Tyler, The Creator recently joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 for a lively and revealing conversation about his new album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS. The two dove into everything from Tyler’s evolving creative instincts to his renewed desire for playfulness, the fine balance between inspiration and imitation, his approach to upbeat and urgent production, collaborating with Clipse, and even his evolving thoughts on fatherhood.
Coming off the deeply personal tone of CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler shared that this new album was his deliberate return to fun. “I just want to be fun and say outrageous shit… inside jokes that me and my friends laugh at, and just talk big fly shit,” he said. He explained that the album avoids intros, outros, and beat switches, choosing instead to go straight for high-energy, no-frills tracks that simply feel good.
He also opened up about the wide range of dance influences that shaped the project, pointing to Jam and Lewis, New Orleans Bounce, Atlanta bass, Miami bass, UK jungle, and West Coast two-step as reference points. “That’s all my interpretation of dance music or music you could dance to,” he said. Tyler emphasized that originality comes from transforming inspiration through your own creative lens rather than copying what already exists.
One of the standout moments in the conversation came when he talked about working with Clipse, a group he’s admired since 2002. He recorded his verse for “P.O.V.” while on tour in Dublin, admitting it took him 77 takes to get it right. “I’d rather not send no bullshit just for the headline… and I nailed it,” he said, describing the collaboration as surreal and incredibly meaningful.
Tyler went on to praise Clipse’s new project Let God Sort Em Out, describing it as a kind of gospel album for the way it reflects the convictions and moral backbone of its creators. “When you do that with music… that’s just gospel,” he said.
The interview also had its playful moments, especially when Tyler touched on the idea of fatherhood. He joked about being torn between embracing the carefree life of “the rich uncle” and imagining himself as a hands-on parent. “That’d be kind of sick… share music with some little fucker and dress up as a fireman on random Thursdays,” he laughed, making it clear he isn’t interested in having kids simply for legacy’s sake.
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