"Tamale" | |
---|---|
Song by Tyler, the Creator | |
from the album Wolf | |
Released | April 2, 2013 |
Genre | Hip hop |
Length | 2:46 |
Label | Odd Future |
Songwriter(s) | Tyler Okonma |
Producer(s) | Tyler, the Creator |
Music video | |
"Tamale" on YouTube |
"Tamale" is a song by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his second studio album Wolf (2013). The song was solely written and produced by Tyler, the Creator, and was released with the rest of its parent album on April 2, 2013. Its music video was released on October 8, 2013.
The song contains "aggressive percussion which bounces around", which also describes Tyler, the Creator's flow on the track. [1] The lyrics involve Tyler rapping about controversial topics, such as using euphemisms for private body parts, masturbation, and calling film director Spike Lee a racial slur. [2] The hook features shrill vocals from actress Tallulah Willis, which has been considered an imitation of the British rapper M.I.A. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Birkut of Tiny Mix Tapes described the song as "overly flamboyant", [7] while Chris Kelly of Fact described it as "vaguely exotic". [5] James McKenna of No Ripcord remarked the combination of the song's production and rapping is "an entirely abrasive sound that's easy to hate when you first hear it, but somehow it grows on you. It's still kinda intensely annoying, yet impossible to dismiss." [1] Andy Baber of MusicOMH regarded the song's high-pitched vocals to be "mildly irritating". [6] Beats Per Minute's Harriet Suits Baer cited the song as one of the many tracks from Wolf which she considered not worth listening to. [8] In an album review for Los Angeles Times , Randall Roberts considered "Tamale" among the best of the "minimal tracks with wobbly time signatures that are naturally unbalanced" and wrote it "illustrates a musician taking rhythmic chances to great success, even if they're hobbled by an unfortunate flatness." [9]
The music video was self-directed by Tyler, the Creator under his directing alias, "Wolf Haley", and was released on October 8, 2013. It also serves as the music video for the sixth track on Wolf, "Answer".
The video opens with three floating heads of Tyler rapping parts of the first verse in an orange background. [10] [11] The clip then switches to a blurred visual, which Tyler claims was censored due to its "graphic nature," further adding that "people aren't ready to have intelligent conversations before they judge." [12] [13] The next scene sees a miniaturized Tyler bouncing on bikini-clad video vixen Bria Myles' butt as if on a trampoline, further adding on to the statement in the previous clip, stating, "But this shit is allowed." [14] [15] In other shots, he reenacts one of the Wolf album covers; [10] runs wild with Lee Spielman of Trash Talk while wearing all yellow on a golf court, where he also eats an apple and uses a golf cart; rides on a giant tabby cat; is underwater at a pool party; wears whiteface and appears bald as he leads a marching band, before ending with Tyler reading a book titled Homophobia Beans Misogyny Bad 666 Gimmick in bed while using his own lotion brand and experiencing a simulated orgasm. [12] Following this, the video then transitions to another track from Wolf, "Answer".
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
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US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [16] | 3 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [17] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Tyler Gregory Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the founding members of the music collective Odd Future. Okonma has won two Grammy Awards, three BET Hip Hop Awards, a BRIT Award, and a MTV Video Music Award.
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, better known as Odd Future and often abbreviated as OF or OFWGKTA, is an American alternative hip-hop music collective formed in Los Angeles, California in 2007. The original members were Tyler, the Creator, Casey Veggies, Hodgy, Left Brain, Matt Martians, Jasper Dolphin, Earl Sweatshirt, Travis "Taco" Bennett, and Syd. Later members included brandUn DeShay, Pyramid Vritra, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Frank Ocean, and Na-Kel Smith.
Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, also known by his stage name Earl Sweatshirt, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Kgositsile was originally known by the moniker Sly Tendencies when he began rapping in 2008, but changed his name when Tyler, the Creator invited him to join his alternative hip hop collective Odd Future in late 2009.
Goblin is the debut studio album by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on May 10, 2011, by XL Recordings. Goblin continues Tyler's dialogues with his fictional therapist Dr. TC, first heard on his 2009 mixtape, Bastard. The album's songs were produced almost entirely by Tyler himself, along with a contribution from fellow Odd Future member Left Brain. The album features guest appearances from Odd Future members Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, Jasper Dolphin, Taco, Domo Genesis, Mike G and Syd.
This is the discography of Tyler, the Creator, an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and the former leader of the Los Angeles hip hop collective Odd Future.
Wolf is the second studio album by American rapper and record producer Tyler, the Creator. It was released on April 2, 2013, by Odd Future Records. The album features guest appearances from Mike G, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Left Brain, Hodgy Beats, Erykah Badu and Pharrell, among others.
Vincent Jamal Staples is an American rapper and singer from Long Beach, California. Staples first became known for his association with California-based alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, namely Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt. He signed with Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records prior to releasing his collaborative mixtape with Mac Miller, Stolen Youth (2013). The following year, he signed with No I.D.'s ARTium Recordings, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings to release his debut extended play, Hell Can Wait (2014)—which marked his first project to chart on the Billboard 200.
The OF Tape Vol. 2 is the debut studio album by American hip hop collective Odd Future. It was released on March 20, 2012, by Odd Future Records and RED Distribution. It serves as the sequel to their debut mixtape, The Odd Future Tape (2008). The album features appearances from Odd Future members Hodgy Beats, Tyler, the Creator, Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Mike G, the Internet, Taco, Jasper Dolphin, Left Brain and L-Boy, as well as an uncredited appearance from Earl Sweatshirt. Production on the album was primarily handled by Left Brain and Tyler, the Creator, with Frank Ocean, Hal Williams and Matt Martians also receiving production credits. Lyrically the album ranges from being serious to being satirical, with some tracks offering an overly absurdist take on rap.
Karly Marina Loaiza, better known by her stage name Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter from Alexandria, Virginia. After releasing her debut mixtape Drunken Babble (2012), she gained recognition for enlisting rapper Tyler, the Creator and Diplo to produce for her debut extended play, Por Vida (2015). She signed with Virgin EMI Records to release her debut studio album Isolation (2018), which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim. She then signed with Interscope Records to release her second studio album and first Spanish-language project, Sin Miedo (2020). It spawned the single "Telepatía", which first gained virality on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, also receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus (2023) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, while her fourth album and second Spanish-language project, Orquídeas (2024) peaked at number two.
Cherry Bomb is the third studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on April 13, 2015, by Odd Future Records. On April 9, 2015, the album was informally announced on iTunes, along with the release of two tracks. Production was handled entirely by Tyler himself, with additional contributions by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger. The album features guest appearances from Schoolboy Q, Charlie Wilson, Kali Uchis, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams and Austin Feinstein, among others. The album was supported by two singles: "Deathcamp" and "Fucking Young / Perfect", accompanied by 2 music videos.
Flower Boy is the fourth studio album by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. The album was released on July 21, 2017, by Columbia Records. Produced entirely by Tyler, the album features guest vocals from a range of artists, including Frank Ocean, ASAP Rocky, Anna of the North, Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Steve Lacy, Estelle, Jaden Smith and Rex Orange County.
"Fucking Young / Perfect" is a song written and produced by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator, from his third studio album, Cherry Bomb (2015). It features the American singers Charlie Wilson, Chaz Bundick, Syd Bennett, and Kali Uchis, Uchis writing the song with Tyler. The song was released alongside "Deathcamp" as the album's lead single on April 9, 2015.
"Kids See Ghosts" is a song by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, from their debut studio album of the same name (2018). The song features a guest appearance from Mos Def, who received credit under his real name of Yasiin Bey. It was produced by West, Kid Cudi, and Plain Pat, while additional production was handled by Andrew Dawson, Justin Vernon and Noah Goldstein. Apart from Plain Pat and Goldstein, the producers wrote the song alongside Bey. Making heavy use of synthesizers, the song draws inspiration from ambient music. Lyrically, the song reflects on the difficulties of fame and success.
Igor is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator. It was released on May 17, 2019, through Columbia Records. Produced solely by Tyler himself, the album features guest appearances from Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Solange, Kanye West, and Jerrod Carmichael. Following the release of Flower Boy (2017), the album was primarily recorded in California, with recording sessions also being held in Lake Como, Italy, and Atlanta between 2017 and 2019.
"New Magic Wand" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his fifth studio album Igor (2019). It incorporates elements of "Vsichni Praznj" by Siluetes 61 and features background vocals from American singer Santigold.
"Gone, Gone / Thank You" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator from his fifth studio album Igor (2019). It features background vocals from American singer CeeLo Green. The song contains excerpts from "Hey Girl" by Cullen Omori of Smith Westerns and interpolations from "Fragile" by Tatsuro Yamashita.
Alfredo is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and American hip hop producer The Alchemist. It was released on May 29, 2020, through Gibbs' own record label ESGN Records, as well as ALC Records and Empire Distribution.
"Lumberjack" is a song by American rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator, released on June 16, 2021, as the lead single from his sixth studio album, Call Me If You Get Lost. The song samples the Gravediggaz track "2 Cups of Blood".
Call Me If You Get Lost is the sixth studio album by American rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator. The album was released on June 25, 2021, through Columbia Records. The album is narrated by DJ Drama and features guest appearances from 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, Domo Genesis, Brent Faiyaz, Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell Williams, Teezo Touchdown, Fana Hues and Daisy World. Tyler produced the album himself, with additional production contributed by Jamie xx and Jay Versace.
"IFHY" is a song by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring fellow American rapper Pharrell Williams from the former's second studio album, Wolf, released on April 2, 2013. The song was written by Tyler and Williams, with Tyler producing the song. The music video for "IFHY" was released on March 29, 2013.