Tyler Calls Out the Noise: Too Many Voices, Not Enough Skill
Tyler, the Creator is not holding back when it comes to the podcast explosion. In a candid interview with The Cut, the Grammy-winning artist opened up about his growing frustration with the way people are using digital platforms to chase clout instead of contributing meaningfully. “I think we give a lot of people who are not smart and just want attention platforms to be loud and incorrect,” he said. “And other stupid people follow them.”
For Tyler, the problem is not just the oversaturation. It is what he sees as a collapse in real-world skill and focus. He believes culture is being drowned by people who would rather talk than do. “Where are the people with skills?” he asked. “We need electricians. We need more drummers, painters, teachers. Everybody with a mic is crazy. I just think that stuff is gross.” The comments mirror what he said back in 2023 when he joked that if he were president, his first order of business would be to take podcast mics away from people.
Still, he did give credit to the few shows that have earned his respect. Tyler specifically shouted out Deante Kyle’s Grit and Eggs and Recho Omondi’s The Cutting Room Floor, calling them “podcasts that are in the right direction.” The point was not to cancel podcasting. It was to draw a clear line between noise and substance.
Tyler Says This Is Not About Conversation Anymore
Tyler’s issue with podcast culture comes from a place of creative urgency. For him, it is not about the variety of voices. It is about credibility. In his eyes, too many people are using microphones to posture rather than inform or inspire. That kind of energy, he believes, creates a cycle where the loudest voices take center stage regardless of what they are saying.
This growing tension around the value of digital content is not new, but Tyler’s take cuts deeper because of his track record for pushing artistic standards. Whether in music, fashion, or performance, he has always demanded more than just popularity. His frustration seems to be with what he views as lazy content disguised as authenticity. People are not just talking. They are performing, and the performance often lacks intention or value.
Not surprisingly, his comments sparked strong reactions. Some praised him for saying what many are afraid to admit. Others saw his take as dismissive of creators from underrepresented backgrounds. But for Tyler, the critique is not about exclusion. It is about focus. He wants creators to build something real, not just broadcast opinions for attention.
Touring Life, Exhaustion, and Staying Honest at 34
Tyler’s remarks came during a whirlwind year, as he continues to tour in support of his latest album, Chromakopia. During a recent conversation in London with Converse, the artist opened up about how touring now feels different than it did in his early twenties. “Touring now at 34 is not as fun as it was at 20,” he said. “The unfamiliarity, a different bed every night, the food. I am not from this side of the world, so as much time as I spend on thinking about where I am going to eat, it is draining.”
Despite the exhaustion, the crowds have made it worthwhile. Tyler shared that the shows are often what keeps him going. “What makes up for it is that these shows are incredible, and the people are excited.” Even as he battles fatigue, it is the energy from his fans that reminds him why he keeps showing up. The love is still real, even if the road is rougher now.
Tyler has built a career on contradiction. He is both irreverent and introspective, funny and philosophical, tired of the noise but still choosing to speak. His recent critique is not just a swipe at podcasts. It is a call to do better, to be better, and to return to the kind of craftsmanship that lasts. In a world filled with microphones, Tyler is still one of the few who actually has something to say.