I had never been super into Tyler the Creator until I heard Goblin earlier this year – yes, very late to the game, I know. However it really got me thinking about what it means to be politically correct in music – and if political correctness is necessary in art. Should an artist be condemned if their art is not PC or even offensive? Do the same rules apply to musicians?
Goblin takes you through a cerebral journey into the subconscious; a trudge through the darkness that lurks inside the mind of Tyler the Creator. The album was heavily criticized by many for its offensive nature (racism and homophobia), rape and murder fantasies running rampant throughout. The flagrantly misogynistic tone is hard to get through and some cannot get past that element at all (understandably, of course). But when you manage to push that aside, the album–the piece of art itself–is actually incredibly complex and beautiful in a messed-up kind of way. So should Tyler be condemned for rape fantasies and misogyny when it is an element of his art?
There’s an incredibly convincing argument on both sides. Obviously, one could make the point that supporting a person who says offensive things and promotes that kind of behavior is definitely not an okay thing to do. On the other hand, you could say that music is a form of art and is open to freedom without censorship. Whichever you subscribe to, it’s impossible to deny the dark pulse of Goblin. Listeners take a wander through the depths of Tyler’s self-conscious ramblings, often nihilistic, violent, and deeply personal.
cw: rape, misogyny
One of the stand-out songs in the album being “Tron Cat”, has lyrics like:
“I’m not a rapper nor a rapist nor a racist I fuck bitches with no permission and tend to hate shit” and “Victim, victim, honey, you’re my fifth one/Honey on that topping when I stuff you in my system/Rape a pregnant bitch and tell my friends I had a threesome/You got a fucking death wish? I’m a genie, it’ll get done.Û
It’s reasonable to be shocked by lyrics like these, but is it worth condemning him as an artist because his art doesn’t reflect what is acceptable? I’m not quite sure that it is. But listening further into the album I think there are moments everyone can connect to as they journey through Tyler the Creator’s mind. As you listen, it truly feels like you are taking a trip through different dark, intense, and even tranquil atmospheres. Tyler the Creator confronts political correctness subversively in this dense piece and whether you can look past, or even appreciate his lyrics for their absurdity is up to you.
Listen to the full album here if you wish:
