Description
slowthai – Tyron – Vinyl Record
slowthai’s TYRON, released on February 12, 2021, is a bold, deeply personal, and sonically split statement that captures the complexity of an artist wrestling with public scrutiny, identity, vulnerability, and rage. As the follow-up to his acclaimed 2019 debut Nothing Great About Britain, TYRON represents a deliberate departure from the overtly political tone of his debut, instead presenting a more introspective, fragmented portrait of Tyron Frampton, the man behind the moniker.
Structured in two distinct halves, TYRON reflects duality not only in sound but in emotional tone. The first half—marked by all-caps track titles like “45 SMOKE,” “CANCELLED” (feat. Skepta), and “MAZZA” (feat. A$AP Rocky)—is aggressive, chaotic, and laced with bravado. These songs tap into slowthai’s punk-adjacent grime energy, fueled by anger, defiance, and a sense of cultural confrontation. This half addresses themes like cancel culture, media backlash, and mental fragmentation, particularly referencing real-life incidents like his controversial appearance at the 2020 NME Awards. Tracks like “CANCELLED” and “VEX” rage against judgment and public pressure, framed by distorted beats and confrontational delivery.
The second half—represented by lowercase track titles such as “i tried,” “focus,” “terms” (feat. Denzel Curry & Dominic Fike), and “adhd”—switches gears completely. Here, slowthai strips away his armor, revealing a quieter, emotionally raw core. These songs embrace melancholy, vulnerability, and self-reflection, with themes ranging from suicidal ideation and therapy to loneliness and longing for clarity. The minimalistic production—often ambient, lo-fi, and acoustic-leaning—allows his introspective lyrics to take center stage. “nhs” becomes a poignant moment of gratitude and critique, referencing Britain’s National Health Service while questioning societal values. The closer, “adhd,” is particularly haunting, showcasing one of slowthai’s most candid verses about mental health and identity.
This two-part structure, beyond being a clever artistic device, mirrors the mental duality of being both a public persona and a private individual—a recurring tension for artists in the age of social media hypervisibility. The juxtaposition also reinforces slowthai’s genre-defying style, seamlessly blending grime, punk, hip-hop, alt-pop, and lo-fi indie elements without losing cohesion.
Critically, TYRON was praised for its emotional honesty, growth, and conceptual ambition. While the first half satisfied fans of his anarchic, mosh-ready energy, it was the softer, more personal side that many critics saw as a brave and necessary evolution, showing that slowthai was not just a provocateur but a complex, reflective artist willing to take risks.
The album debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, and featured collaborations not only with UK grime legends like Skepta but also with global stars such as A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, James Blake, Mount Kimbie, and Dominic Fike, helping extend its reach across multiple audiences.
In essence, TYRON is a two-faced mirror—one side snarling, the other quietly breaking down. It’s not a polished album, but it isn’t meant to be. Instead, it’s a raw document of a young artist reckoning with his fame, mistakes, inner demons, and desire for growth. It’s a standout entry in the post-genre landscape of British music, and a testament to slowthai’s refusal to be boxed in.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
45 SMOKE
CANCELLED
MAZZA
VEX
WOT
DEAD
PLAY WITH FIRE
i tried
focus
terms
push
nhs
feel away
adhd
