From the time Tyler, The Creator first played his inaugural early afternoon set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2011, things have changed quite a bit. For starters, he’s gained a few inches, grown some facial hair, and is now firmly rooted in his thirties. It’s a far cry from the teenage rebel who once was just learning to navigate the tumultuous terrain of youth and creativity.
His stage persona has mellowed considerably. Gone are the days of wild antics like dousing the crowd with large super soakers, which famously led to his premature exit from his Coachella set after a mere 20 minutes.
“When I first played Coachella, I didn’t even know what it was, and my set was terrible,” Tyler shouted to the Coachella Stage crowd. “But it was awesome. We were just having fun even though they kicked us off stage after 20 minutes of playing.”
Nowadays, it’s his signature blend of crude humor and infectious alternative hip-hop catalog that ignites the crowd, showcasing a more refined yet still youthful performance style.
The multihyphenate artist’s career has skyrocketed since those early days of rebellion. From his iconic clothing brand Golf Wang, Le Fleur perfume and nail polish line to his Grammy-winning records, he’s solidified his status as a creative force. And now, his latest project, a collaboration line with the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, has cemented his place at the intersection of high fashion and street culture. He was even seen sporting a few limited edition items like a Golf polo blue shirt, matching with his usual Golf Wang Converse, Golf pleated khakis and a casual white baseball cap.
As the night unfolded, the crowd and Tyler found themselves drenched in sweat, laughter, and smiles as the Los Angeles-bred rapper flipped through his packed 90-minute set, initiating with “Igor’s Theme” and “Lemonhead.” The set maintained a pleasant balance, showcasing his most recent work from the 2021 record “Call Me If You Get Lost” alongside tracks from “Igor” in 2019. And of course, he didn’t forget the old fan classics that catapaulted him to success during his days with the rap supergroup Odd Future, including hits like “Yonkers,” “She” and “Tamale.”
Tyler didn’t hold back on surprises, treating the audience to special guest appearances by friends and legends alike. Charlie Wilson joined him for a special rendition of “Earfquake,” while Childish Gambino added his soulful licks to “Running Out Of Time.” A$AP Rocky heated things up with “Potato Salad” and “Who Dat Boy,” and lastly, Kali Uchis graced the stage for a mesmerizing duet of “See You Again.”
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The stage setup featured a desert motif, with scattered tents and a broken-down trailer. In a moment of downtime, Tyler even popped open a lunchbox within one of the tents, casually munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as the outro of “IFHY” played out.
Tyler kept the energy high with plenty of playful commentary moments from beginning to end. As the set wound down, he took a moment to express his gratitude to the audience, sharing his satisfaction with the turnout and overall vibe of his headline performance. He hinted at the challenge of topping it next weekend.
“Man, I’m not going to lie, I was skeptical because Coachella crowds can be pretty boring and dead, but tonight you killed it,” Tyler said. “Thank you for this energy. Thank you to everyone who came or walked up, I appreciate your attention fo watching me. I’m so excited to clean and shower.”
