Christian Albums to listen to if enjoy Tyler, the Creator
If you like Tyler, the creator, that means you may enjoy the uncanny blend of jazz fusion, funk, r&b, and hip-hop on records like Igor and Call Me if You Get Lost.
You may enjoy his witty yet selectively mean-spirited sense of humor paired with his transparency and bold and aggressive confidence.
The way his sound spans many different soundscapes and assimilates them into a beautiful-sounding collage with fun melodies, imaginative songwriting, and moments of brilliant creative execution has made him a difficult talent to emulate.
Now… having said that, I am going to recommend some Christian music, based on an appreciation for Tyler, the Creator.
*These are not Christian versions of Tyler, the Creator. This would be similar to If someone were to recommend a Steve Lacy record, or an album by Syd.
1. LFL1 by Wordsplayed & Weathrman
This series right here is exactly why this list was made.
The Lo-fi Love series is a collaboration between rapper and comedian Wordsplayed and super producer trio, Weathrman (John McNeill, Joel McNeill, and Wit). Deviating from his more straightforward formal rap persona, Wordslayed’s artistic intention is in full bloom. On his previous project Magic and Bird, a collaborative effort with Andy Mineo, he was the witty observational partner-in-rhyme. On this record, Wordsplayed is on a completely different mission. He is pitching a pilot for an Adult Swim infomercial and this is the soundtrack.
Over a diverse array of lo-fi sounds that sound like samples from an 80s gameshow, you will hear absurdly, witty bars like:
Hands up dats Cochran with the gloves
Westside, Murtaugh with the snub
Hot bath laid back
Prince with the doves
Fairfax, air max best lace ’em up
Whole team gon’ blow like Hootie bruh
What is also significant is that the production team, Weathrman, is acutely in tune with Wordsplayed’s vision every step of the way. The instrumental for the track “Kanye Cares” sounds like a pre-Late Registration leak, but then fully commits to the Late Registration aesthetic after the refrain with the swelling strings.
Not to mention
It just… It’s just so great.
It is a rewarding listen, that will make you crave more. This is why I will recommend…
2. Lfl2 by Wordsplayed & Wearthrman
The follow-up doubles down on the aesthetic but dials it up 180%. The opening track, Melody for Anxieties, sounds like a musical about a therapy talk show with Wordsplayed in the chair. Grand Budapest is an obscure high-energy 80s dance anthem and it is awesome. Amateur at NuNu’s pt. 2 leans a bit too much into the joke, but it’s still fairly enjoyable. Let us not forget the grand finale, “Scornhub”, a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek song about the immaturity of internet users. He admirably acknowledges his own hand in some of the unhealthy practices when it comes to the comment section. This is the type of stuff that makes me really want a Wordsplayed album even though it seems like it is nowhere in sight.
3. Happy Thoughts by Andy Mineo
Hate it when they got no AIM, they just all chat
The only thing you ever held down was the “Shift” button, ’cause it’s all cap (Cap)
See what I did there? I tried to keep the Scornhub vibes with the Mineo quote
Believe it or not, this is actually one of my favorite Andy Mineo projects. My top 3 might make you mad altogether.
The sound of this record is geared between two producers mainly, Mineo and legendary producer DTSL (Daniel Steele). Mineo pairs smooth flows and clever bars to glitch-step jazz-club instrumentals on tracks like Shibuya Roll Call and Mangia with the experimental bombast of songs Jackson Pollock and Herman Miller.
In his song Always in a Rush, he Brings together what Happy Thoughts is all about. He reflects on his anxiety which prevents him from taking moments to relax under the suspicion his career will suffer greatly for having done so. In the Opening line, he raps I feel guilty every time I watch TV.”
It is a record full of substance and it sounds pretty great. I hope we will get many more DSTL collaborations in the future.
Not to mention the music videos are pretty great.
4. Hip-Hop Soul by Joel McNeill, John McNeill, & Wes Pendleton
The title of the record explains precisely what it is. This is soul music with a hip-hop backdrop. It takes the processed soul samples of Wes Pendleton and the colorful edge of the McNeill brothers for an offering for jazz and rap connoisseurs alike. On anyone of these tracks, I could hear a verse from Tyler, Lupe, Kendrick, Cole, Common, Joey, and so many others.
Tracks like Dark Park Bench put you in a trance with its seemingly innocent piano taps and plucks of the bass from the McNeill’s but then explodes into a cascade of sound that morphs into a chill midnight groove. There are some nice twists and turns on this record, that make it a worthwhile listen.
Those are just a few recommendations. Hopefully, you like them. If not, you can totally @ me. Otherwise, check my playlist, Christian Music for Tyler, the Creator fans.
