Extraordinary. Exhilarating. Exotic. But most of all, Tyler, The Creator’s first self-produced and chart-topping album IGOR is an experience for listeners everywhere.

As a Tyler fan myself, I never thought that he could surpass the bar he set with his previous album Flower Boy. Many felt that in the vivacious 2017 album, Tyler’s sound strayed from earlier works, featuring blooming and alleviating sounds. While both Flower Boy and IGOR share similar aspects of upbeat sounds and meaningful lyrics, they are incomparable.

In IGOR, Tyler explains the ups and downs of what he went through in his past relationship, and ends with closure through unforgettable combinations of heavy bass and sensitive lyrics. Each song delves into a different stage in relationships, making a bridge of relatability between the artist and listener.

Starting with “IGOR’S THEME,” a mix of deafening bass with the repetitive line, “Ridin’ ‘round town, they gon’ feel this one,” immediately establishes the connection and acknowledges that the sounds created will take the listener on an emotional roller-coaster for the next 39 minutes of the album.

Cut to the second song, a fan favorite “EARFQUAKE.” In this piece, Tyler is begging a significant other not to leave and taking the blame for what went wrong.

Later in the album, he expands on the toxic feeling of losing one’s sense of self in a relationship with his songs “PUPPET” and “RUNNING OUT OF TIME.” Tyler sings in the chorus of “PUPPET,” “I’m your puppet / you control me,” sounding as if he has come to accept his loss of identity.

Listeners who have been in an unhealthy relationship can seek comfort and those struggling right now can find guidance in Tyler’s admitted mistakes.

After focusing on pain, the album shifts as Tyler begins to accept and heal from his experiences. Beats once loud and aggressive turn somber and sweet. Lyrics once focusing on the mental trauma of living without his significant other change to expressions of “I see the light” in “WHAT’S GOOD.”

Tyler’s vulnerable approach throughout allows listeners to connect on a deeper emotional level, compared to some other rappers, who focus on money and drugs. He crafts a masterpiece with intentional pauses and unexpected cut-offs, forging an ambience of emotion that will be cherished for years to come.