Los Angeles hip-hop icon Tyler, The Creator’s new album Don’t Tap the Glass, is set for release on July 21, according to his social media. His ninth studio record follows last year’s Chromakopia and arrives with cryptic visuals: Tyler shirtless, wearing a red “GLASS” cap and gold chain, fists clenched, and no context. For an artist known for carefully controlling his aesthetic, including for album rollouts like Goblin, Flower Boy, and IGOR, the image already signals a shift.
The announcement landed alongside the anticipation of Tyler, The Creator closing out his Chromakopia World Tour in the Philippines, marking a rare moment for local fans to experience one of hip-hop’s most genre-defiant acts at his peak. The two night sold-out finale will be held on September 20 and 21 at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. It is a given that this is the last time the Chromakopia era will be performed live in its entirety, which includes standout tracks such as “Sticky,” “Noid,” “Darling, I,” and “Like Him.”
Chromakopia, which featured collaborators like Childish Gambino, GloRilla, Lil Wayne, and Sexyy Red, leaned heavily into militaristic stage visuals and a green-drenched atmosphere. Fans who’ve seen the tour abroad have pointed to the precision of his set, his near-flawless breath control, and the balance between explosive moments and quieter theatrical ones. “It’s like watching someone act and rap at the same time,” one comment reads on Reddit. Others describe the show as “perfectly paced” and “bigger than life, but without ego.”
For Filipino fans, this is long-overdue. Tyler, The Creator has never performed in the country before, and to have his final Chromakopia dates land here after touring across Europe, North America, and Japan feels like an intentional bookend.
