Tyler, The Creator is known for being a musical savant. He's not only a talented rapper, but he’s also known for self-producing his albums and creating innovative music videos. He began with his debut album, B****** (2009), which was followed by the other two albums from his trilogy, Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013). Before B******, he and his music group, Odd Future, released an album named The Odd Future Tape in 2008.

"Odd Future perfoming in March 2012"

Image Credit: Tyresehasabrain from Wikimedia

Tyler has grown a lot since his early music days. In recent years, he released an album called IGOR in 2019, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Call Me If You Get Lost (2021) and Chromakopia (2024) also debuted at the same number one spot. He is one of the most popular rappers of the 21st century and is the favorite of many.

But he isn’t done with his music career just yet—on July 21st of 2025, Tyler, The Creator dropped an unexpected album: DON’T TAP THE GLASS. DTTG was his most unexpected album. Tyler typically drops every two years.

That was only changed twice: he released Call Me If You Get Lost with a three-year gap (likely due to COVID), and he released Chromakopia with a one-year gap. DTTG has the shortest gap between his albums, with the amount of days between Chromakopia and DTTG being only 266 days apart!

"Tyler The Creator performing in the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam in 2025"

Image Credit: Sinjinmeow from Wikimedia

DTTG has been coined by Tyler as a “dance album.” On the cover of the album’s website, there are these rules: "body movement. no sitting still, only speak in glory. leave your baggage at home, and don't tap the glass." It’s clear that Tyler’s purpose for making the album is to inspire people to enjoy his music with more than their ears, but to feel it in their souls through dance.

On the 20th of July, one day before the album’s release, Tyler hosted a listening party in Los Angeles at The Mason Lodge. At the listening party, he played through all ten songs twice. He joined his fans on the floor and danced with them as they celebrated his new release. To appreciate the album, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite moments from each DTTG song.

Big Poe

The first song of the album starts off strong with a sample from Busta Rhymes’ “Pass the Courvoisier Part II.” Although the beat and Pharrell’s feature are worthy of being my pick for this song, I have to give this spot to the sample. Busta Rhymes’ intro fits perfectly with the theme of the album: it makes you “wanna jump, jump.” Tyler was really focused on his audience dancing while listening to the album, so adding in that intro from Busta Rhymes really solidified his goal for the project. And it definitely makes me want to “jump jump” with the sample layered over the upbeat instrumental of “Big Poe.”

"Busta Rhymes at University of California, Riverside's Spring Splash, 2005"

Image Credit: Melody from Wikimedia

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Sugar On My Tongue

Although a lot of DTTG reminds me of Tyler’s 2015 album, Cherry Bomb, “Sugar On My Tongue” includes some of the strongest elements of Cherry Bomb. From this song, I loved the Bridge after the second repetition of the chorus.

The vocalizing at the end of the bridge gives me that Cherry Bomb vibe and instantly became stuck in my head. Tyler’s albums usually feature some of his vocals, even though he has stated many times that he isn’t a great singer, but his harmonizing always makes the song a hit for me, with it perfectly melding with the vibe and beat of the song.

Sucka Free

“Sucka Free” includes a chorus that references his recent cover of Kendrick Lamar’s song, “hey now.” But the chorus isn’t what drew me in: it was the flow of his first verse. He begins the verse with lines that are all four syllables long, and stress on the last two syllables. It makes the verse so much more catchy.

The middle of the first verse through the end of it features quick, long lines in his instantly recognizable tone. This first verse is one of my favorites off the entire album simply because of its addictive flow.

"GLASS TAPPING: Sucka Free"Posted by Tyler, The Creator on YouTube

Mommanem

“Mommanem” is the shortest song off of the album, being only a minute and fifteen seconds. The beat is my favorite element in this song, but it’s more than the drums that caught my attention: it was the high-pitched plucking heard throughout the song. The aggressive lyrics paired with the eerie plucking make the vibes more creepy. His lyrics about not getting equal treatment from the people he helps out, as well as his distrust of fake people, speak about how he said they would, “gеt clipped today.” The threatening lyrics match the tense plucking very well.

Stop Playing With Me

“Stop Playing With Me” is one of the more bass-heavy songs. This automatically makes it great for dancing and driving. Its bass is my favorite part of the song.

The bass in the chorus makes your speakers vibrate and is so satisfying. It even features some of the plucking from the previous song. This song is definitely one for the headphones and car speakers.

"Stop Playing With Me music video"

Posted by Tyler, The Creator on YouTube

Ring Ring Ring

“Ring Ring Ring” is one of my favorite songs off the album. From this song, I love the synth-sounding chords in the background of the chorus. It’s like the instrument is its own backup singer. The keys pump that upbeat vibe throughout the song and make this song one of the most danceable from the album.

Don’t Tap That Glass

Technically, this song and “Tweakin” are part of the same song, but Tyler released them as Part I and II, so I separated them into two separate songs. “Don’t Tap That Glass” features one of my favorite verses lyrically from the album. In the refrain, Tyler raps, “Bring it back, bring it back, we back it up” which inversely compares bringing something back with backing it up. The opposite pairs in the verse continue with the next two lines: “gеt a stack, spend a stack, we stack it up” and “talkin' down on the squad, we turn it up.” I love the contrast in the refrain.

"GLASS TAPPING: Don't Tap That Glass"

Posted by Tyler, The Creator on YouTube

Tweakin’

The second part of the song “Don’t Tap That Glass / Tweakin” has many parts in the song I love: the siren in the background, the catchy beat, and the synth in its verse. But my favorite is a line in the last repetition of the chorus in which Tyler goes, “I'm— ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.” You can literally hear his excitement for music through the speakers. And the beat drop that follows it will turn up any dance room.

Don’t You Worry Baby

This is one of the slower songs on the album. My favorite element from this song, as I imagine is the same for many people, is the feature from Madison McFerrin. Her voice is beautiful and goes with Tyler’s production smoothly.

I especially like her background vocals in the chorus of the song. She is such a talented singer and adapted to Tyler’s unique production very well.

"Madison McFerrin performing in 2021 BRIC JazzFest"

Image Credit: Feast of Music from Wikimedia

I’ll Take Care Of You

Although the entire album reminds me of Cherry Bomb, “I’ll Take Care Of You” actually pulls the drums from the song “Cherry Bomb” for this track. The drums go well with the other instrumentals, and they serve as a little easter egg for Tyler’s more die-hard fans who miss his Cherry Bomb era. The fast-paced drums pair well with his dance themes for DTTG.

Tell Me What It Is

The last song on the album provides a strong finish. From this track, I enjoyed the second verse the most. This is also a slower track, but its lyrics are more hard-hitting.

Tyler raps, “I can buy the galaxy. But can't afford to look for love.” A lot of songs from DTTG follow themes of his struggles with fame. But this song cuts deep. Tyler can’t find genuine love because his fame and wealth attract many inauthentic people.

With a somber ending to the upbeat dance album, Tyler treats his fans to an unexpected album made for creating new memories. Whether you’re having a bad day or you need something to turn on during a house party, Tyler promises positive emotions for you from his album. He ends the final song with a note that mimics the same sound at the beginning of the first track, “Big Poe,” making the album a loop. In a way, I think this symbolizes his wish to extend the appreciation of music through dance to people as a more long-term state.

"Tyler The Creator Dancing on his Call Me If You Get Lost tour"

Image Credit: Shoot for the Stars from Wikimedia

In an Instagram post, Tyler stated, “[Dance,] a natural form of expression and a certain connection they have with music is now a ghost.” Don’t Tap The Glass brought dance and musical expression back from the dead in just 28 minutes. So dance, listen to the album at full volume, and don’t tap the glass.