Wolf | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 2, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2011–2013 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Alternative hip hop | |||
Length | 71:17 | |||
Label | Odd Future | |||
Producer | Tyler, the Creator | |||
Tyler, the Creator chronology | ||||
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Alternate covers | ||||
Singles from Wolf | ||||
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Wolf is the third studio album by the American rapper 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.
Wolf was supported by its lead single,"Domo23". The album received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200,selling 89,000 copies in its first week.
Tyler's two prior projects, Bastard and Goblin ,contained lyrics and themes commonly used in the horrorcore subgenre,which Tyler claimed to not be part of. [1] In November 2011,in an interview with Spin ,Tyler expressed wanting to shift away from the themes of his previous work,stating:
Talking about rape and cutting bodies up, it just doesn't interest me anymore... what interests me is making weird hippie music for people to get high to. With Wolf, I'll brag a little more, talk about money and buying shit. But not like any other rapper, I'll be a smart-ass about it. People who wanted the first album again, I can't do that. I was 18, broke as fuck. On my third album, I have money and I'm hanging out with my idols. I can't rap about the same shit. [2]
Wolf is a concept album that features a continuous story of characters Wolf, Sam and Salem. Therapist character Dr. TC makes his last appearance on a Tyler album on the final track "Lone". The story presented in Wolf has been said to link to Tyler's two previous projects, with debates occurring on whether Wolf comes chronologically before or after Goblin. [3]
The opening and title track, "Wolf", begins with piano chords and breathy vocals, and the character Wolf appears at the end of the track. [4] "Answer" features a simple guitar melody over heavy drums. [4] On the song, Tyler proclaims his desire to get into contact with his estranged father [4] and also mentions some problems that his friends are going through. [4] "Slater" is a song devoted to Tyler's bike, which ends with Frank Ocean speaking the words "You're talking to a fucking bike. Loser". [4] Kathy Iandoli of Billboard compared "Colossus" to Eminem's 2000 hit, "Stan", stating that Tyler "continuously switches the lyrics from being cutesy fanfare to sexually maniacal". [4] Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork describes the track "IFHY" as "a bit of Neptunes worship so adroit that its plinking synths and jazzy chord changes give way to a falsettoed coda from Pharrell himself". [5] Jenkins also compared the posse cut "Rusty" to the sound of Wu-Tang Clan, featuring "a lush reimagining of 1990s RZA production". [5] "Trashwang" is a trap-influenced posse cut. [4] Iandoli compared the sound of the song to the works of rapper Waka Flocka Flame. [4] The album's final track, "Lone", features Tyler's last therapy session with Dr. TC. [4] In the song, Tyler describes the events leading up to his grandmother's death. [4]
On February 14, 2013, OFWGKTA posted a video to their YouTube account, which includes L-Boy skydiving and announcing that Wolf will be released on April 2, 2013. On the same day, Tyler revealed three different album covers via his Instagram account. [6] The deluxe version of the album features a fold-out poster of the full album cover artwork that was designed by Mark Ryden, a limited embroidered patch, a Wolf calendar and a 24-page booklet featuring lyrics and artwork. [6] Four days after the album's release, Tyler released the whole album for free streaming services through his SoundCloud account. [7]
From March 11, 2013, to April 11, 2013, Tyler toured North America and Europe on the Wolf tour. The tour was his first solo tour without his group Odd Future. His first stop was Boulder, Colorado and the Wolf release party took place in Los Angeles, California on the release day of the album. [8] He announced he would extend the tour from April 30 to May 18, 2013. These shows took place on the west coast of the United States and it features his Odd Future cohort, Earl Sweatshirt. [6] [9] On September 9, 2013, Tyler released a trailer for a film based on Wolf, [10] however, nothing has come of it since.
The album's lead single, "Domo23", was released on February 14, 2013, as well an accompanying music video which features cameo appearances from Odd Future members Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Jasper Dolphin and Taco. [11] The song peaked at number two on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and at number 37 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. [12] At the end of the video for "Domo23", it previewed the video for the reported second single, "Bimmer" featuring Odd Future member Frank Ocean. [13] [14]
On March 29, 2013, the music video was released for "IFHY" featuring Pharrell. At the end of the video, the song cuts into a snippet of the music video for "Jamba" featuring Odd Future member Hodgy Beats. In the music video, Tyler "plays a lovestruck doll, acting out scenes in a dollhouse with a plastic girlfriend. While the real-life Tyler later drives through a neighborhood with Hodgy Beats as his song "Jamba" blasts from the speakers". [15] "IFHY" peaked at number 24 on the US Heatseekers Songs. [16] On October 7, 2013, the music video was released for both "Tamale" and "Answer". [17]
On April 7, 2023, Tyler, the Creator released the instrumentals of Wolf along with a reinstatement of merchandise from the album's release to commemorate its 10th anniversary. [18]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.9/10 [19] |
Metacritic | 70/100 [20] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [21] |
Exclaim! | 8/10 [22] |
Fact | 4/5 [23] |
The Independent | [24] |
Los Angeles Times | [25] |
NME | 8/10 [26] |
Pitchfork | 7.8/10 [5] |
Rolling Stone | [27] |
Slant Magazine | [28] |
XXL | 3/5 [29] |
Wolf was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 70, based on 31 reviews. [20] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 6.9 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [19]
Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork said, "With Wolf, Tyler, the Creator displays a radical growth as a producer, composer and arranger, even if, as a rapper, he's still up to some of the same antics. Still, the album contains a few of the best songs he's ever written". [5] Jeremy D. Larson of Consequence said, "Tyler is his own worst enemy, of course. But the buoyancy of the production and the overall intrigue of hearing him struggle with his idle hands prevent the album from getting mired down in too much vanity". [30] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "It's a fun album for fanatics, but the willingness to shock feels too comfortable at this point, so those who found it tiresome before will likely find it devastating here". [21] Chris Dart of Exclaim! felt that "While Tyler will almost certainly never outgrow life as a weird, hell-raising provocateur, Wolf shows that he's already growing into life as a smart, diverse artist". [22]
Slant Magazine 's Jesse Cataldo commenting "The production is routinely strong, but things are weighed down by Tyler himself, who forcefully refuses to provide a palatable anchor to over an hour's worth of material". Cataldo saw the album as "progress on some fronts", but felt that Tyler "needs to move beyond certain issues" to "prove himself a vital force". [28] Martín Caballero of The Boston Globe said, "Despite careering from one alter ego to the next and touching on everything from his absent father on "Answer" to the art of making campfire s'mores on the seven-minute "PartyIsntOver / Campfire / Bimmer", there's a broad vision and deft execution that holds things together much better than on Goblin". [31] Eric Diep of XXL said, "Wolf meets its own high expectations by creating an absorbing journey of Tyler's imagination. Everything from being his own therapist to poking fun at newfound fame is documented in captivating fashion, however juvenile it may be at times. There's still growing up to do, and maybe time will tame the fascinating artist we see on this album. Until then, there's no escaping his meteoric rise. And the diehard Odd Future fans will love every minute of it". [29]
David Amidon of PopMatters said, "If Wolf is not Goblin is the most important statement I feel like I could make about this album, the second most important thing I can probably say about it is that nothing has actually changed about Tyler himself. All his flaws as a coherent lyricist and person are on full display throughout the album, and the charm or lack thereof of that fact goes a long way towards how enjoyable this album can be". [32] Jessica Hopper of Spin magazine felt that "Wolf's most grievous misstep, and its one true spiritual connection to the superior Bastard and Goblin: Tyler's defiant use of the word 'faggot'. As usual, he spends a ton of time here bragging about how little he cares about how the world sees him, but his reliance on the other f-bomb to keep our attention suggests otherwise". [33] Chris Kelly of Fact said, "With Wolf, Tyler, the Creator is exciting again: maybe not as the ringleader of the Odd Future empire, but as a producer who just turned 22 (did you forget how young he actually is?), has internalized a decade of Neptunes / Doom / Def Jux production, and has Pharrell, Erykah, and (most importantly) Frank Ocean on speed dial. The don't-give-a-fuck attitude might have run its course lyrically, but when applying it as a production ethos, Tyler is just getting started". [23]
XXL ranked it number 18 on their list of the best albums of 2013. They commented saying, "The leader of the Odd Future crew's second album Wolf displayed radical maturity—both musically and lyrically; partnering with fellow Odd Future members Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt, alongside Pharrell Williams and even Erykah Badu on songs involving gripping narratives of personal frustrations and heartbreak. Coupled with vivid lyrics and stark synth production, Tyler's fascinatingly still weird but insightful and musically pleasing". [34] HipHopDX named it one of the top 25 albums of 2013. They elaborated saying, "Wolf was Tyler's most grown up effort to date. Developing into a fully realized production mastermind, he somehow tied a summer camp story in with his usual themes of relationships and the struggles of fame, not to mention the ghetto's crack epidemic and bullying leading to school shootings". [35]
In the United States, Wolf debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 89,000 copies in the first week. [36] [37] In its second week, the album sold 18,000 more copies bringing its sales total to 107,000 in the United States. [38]
All songs written and produced by Tyler, the Creator, except where noted. [39]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wolf" | 1:50 | |
2. | "Jamba" (featuring Hodgy Beats) | 3:32 | |
3. | "Cowboy" | 3:15 | |
4. | "Awkward" | 3:47 | |
5. | "Domo23" | 2:38 | |
6. | "Answer" | 3:50 | |
7. | "Slater" (featuring Frank Ocean) |
| 3:53 |
8. | "48" | 4:07 | |
9. | "Colossus" | 3:33 | |
10. | "PartyIsntOver / Campfire / Bimmer" (featuring Lætitia Sadier and Frank Ocean) |
| 7:18 |
11. | "IFHY" (featuring Pharrell) |
| 5:19 |
12. | "Pigs" | 4:14 | |
13. | "Parking Lot" (featuring Casey Veggies and Mike G) |
| 3:53 |
14. | "Rusty" (featuring Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt) |
| 5:09 |
15. | "Trashwang" (featuring Left Brain, Na-Kel, Jasper, Taco, L-Boy, Lucas and Lee Spielman) |
| 4:42 |
16. | "Treehome95" (featuring Erykah Badu and Coco Owino) |
| 3:00 |
17. | "Tamale" | 2:46 | |
18. | "Lone" | 4:00 | |
Total length: | 71:17 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Girl 45 (Instrumental)" |
| 2:13 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Wolf (Instrumental)" | 1:50 |
2. | "Jamba (Instrumental)" | 3:32 |
3. | "Cowboy (Instrumental)" | 3:15 |
4. | "Awkward (Instrumental)" | 3:47 |
5. | "Domo23 (Instrumental)" | 2:38 |
6. | "Answer (Instrumental)" | 3:50 |
7. | "Slater (Instrumental)" | 3:53 |
8. | "48 (Instrumental)" | 4:07 |
9. | "Colossus (Instrumental)" | 3:33 |
10. | "PartyIsntOver (Instrumental)" | 2:09 |
11. | "Campfire (Instrumental)" | 2:29 |
12. | "Bimmer (Instrumental)" | 2:27 |
13. | "IFHY (Instrumental)" | 5:19 |
14. | "Pigs (Instrumental)" | 4:14 |
15. | "Parking Lot (Instrumental)" | 3:53 |
16. | "Rusty (Instrumental)" | 5:09 |
17. | "Trashwang (Instrumental)" | 4:42 |
18. | "Treehome95 (Instrumental)" | 3:00 |
19. | "Tamale (Instrumental)" | 2:46 |
20. | "Lone (Instrumental)" | 4:00 |
Total length: | 71:17 |
Sample credits
Credits for Wolf adapted from CD liner notes. [39]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [59] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [60] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Tyler Gregory Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, The Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. He has been cited as an influential figure in alternative hip hop during the 2010s.
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, better known as Odd Future and often abbreviated as OF or OFWGKTA, was an American alternative hip-hop music collective formed in Los Angeles, California in 2007. The group consisted of rappers, producers, filmmakers, skateboarders, and clothing designers. 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, L-Boy, Frank Ocean, and Na-Kel Smith.
Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, also known by his stage name Earl Sweatshirt, is an American rapper 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.
MellowHype was an American hip hop duo from Los Angeles, California, that consisted of rapper-producer Hodgy and producer-rapper Left Brain. Both were members of hip hop collective Odd Future. They have released two studio albums which both charted on the Billboard 200 albums chart and four mixtapes.
Dominique Marquis Cole, known professionally as Domo Genesis, is an American rapper, DJ, and songwriter. He is best known for being a member of Los Angeles hip hop collective Odd Future. He has since continued his solo career, releasing his debut album Genesis in 2016 and founding his own record label in 2018.
Goblin is the second studio album by the 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 album, 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.
Odd Future Records was an American record label founded by rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator of Odd Future in 2011. It operated as a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
This is the discography of Tyler, the Creator, an American rapper and the former leader of the Los Angeles hip hop collective Odd Future. His discography consists of eight studio albums, one EP, and thirty-two singles.
The OF Tape Vol. 2 is the only 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.
Doris is the debut studio album by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. It was released on August 20, 2013, through Odd Future Records and Tan Cressida Records, and distributed by Columbia Records. Doris follows his first mixtape, Earl, which was released in 2010 when he was sixteen. After returning from a forced stay in a Samoan boarding school, he began working on his debut album and signed a deal with Columbia, rather than Odd Future's Odd Future Records.
Watching Movies with the Sound Off is the second studio album by American rapper Mac Miller. It was released June 18, 2013, by Rostrum Records. The album continued his changes in musical sound that began with the mixtape Macadelic. Miller described the album as very introspective and very personal. It features guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Schoolboy Q, and Tyler, the Creator, among others. Production was handled primarily by Miller himself among others such as Diplo, Tyler, the Creator, Flying Lotus, The Alchemist, Clams Casino, Earl Sweatshirt, J. Hill, Chuck Inglish, and Pharrell Williams.
"Domo23" is a song written, produced, and performed by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on February 14, 2013, as the lead single from his third studio album Wolf (2013). The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and number 37 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"Whoa" is a song by the American rapper Earl Sweatshirt featuring and produced by fellow American rapper Tyler, the Creator. Written by both, it was released on March 12, 2013 by Tan Cressida and Columbia as the second single from his debut studio album Doris. It was recorded at Paramount Recording Studios in Hollywood, California.
MellowHigh is the eponymous debut studio album by American hip hop group MellowHigh, which consists of Odd Future rappers Domo Genesis and Hodgy Beats, and record producer Left Brain. The album was released on October 31, 2013 by Odd Future Records. The album features guest appearances from Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Smoke DZA, Curren$y, and Remy Banks.
Bush is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released on May 12, 2015, through Doggy Style Records and I Am Other, and distributed by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Pharrell Williams with additional production by Chad Hugo. It features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Wilson, Gwen Stefani, T.I. and Rick Ross. Bush was the first album by the rapper after his return to the hip hop moniker Snoop Dogg.
Cherry Bomb is the fourth 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.
The discography of Domo Genesis, an American hip hop recording artist, consists of three studio albums two collaborative albums, one compilation album, one extended play, seven mixtapes, 4 singles, 2 music videos.
Flower Boy is the fifth studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator, 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.
Call Me If You Get Lost is the seventh studio album by the American rapper 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 American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring Pharrell Williams from the former's second studio album, Wolf, released on April 2, 2013. The song was written and produced by Tyler. The music video for "IFHY" was released on March 29, 2013.
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