Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991) also known as Tyler, The Creator,… Read Full Bio ↴Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991) also known as Tyler, The Creator, is a Grammy award-winning American rapper, singer, record producer, director, fashion designer, and the head of his independent record label, Odd Future Records. He was the leader of the now-defunct Los Angeles, California, USA hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA). Since his first recordings had debuted on The Odd Future Tape in 2007, he had rapped on, and produced for, nearly every OFWGKTA release.

Tyler, The Creator is Okonma's most commonly used alias, and the one that both of his first two albums are credited to, but he has used several others as well, including Wolf Haley, Ace (or Ace Creator), and Young N***a, the latter of which was part of a prank on OFWGKTA's official site. Many other characters or alter egos and names are featured in his music, such as Tron Cat, a therapist called Dr. TC, and most recently, Tyler Baudelaire, the character from the 2021 album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.

In 2009, Tyler self-released his debut mixtape B*stard as a free download off of the official OFWGKTA website. Two music videos were released for tracks off of B*stard, "VCR" and "French!," both of which were directed by Tyler (credited as Wolf Haley). The album is focused on dialogues between Tyler and Dr. TC, and it received generally positive reviews from critics and blogs alike.

After signing to XL Recordings in February 2011, he released "Yonkers," the lead single off his sophomoric album Goblin, which was released on May 10, 2011. The music video for "Yonkers" (directed by Tyler credited as Wolf Haley) won Tyler The 2011 MTV Video Music Award for "Best New Artist," as well as a nomination for Video of the Year (which lost to Katy Perry's "Firework").

Goblin, an album described as "dark," "monolithic," and "a natural sequel to B*stard," continues the sessions with Tyler's fictional therapist, with Tyler venting to Dr. TC about fame, message boards, critics, hype, expectations, media scrutiny, and the idea of being a role model. All of the production was handled by Tyler, save for "Transylvania," which was produced by fellow OFWGKTA member Left Brain.

Tyler's third studio album, known as Wolf, was released in 2013. Tyler alluded to several possible track names on his Formspring account, and he stated that the album would focus less on rapping and more on production. In an interview with DJ Semtex, he confirmed that he would handle all the production on the album, except for one song produced by Left Brain, the same approach that was used for Goblin. On February 14, 2013, OFWGKTA uploaded a video to their YouTube account, which included L-Boy skydiving and stating that on April 2, 2013. Tyler revealed three album covers via his Instagram. The first single from the album was released on February 14, 2013, titled " Domo 23" along with the music video which features cameos from Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Jasper Dolphin and Taco Bennett. On February 26, 2013, Tyler performed the songs "Domo23" and "Treehome95" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

PILOT
Tyler the Creator Lyrics

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Fly with the birds in the wind
Where you wanna go, who, what, why, when?
On a scale to nine or ten, we takin' L's baby
Hold my hand and feel the wind
Now fasten your seatbelt and turn everything off
I got your attention, muthafucka I'm bout to take off
I'm the new pilot in this bitch
And I ain't bring no extra baggage for this trip

But I do bring a terror like I hate America
Brand new camera and a parachute
Niggas you ain't high enough to save me
Don't talk to me til I fuckin' embarrass you
Now sit your ass down you do it three much
I'm the captain on this bitch, don't get it fucked up
Or you'll get fucked up

I'm so far ahead you niggas I'm in the future
Y'all don't even know about my existence, it's like I'm dead to you
You niggas know what I'm sayin'
Look, y'all be on the stupid shit
I'm the fuckin' pilot, your role is to be the fuckin' stewardess
I'm the fuckin' bomb like I would stuff my shoe in it
If anything happens it's one door
If I see a building, motherfucker we're done for
I'mma hit a couple of 'em up cause it's Parkour
Then I call your family and get your last wishes, nigga
And every line dirty you thought that I dug ditches
But I never give a fuck, it's like I was born dickless

I don't wanna crash anymore, I don't wanna crash anymore
I just wanna soar through the space, let the wind hit my face
Til there's nothing left in the gas tank
I don't wanna crash, I don't wanna crash anymore
I don't wanna crash anymore
I just wanna soar through the space, let the wind hit my face
Til there's nothing left in the gas tank
I don't wanna crash

I'm in first class but I feel like coach
Cause I'm in first class but I feel like coach

I'm tryna find a place, a place where I can land at
A place where I can be
With no alphabet dictatin' where to stand at
You could buy a car, you could buy many things
You could buy happiness but you can't buy wings
You could buy a parachute, you could buy a parrot
But you can't buy a pair of wings that will dynamic
Stay cloud level

That's why I'm in first class but I feel like coach

I don't wanna

Overall Meaning

crash anymore, I just wanna soar through the space and feel the wind against my face until there's nothing left in the gas tank. The lyrics of Tyler the Creator's "Pilot" speak of a person in control, who is determined to take off and fly as high as possible, without any fear of the consequences of their actions. The singer is the new pilot, who takes the passenger on a journey through the unknown. They crave freedom, excitement and the thrill of adventure.

In the opening verse, Tyler speaks of taking an L in life, but he's not bothered by it. "Fly with the birds in the wind. Where you wanna go, who, what, why, when? On a scale to nine or ten, we takin' L's baby," he says. He's so far ahead of everyone else that they don't even know he exists. The singer wants to ditch his past and start fresh, and he has the power to do so. He tells the listener to fasten their seatbelt and brace themselves for what's to come. He's the captain of his own life and won't let anyone hold him down.

The chorus is a plea for freedom and for the singer to escape from his past, which holds him back. He is looking for a place where he can exist without any limitations. He acknowledges that he is flying high, but still feels trapped in his current existence.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TYLER OKONMA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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