Tyler, The Creator’s newest album, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS,” begins with a list of instructions for the listener. Tyler gives the audience three simple rules in a modulated, almost robotic voice: “Number one, body movement / No sitting still / Number two, only speak in glory / Leave your baggage at home / Number three, don't tap the glass,” in the album’s first track, “Big Poe.” With those three simple commands, Tyler lays out the mission statement of his latest record: He is here to dance, flex and have an unadulterated good time.
Tyler has every reason to celebrate. After a string of critically acclaimed albums, sold-out arena shows and headline festival performances, he currently sits at a level of fame and success known by few modern music artists. That is why “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” — a lean, non-conceptual album focused more on vibes than deeper messages — is a surprise, especially after his chart-topping album, “CHROMAKOPIA” (2024). His previous album explored ideas about Tyler’s childhood, his worries about aging and self-directed questions on whether or not he wants to be a father.
However, what “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” lacks in thematic depth, it makes up for in its all-out embrace of dance music. “Big Poe” starts the album off with Tyler at his loosest, craziest and most braggadocious. He goes from describing sexual escapades in the backseats of cars to expounding upon his distrust of white people with dreadlocks. Is any of this profound or emotionally significant? Not really, but Tyler’s quick-witted bars paired with a thumping bass and pulsating synth are enough to make you want to run through a brick wall.
To top off the infectious energy he brings to “Big Poe,” Tyler enlists Pharrell Williams, who he often cites as one of his biggest inspirations and mentors, to hit the audience with two more flex-laden verses. Williams, despite his calmer delivery, packs just as much of a punch as Tyler while describing his high-end clothing, jewelry and private jets. It is only fitting for Williams to appear on a song like “Big Poe,” which is clearly sonically inspired by the iconic musician and producer’s hip-hop group, N.E.R.D.
From there, Tyler only builds upon his unfettered, unfiltered and egotistic verses. But where some rappers may make this kind of uninterrupted flexing feel rote and redundant, Tyler makes it feel fresh and exciting, partly because of his endlessly entertaining production.
Songs like “Stop Playing With Me” and “Don’t Tap That Glass / Tweakin’” are dance-rap at its finest, with bass that makes you think your car might explode, synth lines that might as well be from another planet and bars so ridiculous that only Tyler could come up with.
On “Don’t Tap That Glass / Tweakin’,” Tyler lacks no confidence as he tells a potential sexual partner, “Hey, baby wanna know what I might do / That's about nine inches long if I like you / You can get a workout, not in the gym, b**** / You ain't gotta lie, we can smell the Ozempic.” The line is unequivocally Tyler: It is equal parts boastful, disrespectful and utterly hilarious.
However, Tyler understands that dance music is not just about going all-out all the time, as he balances out “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” with more low-key, pop-centric tracks. On “Don’t You Worry Baby (feat. Madison McFerrin)” and “I’ll Take Care of You (feat. Yebba),” Tyler enlists female vocalists to deliver smooth, soulful choruses that provide a nice reprieve from his relentless rapping. Additionally, the song “Ring Ring Ring” finds Tyler less sexual and more loving — a perfect combination of sweet R&B to counterbalance the intensity he presents throughout much of the record.
In some respects, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” is a minor work from Tyler, The Creator. With a runtime of less than 30 minutes, low-concept lyrics and lack of thematic depth, it could be easily dismissed as an unnecessary addition to the rapper’s discography. However, every track is executed so well and with a unique vision that you can’t help but have a good time. Whether you’re blasting “Big Poe” and “Stop Playing With Me” or quietly jamming to “Ring Ring Ring” and “Don’t You Worry Baby,” one thing is undeniable: Tyler will get you to dance.
