Many years ago, I got a cat from a friend. It was a Persian cat and a beauty but nearly insane from loneliness and starvation. So I took it in and fed it and had it cleaned but it could never be normal and it actually jumped out of my tenth floor window to its death.
Life can damage you.
Elvis Presley
Kurt Cobain
Elliott Smith
Marvin Gaye
Michael Jackson.
There is a certain type of rock star who is severely damaged goods; so damaged they can't survive with it. And there genius is they can transmogrifies the deepest of human emotions -not nice ones or unnice ones, but real ones, into a different medium.
This is Tyler, The Creator's ability as well. Getting ready for tomorrow's Odd Future concert, I've been listening to "Bastard" and its continuation "Goblin" as Tyler raps in the darkest manner possible of his life, for his peers, kids who rap in the mirror.
In "Bastard", speaking to a doctor after the 18 year old got in trouble in school, Tyler is a suicidal mess rapping on top of a pitch black funeral piano keys and a violin sample, he reveals:
1. His dad is dead, or at least gone.
2. He cuts himself.
3. He hates everybody except his Mommy.
4. He is seriously suicidal.
5. Rather than a Grammy he would like his father's email, "so I can tell him how much I hate him in detail".
A year later came part two, "Goblin", and the nineteen year old is dealing, or rather not dealing, with success. "Goblin" is just as great.
1. he is suicidal.
2. He doesn't appreciate Keezy "bumping his shit"
3. He despises being called a roller coaster.
4. He denies he has ever touch a girl who hasn't wanted him to.
5. He denies he is homophobic, faggot.
6. He is worried how he is gonna follow up
7. Except for Odd Future, Pusha T and Waka Waka he doesn't much like rap.
8. He hates his fucking life.
9. He jerks off a lot.
10. He doesn't even have the time for his skateboard any more.
11. He wishes he was dead -or did I mention tat?
Hmmm, borderline Oedipal, weirdo. Self cutting, self hating, misogynist (except for "She" and "Her"), Tyler is the poster child for the damaged rock star not least because there may be armies of teenagers just like him, they can't morph the horror into great music. And Tyler is great, one of the best of the 21st century, he puts all the rest to shame. He is going to places only Kanye circa 808s and Kid Cudi have reached it: And he makes Kanye (another mother lover) look positively pleasant.
But with his skinny everyman look and jughead ears, and deepseated sadness, Tyler represents the voice of his generation and the face of the damaged rock and roll stars. Catch him while you can.