Tyler, the Creator played Madison Square Garden (Night 1)

Tyler, the Creator is on a world conquering tour in support of his 2024 record, Chromakopia, and his first of two shows at Madison Square Garden was an all-out affair proving his ambitions and putting him amongst the ranks of the greatest of his generation.

In 2021, when Tyler dropped his excellent record CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, I proclaimed that Tyler was the biggest rapper in the world, at least until Kendrick returned with his next record. In 2025, I stand by said proclamation and felt ultra validated when on "Rah Tah Tah" Tyler rapped that he was "the biggest out the city after Kenny, that's a fact now." In case there was anyone who might've been questioning it, Tyler is out to prove it on this tour and is pulling out all the stops to showcase his showmanship and prove that there's no one else on his level. Running through nearly all of his most recent blockbuster to start things off, Tyler enter the arena to mass fanfare and as the steel cargo containers rose to unveil his platform, he made use of it by running back and forth to deliver his lyrics in a frenzied state as the full-capacity crowd of Madison Square Garden barked along right back with him. Decked out in the full regalia that is the theme behind Chromokopia, he donned the mask and whig and embodied the personality of his latest creation and with his dynamic stage demeanor took over control of the crowd in an instant and had them in the palm of his hand for the entirety of the show. With bombastic flames and other pyrotechnics behind him, he was quick in making sure that everyone knew they were in for a spectacle and that he was sure to make this a night to remember and a fulcrum towards his status as one of the best to do it. On the floor, the crowd erupted and mosh pits began to form early on as he egged on the crowd with his lyrical writ and  hysterics inducing banter. As flames launched behind him, he was sure to capitalize on each and every moment as he walked across the stage to bring the tour de force to every single person in attendance. As a bridge lowered to connect him from the main stage to a mid arena platform, he dove into "Sticky" and had the world's most famous arena bopping up and down, ready to rock the building to the ground with sheer force, as he dazzled us all with his endless compassion and sheer love for his craft. As he strutted over the crowd, it was a real sense of a true visionary performer at the top of his world, unleashing his true and fully realized vision over a truly receptive crowd and seeing it pay off by the multitudes. Racing back and forth as the lights blinded everyone in the arena, it was a magnetic moment that had everyone reaching their absolute peaks before he took things into a whole new direction. As he descended upon the second stage, sheets were lifted to reveal a make-shift basement complete with a chais lounge couch, some shelving units, and at the center, a turntable. After changing out of his Chromokpoia attire, ditching the headgear and body suit, he slipped into something much more atypical of Tyler's wardrobe and proceed to sift through a stack of vinyl records, revealing some covers When I get Home and the the White Stripes' Elephant before eventually pulling out his own classics from back in his discography, Hitting us with Igor, Goblin, Wolf, and Flower Boy ushered in the primetime era of the night and had the room flooded with nostalgia. "Yonkers" shook the concrete while "EARFQUAKE" had us all boogying to no end. "I never knew y'all liked this one so much" he said before slapping us with "ARE WE STILL FRIENDS," a moment that got us all in our feels, but without question the most hyperventilating portion of the night came when he went back to digging through his vinyl. When he reached for his copy of Lord Willin' and began to talk about the impact Clipse had on him, there was a moment when it seemed like the brothers from Virginia might make their way to the stage (sidenote: Pusha T and Malice were indeed on the floor before the show began so this really seemed possible), but nevertheless I'm at home listening to "Grindin'" like Tyler instructed us all to do and dropping his verse from "P.O.V." was still a real treat. Instead he fetched his own CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST and noted their influence in particular on that gem before he crossed the bridge once again to bring things home from the main stage. As more pyro sparked up the joint, he put the nail in the conversation and effectively declared himself as one of the biggest names not just in hip-hop, but in popular music as well. On stage, there are few as in control and as captivating as Tyler on stage and watching him own the stage for nearly two hours, unassisted, is a feat few others can claim. Beyond hip-hop, he's a crossover talent that invokes the best of pop as well and his dance moves and overall stage presence make him an all star talent. While his name has been in the game for over a decade, his recent output has helped affirm him as one of the best to do it, but this tour solidifies his place as a generational talent worthy of all his praise.

Set list:

01 "St. Chroma"

02 "Rah Tah Tah"
03 "Noid"
04 "Darling, I"
05 "I Killed You"
06 "Judge Judy"
07 "Sticky
08 "Take Your Mask Off"
09 "Tomorrow"
10 "IGOR'S THEME"
11 "EARFQUAKE"
12 "ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?"
13 "I THINK"
14 "Yonkers"
15 "She"
16 "Tamale"
17 "Rusty"
18 "IFHY"
19 "LUMBERJACK"
20 "WUSYANAME"
21 "DOGTOOTH"
22 "SORRY NOT SORRY"
23 "Who Dat Boy"
24 "Thought I Was Dead"
25 "Like Him"
26 "See You Again"
27 "NEW MAGIC WAND"
28 "I Hope You Find Your Way Home"