Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Don’t Tap the Glass’: What the early reactions are saying

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Last week gave us an almost-no-heads-up release from Justin Bieber, and this week, we have new Tyler, the Creator.

Just shy of nine months since his last album, Chromakopia, the always inventive two-time Grammy winner has dropped Don't Tap the Glass, a lean ten-track album with a clear objective: get people dancing.

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Music writers and critics are largely still digesting the surprise release, but the early reactions have praised Don't Tap the Glass for continuing Tyler's stellar reputation for production and a looseness that his recent, more conceptual albums have steered away from.

"Lately, Tyler’s records serve as showcases for his increasingly complex and impressive production chops," writes Dash Lewis in Stereogum's "premature evaluation." "Don’t Tap the Glass is no exception, leaning even further into the Tyler-as-producer dynamic. But instead of the shapeshifting, almost proggy vibe of his last few records, he’s going for undeniable, uncomplicated jammers."

"What is Tyler, the Creator creating this time? A dance floor. Tyler released his new album, Don’t Tap the Glass, with only a few hours’ warning on July 21," writes Vulture's Jason P. Frank. "On his previous album, Chromakopia, released October 2024, Tyler explored new depths of himself, creating an album 'at war with itself, jostling through light, uplifting moments and self-defeating lows,' per critic Craig Jenkins. Don’t Tap the Glass isn’t really into all that. Instead, Tyler wants the world to dance."

The album's emphasis on grooves was previewed and explained by a post to his social accounts.

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"Per the rapper, it's inspired by texts with his friends about why no one dances in the club anymore even while dance music is at the most mainstream it's been in years," The Fader wrote in its rundown of the best tracks. "Don't Tap the Glass is Tyler's answer to this existential dilemma, an album that he's instructed should be listened to 1. not sitting still, 2. not at home, and 3. not with your phone. Traversing G-Funk, bouncy R&B, Miami bass, jungle, and everything in between, it's the rapper's most carefree, "don't overthink it" record in years — and his tightest at a breezy 28 minutes.

But a straightforward objective doesn't necessarily result in a simple record, as Hypebeast's Brielle Ki explains.

"Across all ten songs, Don’t Tap the Glass resists definition. It doesn’t aim to be cohesive or complete. This album strays from genre while still feeling entirely like him — less a statement, more a glimpse into the raw mechanics of his creative process. Instead of searching for meaning, it feels like he’s letting the music speak for what he doesn’t want to explain."

Even with a few hours of listening time, the commentary thus far seems to agree that Tyler has achieved what he set out to do.

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"In an album that explores house and funk, Tyler becomes a master of his element on 'Stop Playing With Me,'" Mackenzie Cummings-Grady writes for Billboard. "The beat is tight, the hook is catchy, and Tyler sounds as mischievous as ever. While Don’t Tap the Glass kept me moving and grooving, 'Stop Playing With Me' adds a welcomed dose of ravenous energy to the rave. Similar to how 'Sticky' knocked me off my feet first listen, 'Stop Playing With Me' will undoubtedly cause fans to go feral at the function."

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