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Bastard
Studio album by Tyler, the Creator
Released	December 25, 2009
Recorded	2007–2009
Genre	Alternative hip hop horrorcore
Length	55:50
Label	Self-released
Producer	Tyler, the Creator
Tyler, the Creator chronology
Bastard (2009) Goblin (2011)

Bastard is the debut studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was self-produced by Tyler, the Creator, and self-released free of charge on December 25, 2009, on Odd Future's Tumblr page. Due to its free online release and lack of retail availability, Bastard was initially considered to be a mixtape; however, Tyler and other sources in the future have referred to it as an album.

Concept and content

The songs were written and recorded by Tyler from 2007 through 2009, and released on December 25, 2009. Tyler produced most of the album using FL Studio. In 2019, he recalled that some of his influences for the album were Eminem's Relapse (2009), James Pants' Seven Seals (2009), Nite Jewel's Good Evening (2009), Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest (2009), Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury (2006), and the music of the Cool Kids. Bastard features Tyler speaking to a character named Dr. TC, who acts as Tyler's therapist and guidance counselor. The title track contains Dr. TC hinting that the album would be the first of three therapy sessions. Both songs "Odd Toddlers" and "Slow It Down" were previously released on The Odd Future Tape (2008). The chopped and screwed version (which was hosted by fellow rapper and label-mate Mike G) was released for free online.

On December 25, 2010, one year after the album's initial release, Bastard was re-released with Brandun DeShay's verse on "Session" being replaced with a verse from Mike G, due to a dissension between Tyler and DeShay. The project was available on Odd Future's online music store, before being removed from the website, with DeShay's vocals returning to that same track. Tyler later announced plans on re-releasing Bastard in a remastered physical form through Odd Future Records. However, since this announcement, nothing has materialized.

Reception and controversy

Bastard was met with much praise from critics. Pitchfork called it "a minor masterpiece of shock art" and the first great Odd Future-related project, noting the thrilling juxtaposition between humorous and hateful lines. RapReviews praised the innovative production and Tyler's rapping skills but viewed the lyrics as unacceptable, calling the "frequent references to rape ... a deal-breaker". It was ranked at number 32 on Pitchfork's list of "The Top 50 Albums of 2010", with the single "French!" being ranked at number 61 on their list of "Top 100 Tracks of 2010". The album was later ranked number 118 on Rolling Stone's 2022 list of "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time" and number 38 on Complex's 2018 list of "The 50 Best Rapper Mixtapes".

Bastard, alongside Tyler's second album, Goblin (2011), caused controversy among members of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, which led to Theresa May, who was Home Secretary at the time, imposing a ban on Tyler from entering the country for three to five years. The ban was met with uproar, which was revisited when May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Tyler and many of his fans believe the ban was racially motivated, with Tyler stating he felt he was being treated "like a terrorist", and that they did not like the fact that their children were idolizing a black man. The ban was lifted in May 2019.

In the album's title track, the first words Tyler says are cursing 2DopeBoyz, NahRight, and other blogs who Tyler viewed as snubbing him early in his career. After several attacks on different tracks in the following years, 2DopeBoyz founders Joel Zela and Meka Udoh addressed Tyler's comments in a February 17, 2011 post, claiming they weren't even aware of him as an artist until he started insulting them in interviews and on tracks. They said they never received music from Tyler or Odd Future and they would not work with him in the future, calling Tyler's outrage a marketing ploy.

Track listing

All songs produced by Tyler, the Creator.

Notes

• "Blow" contains additional vocals from Syd tha Kyd
• On December 25, 2010, one year after the album's initial release, it was re-released with brandUn DeShay's verse on "Session" replaced by a verse from Mike G. However, in 2012, the album was re-uploaded to the official Odd Future website with both DeShay and Mike G credited on the song.
• "VCR" contains uncredited vocals from Earl Sweatshirt
• "Inglorious" contains uncredited vocals from Hodgy Beats

Sample credits

• "Seven" contains a sample from "The Sweetest Pain" performed by Dexter Wansel
• "Odd Toddlers" contains a sample from "Huit Octobre 1971" performed by Cortex
• "Jack and the Beanstalk" contains a vocal sample from "What More Can I Say" performed by Jay-Z

References

1. Gee, Andre J. "Every Tyler, the Creator Project Ranked". XXL. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
2. "OFWGKTA: Tyler Creator – BASTARD". Oddfuture.tumblr.com. February 24, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
3. ^ "Cakes & Brains: Tyler, The Creator Presents:BASTARD". Cakesandbrains.blogspot.com. December 25, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
4. ^ Hamilton, Xavier (December 25, 2019). "Tyler, the Creator Looks Back on 'Bastard' Ten Years After Its Release". Complex.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024. Tyler has decided to pay homage to his debut album, Bastard, on its tenth anniversary"... "on christmas 2009 i released my first album BASTARD on zshare to 46 people.
5. "RESPECT.: Interview with Tyler, the Creator". July 11, 2011.
6. Mistry, Anupa (July 24, 2011). "Odd Future: Teeth of the Storm". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
7. "The Odd Future Wolf Gang Bible". Sibatmedia.wordpress.com. March 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
8. wolfhaley. "will BASTARD ever be physically re-released? | Formspring". Formspring.me. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
9. ^ Taylor, Patrick (March 29, 2011). "Tyler, the Creator :: Bastard". RapReviews. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
10. Marsh, Calum (October 8, 2010). "Tyler, the Creator: Bastard (Self-released; 2010)". Cokemachineglow.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
11. Grundy, Luke (May 23, 2011). "The Future's Bright, the Future's....Odd?". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
12. Breihan, Tom (March 14, 2011). "Odd Future Mixtapes". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011.
13. "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010". Pitchfork. December 16, 2010. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
14. "Staff Lists: The Top 100 Tracks of 2010". Pitchfork. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
15. Weingarten, Charles Aaron,Mankaprr Conteh,Jon Dolan,Will Dukes,Dewayne Gage,Joe Gross,Kory Grow,Christian Hoard,Jeff Ihaza,Julyssa Lopez,Mosi Reeves,Yoh Phillips,Noah Shachtman,Rob Sheffield,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Christopher R.; Aaron, Charles; Conteh, Mankaprr; Dolan, Jon; Dukes, Will; Gage, Dewayne; Gross, Joe; Grow, Kory; Hoard, Christian (June 7, 2022). "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 12, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. Kenner, Ernest Baker, Alysa Lechner, OrNah, edwinortiz, Insanul Ahmed, Jack Erwin, Joe La Puma, Lauren Nostro, Rob (March 1, 2018). "The 50 Best Rapper Mixtapes". Complex. Retrieved June 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
17. "Tyler The Creator Banned From U.K., Forced To Cancel Shows". BallerStatus.com. August 26, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
18. Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (September 1, 2015). "Tyler, the Creator on being banned from the UK: 'I'm being treated like a terrorist'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
19. Creator, Tyler, The (May 18, 2019). "LONDON; IGOR; 3PM; WILL UPDATE YOU LATER WITH LOCATIONpic.twitter.com/bscofwIxta". @tylerthecreator. Retrieved June 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
20. Harvilla, Rob (May 18, 2019). "Who's (Still) Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Gang?". The Ringer. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
21. Callas, Brad (February 28, 2019). "Mixtapes That Need to Be Added to Streaming Services Next". Complex. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
22. Zela, Joel "Shake"; Udoh, Meka (February 17, 2011). "Sorry Kids..." 2DopeBoyz. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

• 2009 mixtape albums
• Albums produced by Tyler, the Creator
• 2000s concept albums
• Horrorcore albums
• Tyler, the Creator albums
• Self-released mixtape albums
• Debut mixtape albums