Introduction
Tyler, the Creator rose to fame in the late 2000s as the leader of the hip-hop collective Odd Future. With a unique style and rebellious attitude, Tyler gained attention for his shocking lyrics and edgy persona on early albums like Goblin and Wolf. However, in the 2010s Tyler began shifting towards more introspective themes and refined songwriting on albums like Flower Boy and Igor. These albums were met with widespread critical acclaim and established Tyler as one of the most creative voices in hip-hop. By 2021, Tyler had cultivated a loyal fanbase eager to hear his next musical evolution on Call Me If You Get Lost. With cryptic hints and a surprise announcement just days before its release, excitement was high for Tyler’s 6th studio album. Fans were curious how Tyler would follow up his Grammy-winning Igor project and continue pushing his artistry forward. Call Me If You Get Lost captured Tyler in a new light, showcasing growth in his production skills and vulnerability as a songwriter. Now over a decade into his career, Tyler was still finding new ways to subvert hip-hop traditions and share his one-of-a-kind perspective.
CMIYGL Extended/Deluxe Version
Tyler surprised fans in March 2022 by releasing an extended version of the album, adding 8 brand new tracks to the already jam-packed tracklist. This deluxe edition comes nearly 9 months after the original release, following Tyler’s pattern of expanding on his albums after they’ve been out for a while.
The deluxe version of CMIYGL is available across all major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. For physical copies, fans can grab the extended album on CD, vinyl, and cassette. The vinyl packaging comes in a unique suitcase box, continuing the travel theme of the original album cover art.
The additional songs on the deluxe version showcase even more of Tyler’s versatility, with tracks like "Blessed" displaying his soulful R&B vocals and "Cupcake" featuring him rapping in rapid-fire mode. Other new highlights include the poppy "Sweet" and "Rise!", which features YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Album Concept & Inspiration
On Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, the Creator taps into a kaleidoscope of influences and themes inspired by his explorations of global cultures. The album title itself hints at wanderlust and discovering oneself, evoking images of traveling abroad and getting happily lost in new experiences.
Tyler has cited his love of international fashion as a core source of inspiration, from the tailored suits of London to the avant-garde streetwear of Tokyo. You can hear these cosmopolitan influences in the album’s lush sonic textures and genre-bending production. At the same time, Tyler keeps the music rooted in his own authentic West Coast style.
Thematically, CMIYGL finds Tyler grappling with the highs and lows of love, lust, and heartbreak. Songs like "Wusyaname" and "Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance" ruminate on romantic relationships, while cuts like "Manifesto" explore the intersection of fame, ego, and vulnerability. Tyler’s sharp lyricism dissects matters of the heart over lush, jazz-kissed production.
Like a cinematic travelogue, CMIYGL transports the listener through the sensual, psychedelic world inside Tyler’s creative mind. The album cover itself depicts Tyler emerging from a vintage suitcase, suggesting the idea of an alter ego or character. By exploring different personas and perspectives, Tyler expands his artistic horizons into bold new frontiers.
Production & Sound
On CMIYGL, Tyler demonstrates immense growth as a producer and beatmaker. Throughout his career, he has handled the majority of production on his albums, but the beats on this project feel like his most refined and layered yet. There is a cinematic, atmospheric quality that creates an immersive listening experience.
Several tracks exhibit Tyler’s versatility in fusing vintage soul samples with live instrumentation and psychedelic rock textures. For example, "Corso" has a lush orchestral backdrop layered with a warped vocal sample and electric guitar riffs. "Wusyaname" utilizes a chopped soul loop paired with punchy 808s and crisp snares. "Lumberjack" shows off Tyler’s menacing synthesizers and booming basslines.
Tyler also continues to excel at flipping his own vocals into catchy hooks and melodies. Songs like "Hot Wind Blows" and "Massa" feature his signature pitched-up singing layered over the production. There are also moments where he blends rapping and singing flawlessly, like on "Manifesto" and "Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance."
Overall, CMIYGL reinforces Tyler’s elite status as both an MC and producer. The album’s diverse sonic palette is a testament to his tireless work ethic perfecting his craft behind the boards. He has clearly emerged as one of the most skilled hip-hop musician/producers of his generation.
Features & Collaborations
Tyler, the Creator crafted an all-star lineup of features for Call Me If You Get Lost. The album contains appearances from both veteran and up-and-coming artists, each lending their unique talents.
One of the most talked-about features is the legendary Lil Wayne on the track "Hot Wind Blows." Weezy delivers one of his most energetic verses in years, packed with witty punchlines and his signature wordplay. Many critics praised this as a standout moment on the album.
On "Manifesto," Tyler taps his Odd Future affiliate Domo Genesis for an animated guest verse. Domo’s kinetic flow pairs nicely with the anthemic production as he spits motivational bars with infectious charisma.
Perhaps the album’s most integral feature is DJ Drama providing hosting duties and ad-libs throughout CMIYGL. His presence helps enhance the cinematic scope and contributes to the album’s overall narrative. Drama’s ad-libs and vocal drops make you feel like you’re listening to a Gangsta Grillz mixtape.
Other notable features include Pharrell Williams lending his crooning vocals to "Juggernaut," YoungBoy Never Broke Again on "Wusyaname," and Ty Dolla $ign who appears on "Lumberjack." Each collaboration helps showcase different aspects of Tyler’s artistry and versatility as a producer.
Lyrics & Storytelling
On CMIYGL, Tyler demonstrates his masterful lyrical abilities through clever wordplay, introspective storytelling, and exploring complex themes. Fans praised Tyler’s dense rhyme schemes and creative metaphors that showcase his wit and word wizardry.
Tracks like "Wusyaname" highlight Tyler’s talent for vivid storytelling as he chronicles a tale of meeting a mysterious woman at a hotel. His cinematic lyrics take listeners into the scene as he describes the encounter with intimate details and imagines their backstory.
Other songs touch on vulnerable subject matter as Tyler opens up about relationships and heartbreak. On "Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance" he wrestles with confusion and pain after a breakup, delivering raw emotions through his evocative writing.
Fans also connected with the album’s themes of self-discovery, growth, and finding inner peace. Songs like "Manifesto" see Tyler philosophizing about life’s journey and coming to profound realizations about himself.
CMIYGL contains no shortage of memorable punchlines and quotable bars that resonated widely. Tyler’s dense rhyme schemes are impressive in their wordplay, while also creating images and expressing poignant concepts. For many, his lyrics elevated the album into a creative tour de force.
Critical Reception
Call Me If You Get Lost received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in June 2021. Review aggregator Metacritic assigned the album a score of 91 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim" from critics.
Many reviewers praised the album as Tyler’s most focused and cohesive project yet. Writing for Pitchfork, Sheldon Pearce described it as "his most complete album yet, full of the mischievous energy that makes his music so unpredictable." The album was hailed for showcasing Tyler’s growth and maturity as an MC, producer, and storyteller.
Critics highlighted Tyler’s dense, complex rhyme schemes and evocative storytelling. The vivid narratives and multiple alter-egos adopted on the album were noted as being on par with Kendrick Lamar’s storytelling. Tyler’s production was also lauded as lush, cinematic, and richly layered.
Call Me If You Get Lost appeared on numerous year-end best album lists. It was named album of the year by XXL and HipHopDX. The album received two Grammy nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Melodic Rap Performance ("Wusyaname").
The critical reception affirmed Tyler’s artistic evolution from his early controversial releases to Flower Boy and now CMIYGL. As Pitchfork’s review stated: "He has grown from hip-hop’s problem child into an elder statesman without aging a day."
Commercial Performance
Call Me If You Get Lost debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 169,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, marking Tyler’s third number-one album. It sold 117,000 pure album sales in its first week as well. On Spotify, the album broke the record for the biggest streaming week for a hip-hop album in 2021. Globally, CMIYGL debuted at number one in Australia, number two in Canada, and reached the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
The album produced several commercially successful singles as well. The lead single "Lumberjack" debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Tyler’s highest charting solo single at the time. "Wusyaname" and "Hot Wind Blows" also charted on the Hot 100 at number 65 and 70 respectively.
In terms of awards and accolades, CMIYGL received two Grammy nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Wusyaname" featuring Youngboy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla Sign. Tyler also won Best Hip Hop Album at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards.
Impact & Legacy
Tyler, the Creator’s "Call Me If You Get Lost" left a significant impact on hip-hop culture and cemented Tyler’s legacy as one of the genre’s most creative artists. The album showcased Tyler’s growth into a more introspective storyteller and versatile producer. Songs like "Wusyaname" and "Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance" displayed compelling narratives about relationships and self-discovery.
Meanwhile, tracks like "Lumberjack" and "Juggernaut" featured Tyler’s signature eccentric production style. The cinematic beats and dense songwriting on CMIYGL expanded hip-hop’s sonic palette. Tyler blended old-school rap bravado with vulnerable songwriting in an inventive way.
The album also influenced hip-hop fashion and aesthetics. The album cover and music videos sparked viral trends, memes, and endless fan tributes. Tyler’s Golf Wang clothing line saw a surge in popularity after CMIYGL’s retro-inspired visuals. Furthermore, the album impacted hip-hop touring. Tyler’s Call Me If You Get Lost tour featured carnival themes and theatrical stage design.
Overall, CMIYGL showcased Tyler as both a traditional rapper and an innovative artist. He masterfully blended genres while advancing hip-hop’s boundaries. The album will be remembered as a highlight of Tyler’s discography and a standout release in 2021 hip-hop. CMIYGL cemented Tyler’s legacy through its ambition, vulnerability, and genre-bending vision.
Conclusion
Tyler, the Creator’s "Call Me If You Get Lost" stands as a creative triumph, showcasing his artistic evolution into one of hip-hop’s most innovative voices. Throughout the album’s 16 tracks and additional 8 on the extended version, Tyler flexes his production chops while delivering witty bars that resonate emotionally. Songs like "Wusyaname" and "Lumberjack" highlight his versatility, blending catchy hooks with hard-hitting verses. By tapping DJ Drama as a host and collaborating with artists like Lil Wayne, Tyler succeeds in crafting a cinematic listening experience.
Lyrically, CMIYGL finds Tyler at his sharpest, using dense rhyme schemes and vivid imagery to share personal anecdotes about love and self-discovery. The album cements his status as a cultural force, inspiring fashion trends and shaping the sound of contemporary rap. Though divisive at times, Tyler’s ambition is undeniable, subverting hip-hop traditions through his avant-garde approach. As his star continues to rise, CMIYGL positions Tyler, the Creator for even greater artistic heights. This latest album adds another outstanding chapter to his influential discography.