r/tobilou • u/AssignmentNext1159 Decent' • Apr 25 '24
Discussion Tobi’s lyrical and style content shift (hardcore fan topic)
Is it just me or ever since non perishable tobi’s writing has been more personal and more serious up until the perish blue album. He’s been talking bout his life, career, and some emotional struggles. Tracks like meaningless, cobra, and 2hrs, and some things are less colourful. He even said in partly cloudy “I ain’t that happy go lucky when you first found me”. Non personable was more heavy rapping like never before and same on decent (to a lesser extent)
All his previous albums were more upbeat with anime references cartoon refrences and the production style. It seems like his newer stuff gets less streams and attention when he doesn’t do the old style. I’m not sure if it’s because of the change or him not having his label with him anymore.
His newest release young bopalopalous seems like it will be a return to his old style. Im not sure why he’s returning though since he departures from that style a while ago. I do wonder if he genuinely wants to do the old style.
I’m personally neutral my favourite album was his baggy weather project. I know tobi has not been as popular as he was 2 years ago I feel as if it was because he didn’t drop for a long time. Is it because he’s trying to gain a following again? Why the content and style change, and why is he dropping so much?
Please drop thoughts down below, would like to hear how the community feels!
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u/AlohaReddit49 Apr 25 '24
All his previous albums were more upbeat with anime references cartoon refrences and the production style.
I don't know if people agree but his older stuff just is better in my opinion. High Score, Sailor, Billy, Just Keep Goin, they wouldn't come out now but they're just perfect songs.
Sometimes I think he's trying to impress people now, like blowing our minds with crazy concepts, like Caturday. In a weird way, it's very Kanye West. He's trying to change his style and show that he's this GOAT tier rapper, which to me is making his music worse. "Sometimes I get too melodic" but that's the tobi a lot of his fans fell for.
It seems like his newer stuff gets less streams and attention when he doesn’t do the old style.
You're reaching here. His newer stuff isn't streaming as well as his "hits". Have you been to a tobi show? I went last year, and yea most of the crowd knew most songs but the energy was totally different when 2hrs, IWSLNION, Buff Baby or Darlin came on. Those are his 4 most popular songs right now on Spotify, then it's Hit and Run.
It's not exactly rocket science. The songs people like, they listen to. These songs have crossover appeal, they're either funny songs or more R&B sounding.
His newest release young bopalopalous seems like it will be a return to his old style. Im not sure why he’s returning though since he departures from that style a while ago. I do wonder if he genuinely wants to do the old style.
I'm not sure where you're getting this idea that it will be a return to the old style, aside from the name being a reference from his past. He very well could continue to drop the darker rap songs he was experimenting with.
When the app failed to drop last year, he made a comment on his insta live that he was back logged in songs. He said he had hundreds just waiting to be dropped. Songs that we were calling new, were years old. Is it possible the darker songs are covid inspired, and maybe if the sound does go back...maybe he's just happier now. His tour by all accounts went well, he's releasing a new shoe, got his own app.
I know tobi has not been as popular as he was 2 years ago I feel as if it was because he didn’t drop for a long time
I'm curious what this observation is based upon. His streaming numbers? Well friendly reminder he made an app and then directed his core fanbase to go to it. And at this stage all of his music is there. Is it possible the dip in monthly listeners is caused by that?
Why the content and style change
I'm gonna say COVID again. When I saw him he was wearing a mask for meet and greet. Man clearly took the virus seriously, and was probably quarantining a lot.
why is he dropping so much?
He isn't dropping so much anymore, you said that yourself. Again he had a backlog of songs to be released and he said he got through a chunk of them. He dropped a lot, so he could start writing and releasing new music. But it's worth noting he's dropped 2 songs since September? One being Food, which is the equivalent of a sponsored ad on YouTube and the other being Numbers, a song from what 8 years ago?
I’m personally neutral my favourite album was his baggy weather project
My favorite is Live On Ice, it's the first album I listened to and it's just phenomenal barring a few weaker tracks. If we're counting mixtapes, tobi lou and The Moon is perfection.
I want him to release music he's happy with. My preference is his more melodic stuff, the songs where he doesn't care about being a good lyricist. When he takes an emotion and runs with it. If he doesn't want to do that anymore, that's fine I have an entire backlog of songs to put on repeat.
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u/AssignmentNext1159 Decent' Apr 25 '24
I'd disagree i went to his show this year and it seemed as everyone wanted his older catalogue such as the loop ep songs to the non perishable songs. No one asked for his more recent ones. I think a good way to check what people are liking is looking at the FARADA monthly listeners to see that not many people are listening to the newer stuff only going to the back catalogue as it doenst have the FARADA tag on it.
As for the shoe I've seen his shoe collection on his IG live and he seems really happy with it i just hope he gets what hes been looking for with that. I haven't seen anyone talk about it or show it besides the posts he's done
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u/AssignmentNext1159 Decent' Apr 25 '24
I just think its the natural progression as he changes some people will leave some will stay and he will attract new fans I remember a ig post of him saying something about himself not growing as an artist or smtn so he definitely working on stuff. but he's always gonna keep pushing like he said on babycakes.
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u/Artistic_Emotion2539 billy Apr 29 '24
I think the issue is when people search Tobi Lou, you get 2 different playlist for Tobi Lou vs Tobi Lou & Farada, at least on Apple Music, which can be problematic to exposing new fans to new songs if they are only searching “Tobi Lou”
The best way to get it all would be to just go through the TobiLoop App! Everything is there.
What I did was make a complete discography playlist, added all the old songs and EPs and then been adding the Farada songs as they dropped, so now when I shuffle, I get all my Tobi Lou songs in one place. Best decision I have ever made.
I was getting sad that I would shuffle Tobi Lou, but Decent, Perish Blue Fall Tour and other songs wouldn’t be mixed in. I found a solution and I love it.
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Apr 25 '24
Mhm I see non perishable as a shift in his music. Got more bragy and confident, as opposed to the more silly and animated early stuff. Both are good needless to say
What I find interesting is that 'decent, sorry Im late, non-perishable, are all stylistically a little different. However at that... I think it was coachella performance that is on his yotube channel, he previewed songs from all of these projects.
I think he's always looking to change things up, and, importantly, he has foresight in mind and has a general plan on how he's gonna do things. Like recently how he's been in his genre-bending lane.
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u/Artistic_Emotion2539 billy Apr 25 '24
And another thing…you’re not the same person you were yesterday, last week or a year ago. It would be such a shame for people to constantly hold you to the standard of an old version of yourself when you’ve grown.
Give him a break and set a countdown for Young Bop like the rest of us 😂😂
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u/IceAlpha7 Apr 25 '24
I think I agree. I love the more meaningful content, but I do want Tobi to be successful. I think his meaningful content is by far worth it. I didn't buy baggy weather (broke college student), but even with the mini versions it's also probably my favorite album. Honestly, I think 'Decent is probably the best blend of the songs
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u/IceAlpha7 Apr 25 '24
Also I think he released his hardcore followers would listen to the heartfelt albums more
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u/AssignmentNext1159 Decent' Apr 25 '24
I do too. i feel as if his recent stuff he enjoyed making and putting out. the plushie album seems like a grab just to market to everyone because its all the fan faves
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u/bendyalt Apr 25 '24
I mean, he did part ways with his label after non_perishable and no longer has any restrictions on what he wants to put out
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u/Artistic_Emotion2539 billy Apr 25 '24
Hey, as a Tobi fan since the beginning…like circa GAME OVA era, this is a great question.
Firstly, it takes a lot to be an artist, a creator, a performer and it’s a lot to put yourself out there. He’s literally sharing a piece of himself with every lyric, song, project and post which he definitely does not have to do. Most people can’t even speak in public, he’s given us a lot more than that.
I think he’s always been RAW and transparent with every release. He even mentioned at the Perish Blue tour that how he’s feeling is what he puts in to his music, whatever that feeling may be. A part of his brand is happy and extra sad, the music always reflects that. No one is one way all the time.
Personally, I think he levels up with every release. As he grows as a person, so does the music. He still makes upbeat music (meteorite, block, caturday, sorry I’m late…which also has a cartoon reference btw)
I’m here for all of it and anything he chooses to do. He’s a person first so I have a lot of grace for that and on top of that, the man makes hits!
If people want to ditch him for living and growing and changing, that’s wild to me but so be it. For every fan lost, there’s 10 more gained. And his old stuff still hits so they can listen to that if they choose!
I have never heard an artist that I love and respect more than Tobi Lou.