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.
Slater
Tyler the Creator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bunny hop, zoning out, listening to N.E.R.D.
Made a couple thousands turds spitting written verbs
Shit, now I kick it in the 'burbs
Me? I'm from the slums, niggas who pushing tons
Tons of drugs, Foul flow dirty mouth like kissing bums
Momma done made her one, a witty son
"You eighteen?", Me? I'm twenty something
Okay I'm twenty, but I'm soon to be twenty-one
I wild out at shows, break shit it should be fun
Venues are like pussy with me, "Should he cum?"
I'ma wax that like the chap stick in my backpack, for my black lips
Then dip to Europe and come back with a stack of cheese
A stack of cheese for these rats, Mac and Cheese
New Preme shit got me feeling flyer than a bag of bees
Fuck critics, (How's your dick?), "Shit, How's your knees?"
Y'all on my dick more than my index when I take a pee
Came up with 'Rella', ain't touch a bag of weed
Shit was doper than, Whitney Houston's needs
Golf Wang, that's the team to be, "Ay!", getting TU, OF, indeed
We was missing Sweatshirt like, where's the hooded sleeve
Okay, nevermind, we found him, yeah
Me and Slater just hit a curb
Bunny hop, zoning out, listening to N.E.R.D.
Made a couple thousands turds spitting written verbs
Shit, now I kick it in the 'burbs
Guess I win, checks started cashing in
I stopped rapping and started asking "Where my fucking passion is?"
Probably where that faggot went (who?), Tyler talking father problems
Shocky shit he spit to popping topics in a gossip column
I ain't ask for this, I did it out of boredom
Thought that roach was cool, he died and pushed me into stardom
Now Ye's PJ sippin leche, Chips Ahoy boy, listening to Cowboy
Aye boy, land in Melbourne and skate to Fitzroy (ay!)
AUS was AWES, I enjoyed, boy, y'all niggas played as a tot's toy
Have a good day as I annoy, oy
Me and Slater just hit a curb
Bunny hop, zoning out, listening to N.E.R.D.
Made a couple thousands turds spitting written verbs
Shit, now I kick it in the 'burbs
Cameras with panorama's views
My shoes have seen more vans than Mexicans with crackers in Alabama
G-O-to the-L-F, this O-F, I open a store so I don't stress
But nigga I, (What?), mosh in gardens, jazz punk shit
Playing chords, making up shit, pardon my Dolly Parton's
And I keep sharting, hoodies with rectangles and different colors
Niggers think I started kindergarten
My bitch is on my handle bars
(I just wanna ride my bike)
Slater, Slater, Slater, Slater
My bitch is on my handle bars
Hair blowing in the wind
Her freckles look like candy bars
Hair blowing in the wind
My bitch is on my handle bars
(I just wanna ride my bike)
Slater, Slater, Slater, Slater
My bitch is on my handle bars
Hair blowing in the wind
Her freckles look like candy bars
My cool summer never ends
My bitch is on my handle bars
Slater, Slater, Slater, Slater
Oh my God, seriously? Mister cool guy
You're talking to a fucking bike, loser, hehe
Oh fuck
In Tyler the Creator's Slater, the first verses are about Tyler’s origins and how he and his friend Slater enjoy time together. They take pleasures in riding bikes, listening to N.E.R.D, and using their words to make money. Slater is Tyler’s loyal friend, and both hope to write to fame, but they are not entirely sure whether it is a passion they want to pursue. The rest of Tyler’s verses explore his life ahead of the fame, how he got there, and his nonchalant attitude towards critics.
While Tyler indicates that being famous was not necessarily a desire, he now leads a different lifestyle. With fame comes changes, and Tyler finds himself shifting from gritty streets to calmer suburbs. His mentions of drugs and lack of respect towards women are indicative of the harsh realities he faced before his change in lifestyle.
As for the song’s chorus, the lyrics talk of Slater and Tyler riding bikes together, with Slater’s girlfriend also along for the ride. There is an element of innocuous pleasure in this, a sense of boys just being boys, enjoying themselves as they hit the curb and bunny hop.
Overall, Slater is a song of nostalgia, friendship, and self-made determination. It speaks to Tyler's professional angst and how his present contrasted with his past in the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and Slater just hit a curb
My friend Slater and I just came across a road bump
Bunny hop, zoning out, listening to N.E.R.D.
We hopped over the bump while we were distracted, listening to N.E.R.D.
Made a couple thousands turds spitting written verbs
We made a lot of money writing lyrics
Shit, now I kick it in the 'burbs
As a result, I now live in the suburbs
Me? I'm from the slums, niggas who pushing tons
I am originally from the slums where drug dealers hustle
Tons of drugs, foul flow dirty mouth like kissing bums
Drugs are easily available and my language is profane, just like kissing a dirty bum
Momma done made her one, a witty son
My mom gave birth to a clever son
With no respect for women so-so, show me your titties hun
I am not respectful towards women and often ask them to expose themselves
"You eighteen?", Me? I'm twenty something
Someone asked me if I was 18, but I'm actually in my twenties
Okay I'm twenty, but I'm soon to be twenty-one
I am currently twenty, but about to turn 21
I wild out at shows, break shit it should be fun
I am chaotic on stage and I break things, it's my way of having fun
Venues are like pussy with me, "Should he cum?"
I treat concert venues the same way I treat women, making sexual innuendos
I'ma wax that like the chap stick in my backpack, for my black lips
I'm going to have sex with many girls and use lip balm afterwards to treat my chapped lips
Then dip to Europe and come back with a stack of cheese
I am planning to go to Europe and come back with a large sum of money
A stack of cheese for these rats, Mac and Cheese
I'm bringing the money back to share with my friends, like how I share macro and cheese with rats/mice
New Preme shit got me feeling flyer than a bag of bees
I feel really confident wearing new Supreme clothing, like I'm as light as a bag of bees
Fuck critics, (How's your dick?), "Shit, How's your knees?"
I don't care about the opinions of critics, instead I'm more interested in their sexual health
Y'all on my dick more than my index when I take a pee
People pay more attention to me than my own index finger, where I aim my urine
Came up with 'Rella', ain't touch a bag of weed
I wrote a hit song called 'Rella' without needing to use drugs
Shit was doper than, Whitney Houston's needs
My song was better than Whitney Houston's drug habit
Golf Wang, that's the team to be, "Ay!", getting TU, OF, indeed
Golf Wang is the best team to be in and to be associated with Tyler, the Creator
We was missing Sweatshirt like, where's the hooded sleeve
We were missing Earl Sweatshirt and wanting him back
Guess I win, checks started cashing in
I succeeded financially and my checks are clearing
I stopped rapping and started asking "Where my fucking passion is?"
I stopped making music and started to question my true interests and passions
Probably where that faggot went (who?), Tyler talking father problems
It could be related to my father who left, which is a sensitive topic for me
Shocky shit he spit to popping topics in a gossip column
I talk about shocking and controversial issues that become media talking points
I ain't ask for this, I did it out of boredom
I didn't intend to become famous, I just started rapping out of boredom
Thought that roach was cool, he died and pushed me into stardom
I thought one of my old raps was cool and when it went viral, it propelled me to fame
Now Ye's PJ sippin leche, Chips Ahoy boy, listening to Cowboy
Now I am hanging out with Kanye West, drinking lactose free milk and eating cookies, listening to Cowboy music
Aye boy, land in Melbourne and skate to Fitzroy (ay!)
I plan to land in Melbourne and skate over to Fitzroy
AUS was AWES, I enjoyed, boy, y'all niggas played as a tot's toy
My time in Australia was great, entertaining and fun while others played like children
Have a good day as I annoy, oy
I leave annoyingly, but have a good day anyway
Cameras with panorama's views
Cameras with wide-angle lenses
My shoes have seen more vans than Mexicans with crackers in Alabama
I have worn my shoes to a lot of places, just like Mexicans in Alabama have used vans frequently
G-O-to the-L-F, this O-F, I open a store so I don't stress
I am a member of Odd Future and created my own brand (Golf Wang) to avoid stress and conforming to external standards
But nigga I, (What?), mosh in gardens, jazz punk shit
I still enjoy rowdy shows with punk or jazz music, even if it's in a garden
Playing chords, making up shit, pardon my Dolly Parton's
I enjoy making up songs and playing random notes on my guitar, excuse my Dolly Parton breasts
And I keep sharting, hoodies with rectangles and different colors
I have leaked feces while wearing hoodies that have square designs in varying colors
Niggers think I started kindergarten
People sometimes think I'm childish
My bitch is on my handle bars
My girlfriend rides on my bicycle's handlebars
(I just wanna ride my bike)
I just want to ride my bike
Slater, Slater, Slater, Slater
I repeatedly say my friend's name, Slater
Hair blowing in the wind
My girlfriend's hair is flowing in the wind
Her freckles look like candy bars
She has many freckles that look like candy bars
My cool summer never ends
I am always cool and comfortable, just like in summer months
Oh my God, seriously? Mister cool guy
Someone is mocking me for talking to my bike, calling me Mr. Cool Guy
You're talking to a fucking bike, loser, hehe
The person is making fun of me for talking to my bike and calls me a loser
Oh fuck
I am annoyed and upset
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tyler Gregory Okonma, Christopher Breaux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind