"Darling, I" is a song by American rapper and producer

Tyler, the Creator Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been cited as an influential figure in alternative hip-hop during the 2010s. Tyler beca ...

featuring fellow American rapper

Teezo Touchdown Aaron Lashane Thomas (born October 31, 1992), known professionally as Teezo Touchdown, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. On September 8, 2023, released his debut studio album, '' How Do You Sleep at Night?'', and em ...

from the former's eighth studio album ''

Chromakopia ''Chromakopia'' is the eighth studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released through Columbia Records on October 28, 2024, serving as the follow-up to ''Call Me If You Get Lost'' (2021). ''Chromakopia'' was written, pro ...

'' (2024). It contains samples of " Vivrant Thing (Violator Remix)" by

Q-Tip Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...

featuring

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

and

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after National Football League, NFL and Canadian Football Lea ...

and "

Drop It Like It's Hot "Drop It Like It's Hot" is a song by American rapper Snoop Dogg featuring American musician Pharrell Williams. It was released on September 27, 2004, as the lead single from Snoop Dogg's seventh studio album, '' R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Mast ...

" by

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

featuring

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973), also known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the music production duo ...

Composition and lyrics

"Darling, I" is a hip-hop and R&B song with rhythm inspired by

The Neptunes The Neptunes were an American record production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provided backing vocals and music video appearances on the duo's productions, while H ...

and bouncy clicks in production. Lyrically, it focuses on Tyler, the Creator's attitude toward his relationships and their future. While still boasting about the uniqueness in each of his different luxury cars and romantic partners, he also ponders about having a nuclear family at one point ("I love this girl, though, I hit the gold mine / I'm thinkin' new crib, I'm thinkin' two kids") but feels as though he is not suited for

monogamy Monogamy ( ) is a social relation, relationship of Dyad (sociology), two individuals in which they form a mutual and exclusive intimate Significant other, partnership. Having only one partner at any one time, whether for life or #Serial monogamy ...

, and laments the potential consequences of his preference for

polyamory Polyamory () is the practice of, or the desire for, romantic relationships with more than one partner at the same time, with the informed consent of all partners involved. Some people who identify as polyamorous believe in consensual non-mon ...

: "Until I get infatuated with a new bitch / But when that gray hair finally come, at least I felt somethin' if I ain't find the one / Nobody could fulfill me like this music shit does / So I'll be lonely with these

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

s when it's all said and done."

Critical reception

Matt Mitchell of ''

Paste Paste is a term for any very thick viscous fluid. It may refer to: Science and technology * Adhesive or paste ** Wallpaper paste ** Wheatpaste, a liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water * Paste (rheology), a substance that behaves as ...

'' stated the song "goes from sweet to braggadocious". Reviewing ''Chromakopia'' for ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'', Fred Garratt-Stanley considered it a moment when Tyler, the Creator's "honesty is refreshing, and his lyrical dexterity gives these reflections humour and humanity".

Alexis Petridis Alexis Petridis (born 13 September 1971) is an English journalist. He is the head Rock music, rock and pop music critic for ''The Guardian'', and a regular contributor for ''GQ''. In addition to his music journalism for the paper, he has written ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' called the song "deceptively lovey-dovey" and commented it "manages to spin immaturity with convincing vulnerability." Alex Hudson of ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...

'' noted the song has "surprising sentimental softness". David Crone of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

cited it as one of the tracks from the album which "sound a little like ''

Flower Boy ''Flower Boy'' (alternatively titled ''Scum Fuck Flower Boy'') is the fifth studio album by the American rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator, released on July 21, 2017, by Columbia Records. Produced entirely by Tyler, the album features guest ...

'' pastiches". Aron A. of ''

HotNewHipHop ''HotNewHipHop'' (HNHH) is an online publication that covers daily news about hip hop and pop culture, including streetwear, sports, and Sneaker collecting, sneakers. In addition to its editorial content, HotNewHipHop also produces the video seri ...

'' praised the song for its "gorgeous vocal performance from Teezo Touchdown".

Charts

Certifications

References

{{Tyler, the Creator 2024 songs Tyler, the Creator songs Teezo Touchdown songs Songs written by Tyler, the Creator Songs written by Q-Tip (musician) Songs written by Barry White Works about polygamy