Tyler, the Creator facts for kids

Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known as Tyler, the Creator, is an American artist. He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He also works as a fashion designer, director, and actor. Many see him as an important person in alternative hip-hop music. He became famous in the 2010s and 2020s.

In the late 2000s, Tyler helped start a music group called Odd Future. He was a leader in this group. He rapped, produced music, directed videos, and acted for them. He also made albums for other members of the group. Tyler appeared on their comedy TV show, Loiter Squad, from 2012 to 2014.

Tyler also started his own music career. His first album came out in 2009. His second album, Goblin (2011), made him widely known. The song "Yonkers" and its music video were very popular. During this time, Tyler's music had a very intense and unique style. This style often sparked many discussions.

After his third album, Wolf (2013), Tyler's music style changed. He started using sounds from jazz, soul, and R&B. These new sounds were often easier to listen to. In 2015, he released Cherry Bomb. This album included famous artists like Lil Wayne and Kanye West.

His album Flower Boy (2017) was praised by critics and sold very well. Then came Igor (2019) and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021). Both albums reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. They also won the Best Rap Album award at the Grammy Awards. His albums Chromakopia (2024) and Don't Tap the Glass (2025) also topped the charts. Chromakopia had his best first-week sales ever.

Beyond music, Tyler created clothing brands like Golf Wang and Le Fleur. He has worked with big names like Lacoste, Converse, and Louis Vuitton. He also started the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival music festival in 2012. Many famous artists have performed there. Tyler directs all his music videos using the name "Wolf Haley". In 2025, he acted in his first movie, Marty Supreme, playing Wally.

Tyler has won many awards, including three Grammy Awards. He also has three BET Hip Hop Awards, a BRIT Award, and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2019, The Wall Street Journal called him "Music Innovator of the Year". In 2024, the Los Angeles Times recognized him as an "L.A. Influential" creator.

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 35) Hawthorne, California, US
Other names	Tyler Haley Wolf Haley Bunnyhop Poly/Mono Ace, the Creator ThrashPolo DJ Stank Daddy
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

Early Life and Learning

Tyler Gregory Okonma was born on March 6, 1991. He grew up in Hawthorne, California, near Los Angeles. His father was Nigerian, and his mother was African-American. She also had Canadian roots. Tyler lived in Hawthorne until he was 17, then moved to Ladera Heights.

When he was seven, Tyler loved making his own imaginary album covers. He would even create song lists for them. By age 14, he had taught himself to play the piano.

Tyler went to many different schools during his childhood. In eighth grade, he joined a drama class. He was asked to leave because he was very energetic. In ninth grade, he couldn't join the band because he couldn't read music. He went to Westchester High School. There, he became friends with Lionel Boyce in a theater class.

Before his music career, Tyler worked at FedEx for a short time. He also worked at Starbucks for over two years. He chose his stage name, Tyler, the Creator, from a Myspace page. He used this page to share his creative ideas.

When Tyler was 15, he had a YouTube channel called "bloxhead". He posted his first video in February 2008. He stopped uploading in October 2009 to focus on his first album. He also had a comedy hip-hop group with Jasper Dolphin.

Music Career Highlights

Early Music and Odd Future (2007–2011)

Tyler in April 2011

Tyler helped create the alternative hip-hop group Odd Future in 2007. Other members included Hodgy, Left Brain, and Casey Veggies. They released their first mixtape, The Odd Future Tape, in November 2008. On December 25, 2009, Tyler released his first solo album. This album was recognized as one of the top albums of 2010 by Pitchfork Media.

In February 2011, Tyler released the music video for "Yonkers". The video was very unusual and got a lot of attention online. Tyler won Best New Artist for "Yonkers" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. His early music had a strong, intense style. However, Tyler often said he didn't like being labeled by this style.

In early 2011, many music industry figures noticed Tyler. These included Steve Rifkind, Jimmy Iovine, and Jay-Z. Tyler and Odd Future signed a deal with Red Distribution/Sony in April 2011. His second album, Goblin, came out on May 10, 2011. Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed "Sandwitches" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in February 2011. They also performed at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards. Tyler announced that Odd Future would have their own TV show, Loiter Squad. This show was confirmed as a 15-minute sketch comedy show.

Wolf Album and Loiter Squad TV Show (2012–2014)

Tyler in September 2012

Odd Future's TV show Loiter Squad started on Adult Swim in March 2012. The show ran for three seasons. It featured famous guests like Johnny Knoxville and Lil Wayne. In 2015, Tyler shared that the show had ended.

On February 14, 2013, Odd Future announced that Tyler's album Wolf would be released on April 2, 2013. Tyler also showed three different album covers on Instagram. To promote Wolf, Tyler performed on songs by other artists. These included "Trouble on My Mind" by Pusha T and "Martians vs. Goblins" by The Game.

The first song from Wolf was "Domo23", released with a music video in February 2013. Tyler performed "Domo23" and "Treehome95" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Wolf was released on April 2, 2013. It featured artists like Frank Ocean, Pharrell, and Erykah Badu. Tyler produced the entire album himself. The album received good reviews and sold 90,000 copies in its first week. It reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart.

Cherry Bomb and Tour Challenges (2015–2016)

Tyler performing Cherry Bomb in Moscow in August 2015

In April 2015, Tyler announced that his new album, Cherry Bomb, was set for release on April 13, 2015.

Cherry Bomb was released digitally on April 13, 2015. Physical copies came out later in April. The album featured well-known artists like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Schoolboy Q. Tyler supported the album with a world tour across North America, Europe, and Asia. However, he had to cancel the Australian part of his tour. This was due to concerns about some of his early music.

Flower Boy and New TV Shows (2017–2018)

In April 2017, Frank Ocean released "Biking", which featured Tyler, the Creator, and Jay Z. Soon after, Tyler announced he would write the theme song for Bill Nye's new show, Bill Nye Saves the World. In June, the trailer for Tyler's TV show Nuts + Bolts premiered. The show explored things Tyler found interesting and how they are made. It started in August 2017.

On June 29, 2017, Tyler released "Who Dat Boy" with ASAP Rocky. He also released "911 / Mr. Lonely" featuring Steve Lacy and Frank Ocean. In July, he announced his fifth album, Flower Boy, which was released on July 21, 2017. Singles like "Boredom" and "I Ain't Got Time!" came out before the album. Flower Boy received great reviews and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

In March 2018, Tyler released "Okra", calling it a "throwaway song". He released "435" in May 2018. In July 2018, Tyler and ASAP Rocky hinted at a joint project called WANG$AP. They released a music video for a song called "Potato Salad".

Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost Success (2019–2023)

Tyler performing in Pittsburgh in 2019

In May 2019, Tyler shared video clips with new music. He announced his sixth album, Igor, which was released on May 17. Igor was highly praised by critics. It became Tyler's first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the popular song "Earfquake". In December 2019, Tyler released two songs, "Best Interest" and "Group B".

On January 26, 2020, Tyler won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for Igor. He expressed gratitude but also shared his thoughts on how his music is categorized. He felt his genre-blending music was often placed only in rap or "urban" categories. He wished for broader recognition for his diverse sound.

Tyler as Cornell on the Showtime comedy-drama series Kidding, 2020

For his seventh album, Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler put up billboards with a phone number. When called, it played a conversation between him and his mother. This recording was later included in the album. The album's first single, "Lumberjack", came out on June 16. The album was released on June 25. It received excellent reviews and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.

In March 2022, Tyler scored the Louis Vuitton Men's Fall-Winter 2022 fashion show. His score was performed live by the Chineke! Orchestra. In March 2022, Tyler appeared on two songs from Nigo's album I Know Nigo!. Call Me If You Get Lost won the award for Best Rap Album at the 64th Grammy Awards.

On March 27, 2023, Tyler announced Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale. This included songs recorded for Call Me If You Get Lost that didn't make the final album. The single "Dogtooth" was released with a music video that day. Another single, "Sorry Not Sorry", followed on March 29, 2023. The Estate Sale was released on March 31, 2023.

Recent Albums and Tours (2024–Present)

Tyler, The Creator performing at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario in 2025 as part of his CHROMAKOPIA tour.

On April 13, 2024, Tyler was a headliner at Coachella. His performance included guest appearances from Childish Gambino, ASAP Rocky, and Kali Uchis. Critics called his show an "exhilarating, high-stakes spectacle."

On October 16, 2024, Tyler announced his album Chromakopia. He released the single "Noid" on October 21. The album was released on October 28. Tyler performed the album at smaller venues and at the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in November. He also announced Chromakopia: The World Tour, which started in February 2025 and continues into 2026. Lil Yachty and Paris Texas are supporting acts for the tour.

Tyler made a guest appearance on Clipse's album, Let God Sort Em Out, on the track "P.O.V." In January 2025, Tyler began working on his ninth album, Don't Tap the Glass, while on tour. He teased its release on social media and with an art installation. On July 19, 2025, a website was launched, and merchandise for the album appeared. Tyler held a listening party for 300 guests before the album's release.

Don't Tap the Glass was released on July 21, 2025. It received positive reviews, described as a dance, techno, and house album. A music video for "Stop Playing With Me" was uploaded, featuring Clipse, LeBron James, and Maverick Carter. Tyler said his inspiration for the album was to encourage people to dance.

On August 12, 2025, Tyler released the self-directed video for "Sugar on My Tongue". The video featured a unique and artistic story. The song spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard Top 100, his longest-charting song. Tyler also made his film debut in the sports movie Marty Supreme alongside Timothée Chalamet. In November 2025, Tyler was named Apple Music's Artist of the Year. He received six nominations for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards for his work on Chromakopia and Don't Tap the Glass. At the awards show in February 2026, Tyler won the Grammy Award for Best Album Cover for Chromakopia. He also performed "Thought I Was Dead" and "Sugar on My Tongue" at the ceremony.

Artistic Style and Influences

Pharrell Williams has been one of the greatest inspirations and references for Tyler.

Tyler's music is known for blending different styles. It includes alternative hip-hop, neo soul, West Coast hip-hop, jazz rap, and hardcore hip-hop. His early music had a dark and intense style. When Tyler first became known, his music reminded many of Pharrell Williams and his groups N.E.R.D and The Neptunes. Tyler has said Pharrell is one of his biggest inspirations.

His first two albums had a dark and intense feel. This was influenced by artists like Eminem, whose album Relapse (2009) is one of Tyler's favorites. The music video for "Yonkers", which showed Tyler eating a cockroach, was very unusual and got a lot of media attention.

As a leader of Odd Future, Tyler and the group gained much attention. They were known for their independent approach. They released music and content on platforms like YouTube and Tumblr. This influenced many artists to create their own paths. Odd Future also influenced fashion, popularizing urban clothing and their own brand "Golf Wang". Tyler also brought attention to skateboarding and biking. Many members of Odd Future, like Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt, went on to have successful careers.

Tyler in September 2012

Starting with his third album, Wolf, Tyler's music began to change. He explored more melodic sounds, mixing jazz, R&B, and soul. He also worked with artists from these genres, such as Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean. His lyrics became more personal, like in the song "Answer" where he talks about his father. However, his next album, Cherry Bomb, had a very experimental sound. It was described as "aggressive" and "noisy" by some. This album helped pave the way for his later works like Flower Boy and Igor. Around this time, Tyler began to focus more on his solo career.

Tyler's fifth album, Flower Boy, marked a new phase in his music. It moved away from the intense themes of his earlier work. Igor, his first Grammy-winning album, was a personal story about love and relationships. Call Me If You Get Lost, his second Grammy-winning album, featured the persona of "Tyler Baudelaire". This character was a sophisticated, well-traveled gentleman. These albums established Tyler as a highly acclaimed artist. Tyler has thanked artists like Q-Tip, André 3000, and Kanye West as his influences. Besides music, Tyler also made a name for himself in fashion with Golf Le Fleur. This luxury clothing line reflects the global style of his Call Me If You Get Lost album.

Personal Life

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

Selected Discography

Studio albums

• 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)

Film and Television Work

Television Appearances

Film Roles

Video Games

Awards and Nominations