The Rundown: Tyler, the Creator, Wolf

Here's the skinny on the Odd Future MC's new album.

The Rundown: Tyler, the Creator, Wolf - Today, Odd Future leader Tyler, the Creator howls at the moon with his second album, Wolf. A lot's happened since his 2011 breakthrough, Goblin — hundreds of thousands of indie record sales, critical acclaim, world tours — and he addresses it all and then some throughout the album's 18 tracks. But is the new focus a good thing? Find out here, as BET.com gives you the skinny on Wolf song by song.   —Alex Gale  (Photo: Odd Future/ Sony Music Entertainment)

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The Rundown: Tyler, the Creator, Wolf - Today, Odd Future leader Tyler, the Creator howls at the moon with his second album, Wolf. A lot's happened since his 2011 breakthrough, Goblin — hundreds of thousands of indie record sales, critical acclaim, world tours — and he addresses it all and then some throughout the album's 18 tracks. But is the new focus a good thing? Find out here, as BET.com gives you the skinny on Wolf song by song.   —Alex Gale (Photo: Odd Future/ Sony Music Entertainment)

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"Wolf" - The intro and title track to Wolf shows off Tyler's impressive maturity in terms of production. Like later, longer songs on the album, it's downright pretty, complete with pensive piano chords, marching band percussion — and is that glockenspiel? Tyler, of course, brings it all back to reality by spewing curses. (2011 EPA/STEVE C. MITCHELL /LANDOV)

"Jamba" - Some of Tyler's beatmaking leap forward might come from him more wholeheartedly carrying the Neptunes' torch, who he's long cited as huge influences. Here, the synths, handclaps and vocal samples are a wonky version of Pharrell and Hugo's glory days, a perfect fit for Tyler's rhymes, which here update his old immature tropes with talk of his new success: "Four stories in my home like what the f--k's an apartment?" he asks boastfully.  (Photos from Left to Right: STEVE C. MITCHELL /LANDOV, Wendy Refern/Referns)

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"Jamba" - Some of Tyler's beatmaking leap forward might come from him more wholeheartedly carrying the Neptunes' torch, who he's long cited as huge influences. Here, the synths, handclaps and vocal samples are a wonky version of Pharrell and Hugo's glory days, a perfect fit for Tyler's rhymes, which here update his old immature tropes with talk of his new success: "Four stories in my home like what the f--k's an apartment?" he asks boastfully. (Photos from Left to Right: STEVE C. MITCHELL /LANDOV, Wendy Refern/Referns)

Renaissance Man - Tyler's future looks bright and the the 23-year-old plans to accomplish a lot more by the time he's 40. "I want to do films and have my name mentioned next to Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. I don't want my name mentioned next to other rappers at all. [I want to be] rich as f--k, a couple films under my belt, a couple of buildings and skate parks around the world, and a kid."(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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"Cowboy" - When Tyler isn't channeling the Neptunes on Wolf, he's going back to early RZA, whose off-kilter drums and spooky melodies are the obvious prototype for "Cowboy." Tyler again talks about his newfound riches, but underneath he's the same troubled manchild: "You think all this money will make a happy me?" he raps. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Platform for Hate? - Tyler, the Creator, the front man of the California-based rap group OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All), didn’t have long to bask in the glow from being named Best New Artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The artist's lyrics and music videos are known for their shock value and, following the rapper's win, GLADD slammed MTV and other TV networks for providing a “larger platform” for “anti-gay and misogynistic language.” “Given Tyler’s history of such remarks, viewers and potential sponsors should refrain from honoring homophobia and in the future, look to a more deserving artist,” the group said in a statement.   (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

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"Awkward" - A master of jarring juxtaposition, Tyler here combines a truly sweet ode to a teenage love with his trademark low-octave vocal effect, which gives the whole song a creepy, stalker-y vibe. Even the Frank Ocean feature and a summery beat that sounds like vintage De La Soul can't override the feeling of unease. (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

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"Domo23" - Tyler stunts with his meteoric success here, this time with no qualms, over a riotous beat punctuated by horn blasts and synths. "I ate one roach and made a lot of money," Tyler raps, referring to his acclaimed, breakthrough "Yonkers" video. (Photo: Candice Lawler / BET)

Tyler the Creator on Frank Ocean winning a Grammy:  - "It's wild because he's still the same weirdo that I know. It's nothing really different."   (Photo: Greg Tidwell, PacificCoastNews.com)

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"Answer" - With a vaguely sunny "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" vibe and a sung chorus, this song at first seems like another of the album's many unlikely love songs before transforming into a middle finger for Tyler's absentee father, whom he calls a mere "sperm donor." But the next verses group his father with his dead grandmother and an ex — all people won't "answer" if he were to call them. The effect isn't quite heart-breaking — Tyler's nonstop pity party is familiar ground — but it still cuts deep. (Photo: Greg Tidwell, PacificCoastNews.com)

Photo By Photo: Greg Tidwell

Odd Future - Tyler, The Creator and fellow Odd Future crew member Frank Ocean chest bump during their high energy Coachella performance on April 13 in Indio, California.(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

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"Slater" - With 18 songs and over an hour of music, some filler on Wolf was inevitable. And "Slater" is the first fast-forward-worthy song on the album, thanks to plodding production — though the melodic bridge and too-brief Frank Ocean adlibs almost save the day. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

Pitchfork Music Festival (July 13-15) - The outdoor music found all over the city is a "Summertime Chi" tool of seduction and the Pitchfork Music Festival is part of the arsenal. Three-days of indie pop/rock and hip hop with burgeoning underground kings Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, Big K.R.I.T. and A$AP Rocky is reason enough to cop a ticket. And if you plan to attend, make sure to check out Pitchfork’s Book Fort for independent books, Chirp’s Record Fair for rare vinyl, Flatstock for a cool collection of music posters and Coterie to get a sneak peek at up-and-coming designers. Click here, for information. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"48" - With help from a nice vintage sample of Nas talking about the crack era, Tyler raps from the perspective of a remorseful drug kingpin over lurching drums and ascending piano plinks. It's the first time he breaks out of his relentlessly inwardly focused echo chamber — but hopefully not the last. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

Tyler, the Creator, @f--ktyler - Tweet: "'WHOA TYLER HUGE FAN CAN I GET A PHOTO' YEAH, BUT NAME THREE SONGS ' UH, MAN, YOU GOT ME UNDER PRESSURE' HE COULDNT SO HE WALKED AWAY HAHA"Word of advice for anyone claiming they're a super-fan of Tyler, the Creator: make sure you can list a few of his hits before you ask for a flick. #DontGetCaughtWithTheDumbFace(Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"Colossus" - Here Tyler, in first person mode as someone else once again, revisits Eminem's classic creeper tale "Stan" as a more common, realistic situation. It's interesting hearing Tyler of all people telling someone else they're crazy — and saying that he's sick of "Yonkers," the biggest song of his career. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"PartyIsntOver/Campfire/Bimmer" (feat. Laetitia Sadier & Frank Ocean) - Much like Tyler's 2011 official debut Goblin, Wolf is way too long. It's a pretty daunting moment when you're slogging through the middle of this seven-minute, three-part song and realize that the album is only at its half-way point. "Bimmer," at least, with its icy, classic Clipse vibe, ends the trilogy on a high note.  (Photos from left to right: Andy Sheppard/Redferns, Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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"PartyIsntOver/Campfire/Bimmer" (feat. Laetitia Sadier & Frank Ocean) - Much like Tyler's 2011 official debut Goblin, Wolf is way too long. It's a pretty daunting moment when you're slogging through the middle of this seven-minute, three-part song and realize that the album is only at its half-way point. "Bimmer," at least, with its icy, classic Clipse vibe, ends the trilogy on a high note. (Photos from left to right: Andy Sheppard/Redferns, Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

"IFHY" - If you somehow didn't pick up on the album's incessant Neptunes references, this song, which features Pharrell's falsetto crooning, should make it clear. His voice and the spacey keyboard arpeggios recall N.E.R.D. more specifically, but the song's focus — twisted love/hate relationships — is all Tyler.  (Photos from Left to Right: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Dior)

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"IFHY" - If you somehow didn't pick up on the album's incessant Neptunes references, this song, which features Pharrell's falsetto crooning, should make it clear. His voice and the spacey keyboard arpeggios recall N.E.R.D. more specifically, but the song's focus — twisted love/hate relationships — is all Tyler. (Photos from Left to Right: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Dior)

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"Pigs" - Another sparse, scary RZA-inspired backdrop brings out one of Tyler's best verbal performances, and one that a lot of folks will be able to relate to. Taking on bullies, he threatens to go Trenchcoat Mafia — although in light of the Newtown school shooting, it might be way too soon.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

"Parking Lot" feat. Mike G and Casey Veggies - Another song that should've been left in the vault. The beat's paucity — there's no snare and barely any bass — drags down even the normally excellent Casey Veggies.  (Photos from Left to Right: PAUL BUCK /LANDOV, courtesy of Casey Veggies/Facebook)

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"Parking Lot" feat. Mike G and Casey Veggies - Another song that should've been left in the vault. The beat's paucity — there's no snare and barely any bass — drags down even the normally excellent Casey Veggies. (Photos from Left to Right: PAUL BUCK /LANDOV, courtesy of Casey Veggies/Facebook)

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"Rusty" feat. Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt - Odd Future's three heaviest hitters unite here for a song that deftly combines the album's Wu-Tang and Neptunes source material via another dynamic, evolving beat. Tyler spazzes out, playfully dissing DJ Khaled, Adele, 2 Chainz and, of course, himself.    (Photos from Left to right: Kevin Mazur/WireImage, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"Rusty" feat. Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt - Odd Future's three heaviest hitters unite here for a song that deftly combines the album's Wu-Tang and Neptunes source material via another dynamic, evolving beat. Tyler spazzes out, playfully dissing DJ Khaled, Adele, 2 Chainz and, of course, himself. (Photos from Left to right: Kevin Mazur/WireImage, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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Odd Future - When a fan jumped on stage at an Odd Future show in San Antonio in 2012, the Los Angeles crew was none too pleased. Before long, he was being pummeled by some OF members. The fan, a 17-year-old, ended up filing a police report against the group for what went down.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

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"Trashwang" - Although Tyler's take on trap-rap drums is interesting, the beat's synthy-sparseness and the crew's atonal hook quickly becomes way too grating to carry an eight-man posse cut. Too bad: the Waka Flocka Flame impression by the crew's resident white kid, Lucas, is hilarious. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

"Treehome95" feat. Erykah Badu & Coco O. - Tyler is still in love all these tracks later, recruiting Erykah Badu herself to bring some warmth and sheen to his sometimes rough-around-the-edges material (despite some pitchy moments). He seems smitten, rapping, "You're my favorite crayon in the box."  (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"Treehome95" feat. Erykah Badu & Coco O. - Tyler is still in love all these tracks later, recruiting Erykah Badu herself to bring some warmth and sheen to his sometimes rough-around-the-edges material (despite some pitchy moments). He seems smitten, rapping, "You're my favorite crayon in the box." (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

GOLF - Tyler hates golf, so why did he name his clothing line Golf Wang? "The word looks sick on stuff dude. I don't know why. Those four letters look sick on s--t."(Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

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"Tamale" - Tyler samples M.I.A., another weirdo iconoclast, and she inspires some of his stranger rhyme patterns over the bizarre, percussive beat. But as the 17th track, it's not hard not to want to skip ahead. (Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

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"Lone" - "Lone" finally brings the album to a close, and on an upswing. The warm, jazzy sample is a much-needed respite from the album's lo-fi synth attack, and shows a new side of Tyler's increasingly skiled production. Meanwhile, the themes that dominate the album, and show Tyler's growth since Goblin — the death of his grandmother, the loneliness of fame, his four-story house (again!) — all pop up touchingly here. The shock-jock tendences of his past work are way turned down, which gives room for his much more interesting ideas to shine. (Candice Lawler / BET)