Tyler, the Creator facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tyler, the Creator
Tyler, the Creator, at Primavera Sound 2022
Born	Tyler Gregory Okonma (1991-03-06) March 6, 1991 (age 34) Hawthorne, California, US
Other names	Tyler Haley Wolf Haley Bunnyhop Poly/Mono Ace, the Creator ThrashPolo
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record producer director fashion designer actor
Years active	2007–present
Organization	Golf Wang
Works	Discography production songs
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Alternative hip-hop neo soul West Coast hip-hop jazz rap hardcore hip-hop horrorcore
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards
Labels	Columbia Odd Future Sony RED XL
Signature

Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), who is known by his stage name Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is seen as a very influential artist in alternative hip-hop. Tyler first became famous in the late 2000s as the leader and co-founder of the music group Odd Future. In the group, he was a rapper, producer, and director. He also acted in the group's comedy show Loiter Squad (2012–2014).

While working with his group, Tyler also built his solo career. He released his first album in 2009. His second album, Goblin (2011), made him famous in the mainstream, especially because of the popular song "Yonkers" and its creative music video. At this time, his music had a dark and shocking style that got a lot of attention.

Starting with his third album, Wolf (2013), Tyler began to change his style. He started making music that blended jazz, soul, and R&B. His later albums, Flower Boy (2017), Igor (2019), and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021), were all very successful. Both Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

Besides music, Tyler is also a major figure in fashion. He created the clothing brands Golf Wang and Le Fleur. He has worked with famous brands like Converse and Louis Vuitton. Tyler also started the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, a popular music festival held every year since 2012. He has won many awards, including two Grammy Awards and a BRIT Award.

Early life

Tyler Gregory Okonma was born on March 6, 1991, in Hawthorne, California. His father is of Nigerian Igbo heritage, and his mother is of African-American and white Canadian heritage. He grew up in Hawthorne and later moved to Ladera Heights.

Even before he could make music, Tyler was very creative. At age seven, he would take the covers out of CD cases and design new ones for his own imaginary albums. He even created track lists with song lengths. At age 14, he taught himself how to play the piano.

Over his 12 years of school, he went to 12 different schools in the Los Angeles and Sacramento areas. He worked at FedEx for a short time and at Starbucks for over two years. He got his stage name, "Tyler, the Creator," from a Myspace page where he posted his creative work.

Career

2007–2011: Odd Future and Early Solo Albums

Tyler in April 2011

In 2007, Tyler co-founded the music group Odd Future with his friends Hodgy, Left Brain, and Casey Veggies. They released their first mixtape together in 2008. On Christmas Day in 2009, Tyler released his first solo album. The album was praised by online music critics.

On February 11, 2011, Tyler released the music video for his song "Yonkers". The unique and shocking video quickly got a lot of attention online. For this song, Tyler won the Best New Artist award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. His early music was often described as horrorcore because of its dark themes, though Tyler himself did not like this label.

In 2011, Tyler and Odd Future signed a record deal. His second album, Goblin, was released on May 10, 2011. He performed on TV for the first time on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

2012–2014: Wolf and Loiter Squad

Tyler in September 2012

Odd Future's TV show, Loiter Squad, started on Adult Swim on March 25, 2012. The show was a comedy series with sketches and pranks, and it ran for three seasons.

On April 2, 2013, Tyler released his third album, Wolf. This album featured many famous artists like Pharrell Williams and Erykah Badu. The music on Wolf was different from his earlier work, with more melody and influences from jazz and soul. The album was a success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 chart.

2015–2016: Cherry Bomb

Tyler performing in Moscow in August 2015

On April 13, 2015, Tyler released his fourth album, Cherry Bomb. This album was more experimental and featured guest appearances from stars like Kanye West and Lil Wayne. To support the album, he went on a world tour across North America, Europe, and Asia.

In 2015, Tyler had to cancel some shows in the United Kingdom. This was due to disagreements over lyrics from his very early songs.

2017–2018: Flower Boy and New TV Shows

In 2017, Tyler wrote and performed the theme song for the science show Bill Nye Saves the World. He also launched a new TV show on Viceland called Nuts + Bolts, where he explored how different things are made.

On July 21, 2017, Tyler released his fifth album, Flower Boy. The album was a huge success with both fans and critics. It showed a more personal and melodic side of his music. Flower Boy was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards, earning him his second Grammy nomination.

2019–2023: Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost

Tyler performing in Pittsburgh in 2019

On May 17, 2019, Tyler released his sixth album, Igor. For this album, he created a character with a blonde wig and a colorful suit. The album was a massive hit, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. It was his first number-one album.

In 2020, Igor won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It was his first Grammy win. When he accepted the award, Tyler said that he was grateful but felt his music crossed many genres and shouldn't just be called "rap."

On June 25, 2021, Tyler released his seventh album, Call Me If You Get Lost. It also debuted at number one in the U.S. and received great reviews. In 2022, this album also won the Grammy for Best Rap Album, making it his second win in that category.

2024–present: Chromakopia and Don't Tap the Glass

In April 2024, Tyler performed as a headliner at the Coachella music festival. His performance was praised by critics as exciting and spectacular.

On October 28, 2024, he released his next album, Chromakopia. The album was another success, and he announced a world tour to support it. Unbeknownst to his fans, Tyler had already started working on another album while on tour.

On July 21, 2025, he surprised everyone by releasing his ninth album, Don't Tap the Glass. This album had a completely different sound, focusing on dance, techno, and house. Tyler said he was inspired to make the album because he wanted to see people dance more at concerts.

Artistry

Pharrell Williams has been one of Tyler's biggest inspirations.

Tyler's music has been described in many ways, including alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, and neo soul. His early music was known for its dark and shocking themes, a style sometimes called horrorcore. One of his biggest inspirations has always been the musician and producer Pharrell Williams.

As the leader of Odd Future, Tyler and his group had a big impact on hip-hop in the 2010s. They released music on their own terms using websites like YouTube and Tumblr. This inspired many other artists to build their careers in new ways. The group also influenced fashion, popularizing brands like Supreme and creating their own brand, Golf Wang.

Tyler in September 2012

Starting with his album Wolf, Tyler's music began to change. He started to mix in sounds from jazz, R&B, and soul. His lyrics also became more personal.

His albums Flower Boy, Igor, and Call Me If You Get Lost marked a new era for him. These albums moved away from the dark themes of his early work and focused more on melody and emotion. This trilogy of albums established him as one of the most celebrated artists of his generation.

Personal life

Tyler has been an avid skateboarder since 2002 and also collects BMX bicycles. He has asthma and sometimes uses an inhaler on stage.

Discography

Studio albums (selected)

• Goblin (2011)
• Wolf (2013)
• Cherry Bomb (2015)
• Flower Boy (2017)
• Igor (2019)
• Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)
• Chromakopia (2024)
• Don't Tap the Glass (2025)

Tours

Headlining

• Wolf Tour (2013)
• 2014 Tour (2014)
• Cherry Bomb Tour (2015)
• Okaga, CA Tour (2016)
• Flower Boy Tour (2017–2018)
• Igor Tour (2019)
• Call Me If You Get Lost Tour (2022)
• Chromakopia: The World Tour (2025)

Co-headlining

• Rocky and Tyler Tour (with A$AP Rocky) (2015)

Supporting

• Kid Cudi - Cud Life Tour (2013)

Filmography

Television

Films