Flower Boy, also known as Scum Fuck Flower Boy, is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Tyler, The Creator. It was officially released on July 21, 2017 by Columbia Records. The album was solely produced by Tyler, but features contributions from artists such as Frank Ocean, Rex Orange County and A$AP Rocky.
The album revolves around themes and topics such as depression, loneliness, sexuality, love, friendship, materialism and fame.
It was supported by the singles “Who Dat Boy,” “911 / Mr. Lonely,” (released as a double single) “Boredom” and “I Ain’t Got Time.”
Flower Boy was leaked on July 9, 2017. Immediately after the leak, the album received a lot of attention as fans speculated that Tyler was coming out as being gay through some of the songs on the album – most explicitly on the seventh track, “Garden Shed”.
The album was met with universal acclaim from critics and fans alike. It also debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 106,000 album-equivalent units of which 70,000 were pure album sales.
Tyler creates a major contrast and juxtaposition with the words “Scum Fuck” and “Flower Boy”. “Flower Boy” might be a way for Tyler to reference his own sexuality and taking pride in who he is and embracing things that are more feminine and uncommon for men. “Scum Fuck”, on the other hand, sounds incredibly vile and abrasive, like most of Tyler’s previous music and alter egos. Given his personality, music, and usage of homophobic lines in the past, he isn’t the stereotypical bisexual male. Given his sexuality, he isn’t the stereotypical hardcore rapper. By putting these two majorly different terms together he might be referencing to how he considers himself a conundrum. The important part is that this – perhaps unusual and unique – identity is still one that very much exists all over the world.
Flower Boy debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 on the week of August 12th, 2017.
Yes. Flower Boy was certified gold by the RIAA on April 4, 2018 and later received the platinum certification on March 13, 2020. It was the first record in his discography to receive any RIAA certification.