After the release of a mixtape on the music-sharing website SoundCloud, Tyler The Creator, a rap artist who hails from the west coast, released his first studio LP Goblin in 2010. This LP put him on the chart as one of the most talented artists in the alternative music genre. What makes the LP enticing is how the music conveys a message. Although it is done in a sometimes very explicit and crude way, Tyler The Creator demonstrates the ability to make music that is off-beat and meaningful to his audience. Another interesting aspect of the album is the way it explores both characterization as well as the way the artist tells a story throughout the LP.

How Tyler The Creator acts in his private life is significantly different from the way he presents himself on his albums. In reality, he is an extremely intelligent and straight edged person who knows how to have a good amount of fun. In fact, when he was in high school, he was considered an honor student whom was heavily involved in both music and theatre.

Another quality that separates Tyler The Creator from other rappers is his ability to convey a message in his songs, which is usually shown through his out there lyrics. In Goblin, Tyler The Creator creates a fictionalized version of himself by expressing that he is a violent psychopath; however, this is done with purpose. Many of the songs that he makes contain a deep meaning that a lot of people can connect to.

One of the more powerful songs on the LP, which contains a universal message, is the song “Sandwiches.” This is an aggressive song that uses extremely powerful and domineering electronic music that could be considered similar to punk rock. At the same time, “Sandwiches” contains powerful lyrics that almost spikes whoever is listening to the song. The song conveys the message of not letting others make themselves out to be better than you are. This is shadowed by Tyler The Creator rapping about violently harming others who have put him down; however, if one listens to the lyrics, it is easy to pick up on his sarcastic tone.

Another song off the album that influences his listeners is the song “Transylvania.” Although it contains lyrics that can be considered hugely degrading to women, “Transylvania” can be viewed as a song that seeks to parody how women are generally valued by their looks in the music industry. With lyrics that are actually insightful, Tyler The Creator can be seen as an innovator of rap music.

Goblin also contains high characterization with a loosely connecting story. The LP is actually considered the second installment of a trilogy in which Tyler The Creator fictionally speaks with his therapist, Dr. TC, about various issues in his life. This is unique in the fact that he has the opportunity to speak about issues occurring in his life. Tyler The Creator takes advantage of this opportunity in the song “Nightmare” in which he discusses the hardship of achieving fame. Although the characterization that he creates for himself can be considered extremely crude at times, it just presents his way to make fun of himself in a strange way.

After Goblin was released, it experienced both commercial and critical success, and it is responsible for putting Tyler the Creator, on the musical map in the United States.