happy birthday Tyler.