Tyler the Creator, 'Yonkers'
(Warning: this song contains obscene language)
The Los Angeles rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (also known as OFWGKTA or just Odd Future) has incited controversy for its violent and misogynist lyrics. But whatever your opinion on the artistic validity of this controversial group, there's no denying that 20-year-old Tyler the Creator's "Yonkers" has sprouted a new branch — minimalistic rap — on hip-hop's family tree. "Yonkers" has no chorus. It has no discernible beat save for the horror movie-esque screeching sound that runs through the entire track. It's not a song that you'd want to play at a party, groove along to in your car, or even put on when you're relaxing at home. No, it's so sparse and inaccessible that it functions more like a piece of performance art. "Yonkers" creates a thrilling sense of uneasiness that the music world hadn't seen since the early days of punk.