Tyler, the Creator : DON’T TAP THE GLASS
Dancing is a form of healing—a source of catharsis whether you’re out at the club or in the privacy of your home. Life’s stresses can’t weigh you down when you literally won’t stand still. There’s no shortage of songs to help us achieve this elevated state, but the 10 tracks on Tyler, the Creator‘s DON’T TAP THE GLASS are singularly devoted to physical movement.
Creating danceable music isn’t new territory for Tyler; whether we’re talking “Yonkers” or “Earfquake,” he knows how to write a song that’ll get you moving. However, throughout the record’s brief 28 minutes, Tyler uses every song on DON’T TAP THE GLASS to provoke the listener into physical action. Though he’s a compelling lyricist, there’s just as strong an argument that Tyler’s greatest talent lies in his skills as a producer. With a couple exceptions, Tyler has been the sole producer on each of his records, and in doing so, he’s presented an eclectic range of sound and song structure. DON’T TAP THE GLASS not only backs this up but finds Tyler expanding upon his technical genius.
While he’s provided his share of hip-hop and R&B grooves in the past, DON’T TAP THE GLASS finds Tyler combining those genres with house, techno, and funk to offer a more explicit dance record. In album opener “Big Poe,” Tyler introduces the song by stating, “Welcome. Number one, body movement, no sitting still. Number two, only speak in glory, leave your baggage at home. Number three, don’t tap the glass.” After a short build-up, Tyler lays down an explosive presentation of drum programming and synthesizer. The intensity doesn’t let up from there. Tyler uses each song to provide an array of soundscapes that inspire movement: “Sugar On My Tongue” leans into techno territory, “Sucka Free” has Tyler dabbling in funk, and “Stop Playing With Me” is pure braggadocious hip-hop. Tyler’s lyrics, whether he’s leaning into self-bravado or sensuality, serve as icing on top an already stellar instrumental experience.
Alongside his impeccable use of drum programming and synths, Tyler utilizes various samples to bring unique depth to each track. Pulling from southern hip-hop (Crime Mob’s “Knuck If You Buck” sampled on “I’ll Take Care of You”) to R&B jams (Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio’s “All in the Way You Get Down” sampled on “Ring Ring Ring”), it’s thrilling to hear Tyler merge his beats and production with such variety.
Though DON’T TAP THE GLASS doesn’t contain as much personal depth like IGOR or Chromakopia, what Tyler, the Creator accomplishes here is nonetheless thrilling. If you’re holding onto tension and need to shake away bad vibes, throw on DON’T TAP THE GLASS—give yourself to blissful dance and embrace the joy.
Label: Columbia
Year: 2025
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