Tyler, the Creator officially announced his ninth studio album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS, just one day before it was released on 21st July 2025. Following speculation online, Tyler took to X to dismiss rumours of a concept project, but the album does seem to follow a concept of sorts: turn your phone off and keep dancing.
At just 28 minutes, DON’T TAP THE GLASS is Tyler’s shortest project yet, but it doesn’t waste a second. Bursting with infectious electronic production and Tyler’s signature bravado, it delivers a fully-formed experience that commands movement and confidence.
In the opening 20 seconds of ‘Big Poe’ Tyler sets the tone with three rules:
“Number one – Body movement, no sitting still. Number two – only speak in glory, leave your baggage at home. Number three – don’t tap the glass.”
Once the beat drops, following those instructions feels less like a suggestion and more like a reflex. That energy persists from start to finish.
‘Sugar On My Tongue’ plays like an alternative dance version of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST’s ‘SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE’. With warped electronic synths and crisp, rhythmic drums, the track plunges into 2000s nostalgia, aided by a playful talkbox and glistening production..
One thing fans loved about CHROMAKOPIA was the seamless transitions, and DON’T TAP THE GLASS takes that further. The shift from ‘Mommanem’ into ‘Stop Playing With Me’ feels like a masterful DJ’s mix, reinforcing the record’s club energy without breaking its stride.
Though Tyler isn’t widely known for his singing, tracks like ‘Sucka Free’ prove how far he’s come vocally. The dreamy melodies offer a welcome breather for the high-octane bars, striking a balance between swagger and sensitivity that few can pull off.
Two of the biggest standouts on this album are ‘Don’t You Worry Baby’, with an excellent appearance from Madison McFerrin, and ‘Tell Me What It Is’. The former glides with braggadocious confidence while the latter dips into more vulnerable territory to close out the album. ‘Tell Me What It Is’ serves as a spiritual sequel to CHROMAKOPIA’s ‘Darling, I’, with Tyler interpolation Kelis and Andre 3000’s ‘Millionaire’ to tackle the idea that even with all his success, love still eludes him.
Few people expected a new Tyler album just nine months after CHROMAKOPIA, but DON’T TAP THE GLASS is another triumph. Tyler has made a career out of reinvention, from Wolf to now, and this album is no exception. A masterclass in danceable vulnerability, DON’T TAP THE GLASS is yet more proof that Tyler is not just one of the most creative forces in rap at the moment but he’s one of the greatest of his generation.
Words by Aaron Edwards
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