Tyler, The Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass – A Fun, Short, and Sonically Diverse

Tyler, The Creator is known for breaking musical molds, and his latest album, Don’t Tap the Glass, is another example of his ability to blend genres and push boundaries. The project feels like a fusion between the experimental energy of Cherry Bomb and the melodic, emotional layers of IGOR. Packed with hard-hitting beats, playful melodies, and bursts of singing, this album shows Tyler’s versatility once again.

Setting the Tone

From the jump, Tyler tells listeners not to expect deep, introspective lyrics this time around — instead, he wants people to dance. While this isn’t necessarily music I’d dance to, I can easily imagine it resonating during the summer, at festivals, in mosh pits, and especially at his live shows.

As someone who hasn’t always been the biggest Tyler fan, I’ve grown to appreciate his recent work. Don’t Tap the Glass isn’t a miss, but it’s a different kind of listen.

Strong Start with “Big Poe”

The album opens with “Big Poe”, a collaboration with Pharrell. This pairing makes perfect sense — Pharrell is Tyler’s hero and mentor, and the track feels like a modern Star Trak production. It’s high-energy, fun, and a great way to kick off the record.

Throughout the album, Tyler switches between hard, aggressive beats and more melodic, almost skit-like tracks where he focuses more on choruses than verses. Some of these shorter, melodic moments shine, while others are just okay — but Tyler rarely makes bad music.

Standout Tracks

“Sugar on My Tongue” is one of those singing-heavy tracks that stands out for its catchiness. It’s the kind of song you wouldn’t mind playing in the background while going about your day.

Another highlight is “Stop Playing With Me”, a fun and sharp track where Tyler warns someone to take him seriously. It’s upbeat, direct, and one of the most memorable moments on the project.

Track seven, “Don’t Tap the Glass”, particularly its first half, captures that signature Pharrell-and-Chad Hugo Star Trak sound that Tyler does so well.

The IGOR Influence

After track five (Stop Playing With Me), the album leans more into that IGOR-style sound I mentioned earlier, with more singing and lush instrumentation. Tracks like “I’ll Take Care of You” featuring Yebba bring smooth, soulful moments with strong production, even if the vocals aren’t technically flawless.

Short and To the Point

At just 10 tracks and 29 minutes — with one track running only about a minute — Don’t Tap the Glass is over quickly. Tyler made it clear this wasn’t meant to be a deeply conceptual project, but its brevity leaves me wishing for more direction and depth in certain places.

I’m curious to see how this music connects with audiences, especially those ready to dance to the high-energy cuts.

Final Verdict

Don’t Tap the Glass is a solid, fun, and sonically varied album. It delivers plenty of enjoyable moments, Pharrell-inspired production touches, and memorable hooks, but its short length and lack of clear direction hold it back from being truly great.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10