Tyler, The Creator has crafted an album for the dancefloor with DON’T TAP THE GLASS. Alongside co-conspirators Pharrell, Madison McFerrin and Yebba — and with a musical backdrop drenched in post-disco R&B, house, electro hip-hop and a whiff of bass music — the Grammy winner implores the listener to get up and dance. Off top, Tyler explains the “rules:” no sitting still, leave your baggage at home — and don’t tap the glass.
Tyler’s use of samples throughout the project highlights both his impeccable taste and the music’s DNA. Let’s dig into the coolest flips on
“BIG POE” (Samples: “Pass the Courvoisier (remix)” – Busta Rhymes)
From jump, it’s clear Tyler wants you to move, and on the second half of the track, he flips Bussa Buss for a club anthem. The first half is a flip of “Roked” by Israeli musician Shye Ben Tzur and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.
“SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” (Samples: “King of the Beats” – Mantronix)
Kurtis Mantronik is on the short list of greatest hip-hop producers of the ‘80s. His approach helped spark bass music and “King Of the Beats” pops up constantly (more later).
“SUCKA FREE”
Tyler fully channeled the spirit of Loose Ends for this track that sounds like an Eighties R&B classic that was reworked into a ‘90s radio rap hit.
“MOMMANEM” (Samples: “Montagehalle” – Gorilla Aktiv)
Not many folks can hear the party in German new wave music, but thank the rap gods Tyler is a Gorilla Aktiv fan.
“STOP PLAYING WITH ME” (Samples: “King of the Beats” – Mantronix)
The sample that runs through a lot of the album. Along with just being a great project, Don’t Tap the Glass should make anyone listening go check out Mantronix. Now you know.
“RING RING RING” (Samples: “All In the Way You Get Down” – Ray Parker, Jr.)
Parker Jr. was one of the 1980s most in-demand producers and session musicians; and this flip of his own disco-inflected track showcases his gift for grooves.
“DON’T TAP THE GLASS/TWEAKIN’” (Samples: “Booman” – Baby Keem, “Dope Fiend Beat” – Too $hort)
Leave it to Tyler to be creative even as he says he’s not trying too hard. Merging Baby Keem’s chugging track and the ever-popular “Dope Fiend Beat” to create this two-part title track.
“DON’T YOU WORRY BABY” (Samples: “King of the Beats” – Mantronix, “Let Me Ride” – 12 Gauge)
Mantronix makes another appearance (they’ve been sampled and re-sampled endlessly) this time in the form of 12 Gauge’s underrated bass music cut from the mid-1990s.
“I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU” (Samples: “Cherry Bomb” – Tyler, The Creator, “Knuck If You Buck (remix)” – Crime Mob)
There are countless musical references to the club music of yesteryear and on top of sampling himself; Tyler incorporates the early 2000s crunk anthem from Crime Mob.
“TELL ME WHAT IT IS”(Samples: “Millionaire” – Kelis feat. André 3000)
The Kelis track has always been one of her best — and the Three Stacks verse ain’t too shabby either — but the way Tyler turns it into this thumping album closer is masterful.
