How Tyler, the Creator, Steve Lacy, and Frank Ocean are creating music for everyone

Tyler, the Creator, Steve Lacy, and Frank Ocean, are by no means underground artists, but they are proof of an ever changing style presented in music today. Whether they are rapping, singing, or producing, these three artists are at the forefront of a new wave of music, style, and culture. 

Many people have pointed out similarities in music style and sound from these three artists, but what not many people know is that there is an actual reason that these three are so easily comparable.

Back in 2008, Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean were a part of the same rap group, called Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, more commonly known as Odd Future. Later, in early 2011, Steve Lacy joined a group called The Internet, consisting of multiple ex-Odd Future artists. 

When you just give a few of their songs a rough listen, the similarities between artists might not jump out at you very clearly. But if you listen to their music not as independent artists, but instead as a style of music as a whole, you will quickly be able to see how the three of their individual tastes compliment each other. A great example of this would be in their song 911/Mr. Lonely which is the 10th track on Tyler, the Creator’s album Flower Boy.

Two Sartell students shared their opinions on these musicians. When asked which artist they preferred both students answered with Steve Lacy. This is not entirely surprising due to Lacy’s growing popularity from Tik Tok. They also both stated that they listened to the other two a good amount as well.

When asked what they thought of the three artists’ styles as a whole, Steph Bluhm said, “I love it, cause I can just get in my car and just like, play it and it doesn’t really matter what I’m feeling.”

When asked the same question, Eddie Durrwachter stated, “It’s different from everyone else, it’s like a different genre, like it doesn’t fall into a certain genre.”

With lyrics that don’t overcomplicate the emotion being presented in the music, these artists create music that anyone can relate to. They have bent the rules of what is considered hip/hop and have allowed for many communities of musicians to grow. These artists have a combined over 70 million monthly Spotify listeners and are reaching groups of people who would have never normally listened to their style of music. I would suggest that if you have never listened to these artists, you should check them out, and if you do listen to them, keep doing it, because you are going to want to see what they do next. 

Below is a playlist that I created with a bunch of songs by these three artists. This playlist also includes other musicians that I think you will like if you enjoy listening to these three!

Disclaimer: Many of these songs include explicit lyrics.