“Like Him” is the thirteenth track on Tyler, The Creator’s brand new album ‘Chromakopia.’ The song talks about Tyler’s father who was not in the picture when he grew up. Seemingly, Tyler’s mother takes responsibility for his abandonment of both of them.
‘Chromakopia’ is Tyler’s eighth studio album released on October 28, 2024. The album was introduced to the fans on October 16, 2024, with “St. Chroma” and introduced a new masked character representing a more mature and grounded version of Tyler, The Creator. The album follows Tyler’s highly acclaimed project ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’ from 2021.
“Like Him” talks about the stark similarities between Tyler and his father as seen through his mother’s eyes. This might make it harder for Bonita Smith, Tyler’s mother, to see Tyler grow to be just like the man he chased away from them. Maybe it makes it easier for her to know that Tyler took on the best features of his father and left out the bad.
Tyler had never met his father.
Listen to “Like Him” by Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator “Like Him” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
The intro to the song is performed by Tyler’s mother Bonita Smith. She talks about how much Tyler resembles his father. She describes how Tyler’s physical traits match that of his father and how Tyler reminds her of his father. Tyler has never met his father, so he has no idea if his mother is telling the truth. But he wants to believe. He wants to look like his old man he never knew.
She said that I make expressions like him
On top of the physical features, Tyler also behaves like his father, his mother assures. This might give some sort of comfort to Tyler–a sense of connection to a person he never knew.
Mama, I’m chasin’ a ghost
This line may tell us that he is still holding some unresolved issues with his father despite never meeting him. Maybe never having a father figure haunted him all through his childhood, especially dealing with other kids at his school, and other significant milestones in his childhood.
The second verse of the song, suggests that Tyler’s mother filled in the shoes of his father as well. He felt unconditional love, affection, and protection from his mother. So, it doesn’t even make sense that he thinks he misses his father. But he does miss some part of what it could have been. Maybe he wanted to play catch. Maybe he wanted someone to tell him that it’s okay to get into a fight or get bruised.
The unknown actually might be worse than a known bad situation.
In the outro of the song, Bonita Smith is heard confessing that her husband leaving her and her child is her own fault. She even says that he wanted to be there for Tyler, but her young self pushed him away. Maybe he did commit a sin on her and still wanted to be a part of the child’s life but Bonita was too angry to forgive and forget. However, looking back, Bonita feels like maybe she should have let her husband be a part of Tyler’s life in some capacity. Bonita asks Tyler to forgive him, for not being there for Tyler, and her, for not letting the father be a father to Tyler.
Let us hear what you think about the song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics to the song on Genius.