Tyler, The Creator’s Concert Grungy, Yet Entertaining

I’m a hip hop fan myself, but I hadn’t given Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA) much of a chance despite recognizing the name.

The group consists of Tyler, The Creator (main man), Earl Sweatshirt, MellowHype, Hodgy Beats, Left Brain, Mike G, Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Syd the Kyd, Jasper Dolphin, Taco Bennett and Super3.

The alternative hip hop collective roots from Los Angeles, CA., and has been stirring debate with fans and critics involving their use of topics such as rape and murder.

Despite that, Tyler has gained recognition and was the winner of MTV’s Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 2011. The group grabs attention as soon as their mouths reach the mic. Tyler’s song, “Yonkers,” begins with, “I’m a f***** walkin paradox, no I’m not, threesomes with a f***** triceratops, Reptar.”

A few of my friends had tickets to Odd Future’s concert on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and let me tag along, (for free- thanks Becky!) I wanted to see what these guys were all about and what kind of fans lurked around the Ritz in Ybor City hours before the doors opened.

We arrived at the venue at about 4 p.m. when the Ritz’s doors were set to open at 7 p.m. Perched near the main doors I found Danelle G., 16, who seemed oddly young to be allowed at this type of concert, as Tyler’s music can be considered somewhat satanic as he dons an upside down cross on his forehead on his Goblin album cover.

“I heard there’s going to be a lot of mosh pits, what you would see at a rock concert and people getting punched in the face.” Her accomplice to the concert went by his alias, Based God, 17, and he reassured me that everyone was going to have a good time.

My nerves began to rise. I knew little about Tyler, but I wasn’t exactly stoked to get punched in the face or spit on. Chances are, I would have held my own, but I was anxious for the concert to start and see what all the hype was about.

I didn’t exactly know what to expect as far as what type of fans he would have, but I came to find that it was a generalized group of hipsters who appreciate rap. In line, there was a huge variety of cultures, ages, ethnicities and types of Vans. Bright t-shirts with patterns of cats and upside-down crosses swarmed 7th Street.

When the Ritz released posters, stickers and other OFWGKTA merchandise around 6 p.m., a flood of fans ran over to get them. Within a minute, everything was gone. Some guys began scaling stop signs and street signs to slap the stickers on there, marking their visit.

“He just doesn’t care. He raps for himself, and I can respect that,” said Spencer Johnson, 20, filling me in on what he thinks Tyler, The Creator has to offer the rap community. “Tyler just [raps] from the inside, not the outside.” Johnson used a black Sharpie to mark OFWGKTA complemented with an upside down cross on the tops of his blue Vans.

By 7 p.m., the crowd was shoving to get into the venue first as they began to chant and get restless. The Ritz’s security guards had to start yelling at the mob to get them to calm down and stop pre-moshing outside. One guard had to warn, “If you guys don’t stop shoving, I will stop the line dead.”

Needless to say, some couldn’t resist letting their excitement take over. We finally made it in the venue around 7:45 p.m. The main floor area to the stage had black and white tiled floors with a vintage feel. I enjoyed my $8 beer while I watched the crowd pour in, and act polite while passing. I spotted more scene and hipster kids sporting hats with the brims pointed up, bandanas, plaid and yes, more Vans.

It was past 9 p.m. by the time OFWGKTA came on stage and within five minutes of raging, there was a full-crowd mosh pit that left me in the middle of some guy’s arm pit and another guy’s elbow. It reeked of sweat, B.O. and a little blood. I survived the mosh pit for probably 15-20 minutes before I couldn’t squeeze out one more drop of sweat. Also, I couldn’t tolerate the guy behind me who seemed to be taking advantage of the “shoving” against my back side.

I escaped safely and remained by the bar and standing-area that overlooked the mosh pit I had been in, while still having a great view of the stage.

I talked to Shane O’Neill, a bartender at the Ritz, 26, who said, “There are a lot of younger people. The mosh pits are pretty typical; we have a lot of alternative music so this is actually mild. Usually people are leaving with bloody faces. I’ve never heard of [OFWGTKA], but they’re not very good live.”

Tyler stomped and marched around with swag as if he had built the stage with his own hands. He had true stage presence as he connected with his fans who were chanting “Wolf Gang,” “Golf Wang” or “Odd Future.”

The combination of loud, vulgar, honest rap and great beats that sounded somewhat horror movie-esque erupted through the Ritz. I could literally feel the beats traveling through my right ear and out of my left as if it was carving some sort of pattern through my head.

His alternative form of rapping is more in-your-face than Jay-Z or even Kanye could pull off.

Tyler spits a lot of random fiction lyrics that involves dissing other artists, mentioning that he can’t stand what they rap or sing about. He then stands up for his crew, OFWGKTA and what they stand for – harsh words paired with incomparable originality. Listening to his lyrics, he leans towards language that even offended me a couple times (which is pretty impressive).

Despite that, I am able to appreciate his music for what it is, art and controversy. Tyler goes along with the stereotypes that are slapped on his music and himself. In his song, “Goblin,” he clears up any question of whether he is satanic or the devil, “The devil doesn’t wear Prada, I’m clearly in a f***** white T.”

OFWGKTA provided an experience, however, not everyone was impressed by. “I heard [Tyler’s] record and that was OK. So I came to hear it live and I was thoroughly disappointed. I came all because of this song, [“Yonkers”]. said Jamie Stewart, 32. “There are too many other people on stage with a microphone drowning out the reason [Tyler] we’re all here.”

Tyler’s passion for his lyrics was clear when he was speaking out to the audience, “Have you ever sat down and really listened to the lyrics of that song [“B**** Suck D***”]? That happens to be the dumbest s*** I’ve ever written and the sickest s*** I’ve ever written about life,” Tyler said during the concert.

An artist who reflects on their own music and speaks out to their fans about the journey or point of a record is one who should be appreciated.

“That s***’s crazy. I really don’t listen to his music but after this concert, I will,” said Paul Bryant, 18. “It was very crazy but still good music … It’s like he’s from another planet.”

While the venue may have smelled like a sweat-soaked gym, Tyler and his crew’s swag was impressive. They all stressed that you just need to listen to their lyrics and try to understand them rather than judge them. They described their music as what they truly feel and think. My advice, check out Tyler, The Creator and the rest of the guys from OFWGKTA and judge for yourself.

I probably won’t be involved in any more mosh pits at their concerts but you may spot me cruising down Kennedy with my windows down listening to OFWGKTA’s vulgar, alternative form of rap.

I was able to explore a new form of hip hop that opened up my views on music in general. I guess Based God was right after all.

Jennifer Bedell can be reached at 1jennifer.bedell@gmail.com.