Tyler, the Creator // Music Inspired by Illumination and Dr. Seuss's The Grinch

Tyler, the Creator

Music Inspired by Illumination and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Columbia Records

4/5 Stars

Tyler, the Creator scoring Illumination Studios' and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is cognitive dissonance at its finest. Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, the rapper was best known for leading the now defunct Odd Future, discharging both gorgeous arrangements and jaw-dropping horror-rap in equal measure (even leading to a ban in the UK). But the rapper has since turned over a new leaf; he's stopped performing the grotesque singles that made him famous, and his 2017 confessional Flower Boy was widely lauded as his best work yet. So with this new creative energy comes a Christmas EP fit for the whole family. To be fair, this is at least partially due to the fact that the EP is largely instrumental, but this also showcases Tyler's long-running strength as a self-taught producer. The way he blends synthesizers with strings is unique, and with or without guest vocalists, he successfully manages to convey holiday visions in these short, two-minute interludes. But the moment fans will most appreciate is "Big Bag," a short rap that shows Tyler is just as strong in front of the mic as he is behind it. — Aaron Mook