Once upon a time, an interview with Tyler, the Creator wasn’t really an interview. It was more like free jazz—but replace the instrumentation with fart jokes, Tyler’s sinister laugh, and the word sick. We love Tyler's laugh. And his jokes. And especially his music. (We really love the music). But what’s cool is the very specific way Tyler has grown up. He is now capable of a full-on adult conversation about his opinions, experiences, and the projects he’s working on—but the projects are still the same fantastical kid stuff. There’s the fashion show he threw for Golf Wang, his line of colorful grandpa clothes; there’s his sprawling carnival-slash-music-festival called Camp Flog Gnaw; he’s working on a line of sneakers called Golf Le Fleur that he wants to put on professional Go-Kart Racers… Welcome to adulthood, Tyler. But, please, never grow up.
What’s going on, man? How are you?
Uh… I’m OK. My Twitter got hacked last night. It’s sus. I feel like I was fucked in the club and didn’t want it. I’m not hyped right now. But I’m putting some finishing touches on this look book right now. So there’s that.
I thought the hacking was over, then I saw you just tweeted 10 minutes ago that you had lost a bunch of followers. Is he still in your account wreaking havoc?
They’ve been on my account since last night. I guess it’s some weird aftermath thing. I don’t know what happened but he made everyone just unfollow me. It’s kind of funny, but it also sucks.
Those followers will come back, bro. Trust.
Yeah, I mean, whatever. It’s just a fucking Twitter. Like, I’m still going to live my life.
You once said that everyone dresses the same. Do you think that that’s gotten better as of late?
Not really. I mean, everyone’s in, like, what? A torn tee of some band they don’t like. Some ripped jeans. A dad hat. Everyone is wearing dumb tour tees right now. That shit is weird. You don’t even like that band. Why are you wearing that?
The Golf Le Fleur sneakers you designed were the standout from your runway show. When are those coming out?
Making a shoe isn’t easy. I’m still putting finishing touches on it and trying to make sure it’s the perfect shoe so I don’t have to worry about shit later. So I can just focus on cool colorways and cool shit to do around it. So putting finishing touches on it. It’s coming soon. They’re fucking sick and I’m really hyped. I hope that it’s successful so I can sponsor people that I think are cool, whether I’m sponsoring just the skate kids that I see. Or like artists that I’m a fan of. Or racers. There’s a whole subculture of kids who ride go-karts, for real. Sponsoring random shit like that that, I’m into. Everyone goes for the basketball players and football players and stuff.
Random question. What was the last thing that you cooked?
Um… What was the last thing that I cooked? Like, food? Probably, like, a week and a half ago I made myself some salmon and waffles.
Salmon and waffles? That sounds terrible.
I like salmon a lot and I like waffles. So I make waffles and then I make my salmon in my special way and I put the pieces of salmon on top of the waffles and then cover them in syrup. And then it’s fucking delicious.
That sounds really gross, bro.
It’s really good. People think it sounds gross, but that’s only because they never thought of salmon and syrup, but it’s really good. Sweet and, like, sort of savory. It works perfect.
Sorry last questions on the meal. Is it an Eggo Waffle or are you making a waffle from scratch?
These were those frozen Belgian waffles, but I hook them up and fix them up. Like, I really put dumb amount of effort into making them.
Moving on! What’d you think of Frank Ocean’s album?
I liked it a lot. Like, it’s my favorite thing from him. It’s weird because I’m friends with him and this album made me so, so, so much of a fanboy. It’s crazy because I was with him when it came out, like that week or whatever, and I kept complimenting him on certain songs, certain little things that I liked in different songs. And I low-key think he started getting annoyed cause I just kept badgering him about how much I liked the album. But I really, really fucking like it. And I’m really hyped for him and he’s hyped and shit’s great.
You guys have always seemed to really be close.
That’s the big homie. That’s the real big homie and shit. Like, any help I need with anything, he always looks out for me. Even before when we grew up, he always had my back. That’s a real friend.
You designed all of the furniture in your fashion show. What’s next with that?
I made the furniture for me but I made it kind of specifically in conjunction with the fashion show. I wanted to make sure everyone’s not just looking at stupid little clothes. Like, furniture and accessories and music. It’s its own world.
Would you work with a bigger company to produce the furniture like Crate & Barrel? Or RENT-A-CENTER? Tyler, The Creator x RENT-A-CENTER collection could be dope.
(Laughs) I don’t know. As gross and cheap as some people may think they are, I really like Ikea for how minimal some of their designs are and how easy it is to put together for someone my age or anyone. Like, all you have to do is read the instructions and figure it out. And I think that would be cool. I want to make furniture for people. I think that they’re very accessible how they do their thing because anyone could shop there. It’s not elite. It’s not super expensive at 50k for a couch or cheap-ass fuck like $50. It’s a cool middle ground where everyone can go and find something. So if I could do something with a furniture company, as obvious as it would sound, it would probably be Ikea.
I know you care about all of your projects but the Carnival seems to be something you care about more than the others. Why is it so close to your heart?
Growing up, I loved carnivals and I loved Six Flags and Knotts Berry Farm and getting on rides and all the lights and the colors. And I’m a sugar addict, so all the different types of candy and churros. I loved it. And we kind of came up with just the concept. Like, yo, I mean, you know, like, we’ll have a carnival with all the sick fucking rides and fun stuff. And a skate park. But let’s have people perform, and let’s have all the artists that perform be from my dream list. Because every festival is just whoever’s popping at the time. So let’s get a couple acts that we know are going to be a draw but then fill that shit up with the acts with musicians people love. Whether that’s Erykah Badu or Deathgrips or The Garden or N.E.R.D. or Jamiroquai. We were like let’s just make it a full day of fucking awesomeness. I’m passionate about it and I think that’s why it’s such a cool thing because we put a lot of thought into it, because it’s coming from a good place.
What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on? Don’t put any names out there but take us through the date.
OK. I went to fucking go see the Lego Movie. It was me, this girl, and my friends. And long story short, she would not shut the fuck up during the movie. She kept commenting on everything. And my friends kept looking at me like, Yo, dude. Like, shut her the fuck up. And I didn’t know what to do. It was awkward, she kept fucking talking and commenting on every fucking thing. And she was loud. It kind of fucked up the movie for everyone. I felt so bad.
Were you really hyped to see the Lego movie?
That shit was amazing.
I just wouldn’t expect for there to be drama at the Lego movie, ya know?
Yeah, the Lego Movie was so fucking good. I was so excited when it came out. Tim Burton has a new movie coming out in two weeks and I’m so excited for it. He’s my fucking favorite.
Most young fashion designers want to design at one of the big fashion houses one day, like Louis Vuitton or Balenciaga. Is that a goal of yours?
Fuck no.
Really?
People need to start building they own shit. Stop going to these fucking brands and giving them all of your ideas and letting them use it for two seasons and then fucking throwing it away. I hate when they find someone new that they could fucking take the soul out of. Like why don’t you want to be the next so-and-so? I would rather do that. I want to build my own shit instead of giving all my ideas to someone else. All the power to them if that’s what they want to do. But you just see it so much. You have ideas. Make something fucking totally new.
Who do you think is the most stylish woman of all time?
Someone who just had the swag all the time? Damn. I don’t know… Um… Elizabeth Taylor had the most fire jewelry ever. Her jewelry game was stupid. Gwen Stefani had really, really, really cool style. Even up until now, but in her early days when she was in the band, and then when she started venturing off in Japan. That was really sick to me. And Missy always looked cool in her videos.
Yeah Missy is underappreciated on the style front.
I’m not even talking about her normal dressing. Just the swag that she had in her videos. She made a fucking plastic bag look awesome.
Right, right.
I always thought that was really, really cool.
The world met you as a rapper but you do a lot of things besides rap nowadays. How much of your time, energy and creativity is put towards music now?
I mean, it all feeds it. Before we started talking, I was in the studio for three hours trying to fucking figure out these chords to a song. It was so hard but I finally got it, but ended up not using them and making something totally different or whatever. But you know, I make music all the time, I listen to it 24/7. Music is number one always.
