Tyler, The Creator’s “Sorry Not Sorry” Apology Track
Written by A.M. Ray aka Jamm on March 29, 2023
Tyler, The Creator has always been known for his unapologetic and provocative style, but his latest track “Sorry Not Sorry” shows a different side of the rapper. In the song, Tyler issues a series of apologies to various people in his life, including his family, old friends, and the women he hid his sexuality from in the past. While all the apologies are significant, it’s the one towards the women that’s got fans talking.
In the song, Tyler raps, “Sorry to the girls I had to lie to, who ain’t need to know if I was by the lake switchin’ tides, too.” The line is a reference to his sexuality, and the fact that he has been rumored to be bisexual since his 2017 album Flower Boy, where he seemingly came out on songs like “I Ain’t Got Time!” and “Garden Shed.”
The video for “Sorry Not Sorry” provides more context to the apologies. In the visual, Tyler gathers all of his alter egos from his past album covers on a stage and raps each apology using a different version of himself. When he raps about his sexuality, he embodies the persona from Flower Boy.
While the first half of the song is dedicated to apologies, the second half shows a more unapologetic side of Tyler. He remains unapologetic towards people who don’t know him well enough to judge him, and he acknowledges that he has changed since his early days in the music industry.
The ending of the video is also noteworthy, as Tyler’s Goblin persona beats up his current alias Tyler Baudelaire, which could be interpreted as a sign of a phase in his life.
“Sorry Not Sorry” comes fresh off of Tyler’s upcoming album Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale. The track arrives two days after he revealed another new track, “DOGTOOTH.” The deluxe version of his Grammy award-winning album Igor is also set to drop soon.
Overall, “Sorry Not Sorry” shows a more vulnerable side of Tyler, and his willingness to apologize for past mistakes is admirable. It’s clear that he’s not afraid to address difficult topics in his music, and his fans appreciate that about him.