The insult-spouting rapper made fun of fans to their delight during his headlining set at the Bomb Factory
By Brenna Rushing
As a young crowd hung on every word, Tyler the Creator made his unconventional mark on Friday night at the newly reopened Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum. The 24-year-old rapper, with his gravelly voice and aggressive delivery, spit lines like he was running out of time.
Known for wordy tracks filled with violence and attitude, Tyler (nee California native Tyler Okonma) emphatically delivered his defiant music with no lyrical bar spared. He made a name for himself with the former hip hop collective Odd Future, which includes high-profile members such as singer Frank Ocean and fellow rapper Earl Sweatshirt. With the group on a possibly permanent hiatus, Tyler has stayed busy writing and producing his own releases, with 2013's Wolf at the top.
Sporting cartoonish masks that were passed out before the show began, the energetic audience didn't skip a beat, yelling out lyrics and jumping to beats. The rebellious, insult-spouting rapper showed just how little he cares about industry standards and appearances as the night was just getting started. During one of the earlier tracks, "DEATHCAMP," Tyler took off his chains, proclaiming that he was "just trying to be a rapper."
This raw demeanor and humble appearance is one of his strongest draws, helping him set himself apart from heavy hitters like Jay-Z and Drake. He isn't afraid to throw punches with his lines either — "Tron Cat" insults Chris Brown and "Yonkers" references a variety of artists like Bruno Mars and B.O.B. in a derogatory tone. Yes, those mentions have stirred up some heated conversations on Twitter, but Tyler holds true to his disparaging lines with unfaltering confidence.
Even though he had another Odd Future member, Taco, manning the beats throughout his set, the lack of dramatic bass drops and breaks started to wear on the crowd. Tyler's beats take on a more ominous tone with creaks and clicks filling up the space, making more room for his lengthy descriptions and trash talking, which was a little too even-keeled in a live setting. Instead of jumping, rambunctious fans created a swirling mosh pit in the heart of the venue during "Jamba."
Throughout the night, the rapper called out fans between songs, making fun of their clothing or arguing with whatever they were shouting at him. This harsh persona is what his fans love about him, so it only fueled them, which encouraged Tyler to continue the insults as the set neared an end.
He closed with two heavy hitters: the dance-worthy "Tamale" and the Odd Future track, "Rella," which he recited without any beats or tracks backing him up, proving he doesn't require hype or production. The night came to a head in the last few minutes when Tyler unleashed his pent-up aggression, quickly stripping off his shirt and yelling the last few verses as he marched across the stage.
