Artist case study
Tyler, The Creator
 
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), better known by his stage name Tyler, The Creator, is an American rapper and record producer from California. Born in Ladera Heights, he rose to prominence as the leader and co-founder of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, and has rapped on and produced songs for nearly every Odd Future release. Okonma also creates all the artwork for the group's releases and said in an interview with DJ Semtex, that he designs all the group's clothing and other merchandise as well. After releasing his debut album Goblin under XL Recordings, in April 2011, he signed a joint venture deal for him and his label Odd Future Records, with RED Distribution and Sony Music Entertainment. Following that he released his second studio album Wolf, which was met with generally positive reviews and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 selling 90,000 copies in its first week.

Early life

Tyler Okonma was born in Los Angeles, California to a Nigerian father and a mother of African-American and white Canadian descent. He has never met his father, and spent his early life living in the communities of Ladera Heights and Hawthorne in southwest Los Angeles County. At the age of seven, he would take the cover out of an album's case and create covers for his own imaginary albums including a track list with song times before he could even make music. At the age of 14, Okonma taught himself how to play piano. In his twelve years of schooling, he attended twelve different schools, in Los Angeles and Sacramento areas.

Feuds

In the song "Yonkers", Tyler disses numerous artists, such as rappers/singers B.o.B and Bruno Mars, and Hayley Williams, front woman of band Paramore. Tyler, the Creator also disses Bruno Mars in The Game's song "Martians vs. Goblins", which he and Lil Wayne are featured artists. In response, B.o.B released a similar diss track, entitled "No Future" that also references Tyler's group, Odd Future. Ironically, Tyler praised the song, and initially did not think it was a diss track. Bruno Mars, in response to the verse "stab Bruno Mars in his goddamn oesophagus," said, "[Tyler] has to wait in line if he wants to stab me...[Tyler's] definitely not the first guy that's said something like that to me and he's not going to be the last." Los Angeles rapper Hopsin also dissed him in his "Ill Mind of Hopsin 4" music video, released in July 2011. As a response, he was parodied in the "Martians vs. Goblins" music video.
Tyler, The Creator and R&B singer Chris Brown feuded due to claims Brown tweeted on Twitter of Odd Future's music containing a "demonic" message. Tyler had made several sarcastic remarks via Twitter afterwards, leading to a heated feud between the two musicians. Before a live performance alongside Frank Ocean, Tyler, The Creator called out Chris Brown referring to Brown's savage beating of fellow musician Rihanna. Afterwards, Brown and Tyler cleared up the feud when Tyler tweeted that he is a fan of Chris Brown's song "Look At Me Now" featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes. According to Tyler, The Creator there are things "[his fans] don't even know" about the feud.
Through Formspring, Tyler has also said that he does not like Vince Staples, although he praised his rapping abilities. Vince has collaborated with several members of Odd Future, notably Earl Sweatshirt, Mike G, Domo Genesis & The Jet Age of Tomorrow. In 2011, Tyler said that he does not dislike Staples, but he dislikes the fact that people think he is a part of Odd Future when he is not actually in the group