If there’s one thing Tyler, The Creator has proven—or rather reaffirmed—with the recent release of his dance project DON’T TAP THE GLASS, it’s that he doesn’t care about conventions and only wants to create music that he likes. And it was in this same spirit that he took to the stage at Osheaga, with one intention: to have fun with the crowd, despite the rain that cut his set short and his palpable fatigue.
Barely a week after his concert at the Bell Centre, Tyler undoubtedly recognized familiar faces among the thousands of spectators at Parc Jean-Drapeau. He made his entrance to the heavy, dramatic notes of “Big Poe,” followed by the catchy “Sugar on My Tongue,” perched on a structure bearing the title of his latest album. That was all it took for the audience to start dancing, just minutes after the show began.
In front of and behind him, pyrotechnic effects exploded to the rhythm of the songs, accompanied by precise lighting, always in tune with the different atmospheres of his repertoire. Tyler Gregory Okonma, his real name, is a true showman. Alone on the vast stage, he leapt, swayed his hips, and embodied each beat with intensity.
After a brief appearance of DON’T TAP THE GLASS, he followed up with several tracks from CHROMAKOPIA, released in October 2024. The atmosphere darkened as green beams, the project’s signature colour, flooded the stage. “Sticky” was one of the highlights, with the crowd chanting the verses of rappers GloRilla and Sexyy Red at the top of their lungs. Rarely does one see an audience so connected to its artist.
Crédit photo: Sophie Mediavilla-Rivard
Halfway through the show, Tyler revealed that he was going to draw on some older tracks, “to give me a break while you sing,” he said. By performing songs like “EARFQUAKE” (IGOR) and “WUSYANAME” (CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST), the alternative rap icon hit the mark. All he had to do was enjoy the audience singing along.
Several times, the artist mentioned how exhausted he was, admitting to feeling “drained” towards the end of his hour-long set. On tour since February, Tyler is nearing the end of a marathon of more than sixty concerts. We readily forgive him for his fatigue, especially given the energy he expended and the fact that he delivered the vast majority of his lyrics in their entirety.
After exploring every corner of his discography, Tyler concluded with the sublime “See You Again,” a collaboration with Kali Uchis from Flower Boy (2017). Carried by the voices of the audience, he left the stage with a warm thank you to his fans.
On “Rah Tah Tah,” Tyler, The Creator claims to be the greatest rapper in Los Angeles after Kendrick Lamar. After such a solid performance and a successful career, we can only agree with him. It’s not arrogance, but lucidity.
