Tyler, the Creator

Tyler Gregory Okonma grew up in Hawthorne and Ladera Heights, California, raised by his mother Bonita Smith. He never met his father. He attended twelve different schools across the Los Angeles and Sacramento areas in twelve years. He was kicked out of drama class for hyperactivity, and band class barred him because he could not read sheet music. He taught himself piano at fourteen.

He maintains an atheist viewpoint and lives a straight edge lifestyle, partly due to having asthma. He is an avid skateboarder and collects BMX bicycles.

His lyrics and public comments have frequently addressed his sexuality. On tracks across Flower Boy and Call Me If You Get Lost, he referenced relationships with both men and women. In 2022, he began dating model Reign Judge, though the couple later split.

In 2007, Tyler co-founded the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future alongside Hodgy, Left Brain, and Casey Veggies. The group quickly expanded to include artists like Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt. They distributed music directly to fans via Myspace, Tumblr, and YouTube. Tyler self-released his debut solo mixtape, Bastard, on Christmas Day in 2009. Pitchfork ranked it among the top albums of 2010.

Mainstream attention exploded in February 2011 with the self-directed video for "Yonkers". The black-and-white clip featured Tyler eating a live cockroach and vomiting before staging a suicide. It caught the attention of major artists and earned him Best New Artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

His debut studio album, Goblin, arrived in May 2011 under XL Recordings. It debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. During this era, Tyler and Odd Future also created the live-action sketch comedy show Loiter Squad, which aired on Adult Swim for three seasons from 2012 to 2014.

Tyler began softening his aggressive horrorcore sound on his 2013 album Wolf. The record incorporated jazz chords, soul textures, and guest vocals from Erykah Badu and Pharrell Williams. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. In 2015, he followed with Cherry Bomb, an abrasive and experimental release featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Schoolboy Q.

Controversy from his early lyrics followed him on tour. In 2015, campaigns by activist groups led to the cancellation of his Australian tour dates. Later that year, British Home Secretary Theresa May banned him from entering the United Kingdom for several years, citing lyrics from Bastard.

His artistic breakthrough came with Flower Boy in July 2017. The album abandoned shock-value themes in favor of warm neo-soul arrangements, honest introspection, and lush production. It earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Hits like "See You Again", featuring Kali Uchis, achieved multi-platinum sales.

In May 2019, Tyler released Igor. He adopted a distinct persona, performing in pastel suits, dark sunglasses, and a blonde bob wig. The album chronicled a bittersweet love triangle through heavy synthesizers and distorted vocals. Igor debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and won Best Rap Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

He returned to pure rap fundamentals with Call Me If You Get Lost in June 2021. Hosted by DJ Drama and framed around the globe-trotting alter ego Tyler Baudelaire, the project secured another number-one debut and won Best Rap Album at the 64th Grammy Awards.

In October 2024, Tyler introduced the militaristic persona St. Chroma for his eighth studio album, Chromakopia. The project scored the biggest sales week of his career. He followed quickly in July 2025 with the dance-inspired record Don't Tap the Glass, which featured house, disco, and Miami bass influences.

Beyond recording, Tyler established the streetwear line Golf Wang in 2011, defined by pastel colors and playful graphics. He later expanded into luxury apparel, luggage, fragrances, and nail polish under the label Le Fleur. His design work includes footwear collaborations with Converse, Lacoste, and Louis Vuitton. In 2022, he composed the orchestral score for Virgil Abloh's final Louis Vuitton menswear collection.

In 2012, Tyler founded the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles. The annual festival grew into a premier musical event, hosting headliners such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Lana Del Rey.

He directs his music videos under the moniker Wolf Haley. In 2025, he made his feature film acting debut as Wally in Josh Safdie's sports drama Marty Supreme, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet.