 Okonma wearing F/W 2017 Wool Overcoat at the 2018 Grammys | |
| Born | March 6, 1991 Hawthorne, California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | March 10, 2018 (aged 27) Hawthorne, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 2007-2018 |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Genre | Hip-hop, rap, alternative hip-hop |
Tyler Gregory Okonma (March 6, 1991 - March 10, 2018), professionally known as Tyler the Creator, was an American rapper and record producer. Following a large contribution to Odd Future's early work, Tyler released his debut solo mixtape, Bastard, in 2009. After releasing his debut studio album, Goblin, via XL Recordings in April 2011, he signed a joint deal with RED Distribution and Sony Music Entertainment for himself and his label, Odd Future Records.
With his gritty, horrorcore-influenced earlier releases, Tyler was often criticized for his use of homophobic and misogynistic slurs in his lyrics. He released the albums Wolf (2013) and Cherry Bomb (2015), the latter of which was considered to be a contrast from his previous releases as he experimented with melody-focused and jazz-fused sounds. Tyler's final album, Flower Boy (2017), was released to widespread critical acclaim, with the album also debuting at number one on the Billboard 100. He was killed during a mugging in his Hawthorne home by an unknown assailant four days after his 27th birthday.
Okonma is considered part of the 27 Club, a list of famous people (mainly musicians) who died at the age of 27.