Jack White’s Contributions to Tyler’s IGOR Barely Used (AnalogPlanet Exclusive)

In my earlier review of Tyler, the Creator’s magnum opus IGOR, I note that Jack White plays with a less distorted tone than usual the guitar solo on album closer “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?”. This information comes from Tyler’s Apple Music album release concert and remains the “official” word on the subject (the album credits make no mention of White, even though Tyler announced White’s musical presence on the LP two days after its release).

However, White told me at his house last week that he is barely present on “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” despite Tyler’s prior statement. White described working on the album as “weird:” Paraphrasing Jack’s comment, which was not recorded: [Tyler] sent me this song, and I worked on it for 12 hours. When I sent him what I did, he never responded. I didn’t know what happened to it until the album came out. Upon release, my engineer Joshua V Smith and I listened to the song three times and we couldn’t hear much of what we recorded. I have a short backing vocal buried in the left channel at one point, but that’s it. The guitar solo isn’t mine. I don’t think he liked what I turned in.”

Malachi with Jack at Third Man Pressing 7/11/19. (Photo: N/A)
At the time of writing this we have no clues as to whose guitar solo it is (although we will update if we hear anything from Tyler or his associates). Mixing engineer NealHPogue also publicly said that when mixing even he wasn’t able to tell who’s who on IGOR. No wonder DJ Khaled (who threw a temper tantrum in the Epic Records offices when his trash album Father of Asahd debuted behind IGOR on the Billboard 200) calls the album “mysterious shit.” I mean, you know exactly who’s on Khaled’s boring, generic album and the guest rappers and producers know for certain that they’re going to be on it! Here, it can be the opposite.

Jack’s situation with Tyler is quite reminiscent of 070 Shake’s situation with Kanye’s Wyoming albums last year - Shake recorded a lot of vocals during those sessions, which would magically appear (or not) on the albums at literally the last second (Kanye is infamous for finishing albums late, at the last minute, and afterwards they’re-released) without her immediate knowledge. I don’t know when Jack submitted his work on “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” or when Tyler finished it, but there might be hints to the latter’s answer hiding in plain sight: Mike Bozzi, who mastered IGOR at Bernie Grundman Mastering, has previously mastered albums at short notice such as BROCKHAMPTON’s iridescence, finished only a week and a half before it dropped. Also, internal Sony Music documents planning Summer 2019’s releases showed that a new Tyler album was expected before July, meaning that they likely didn’t have a concrete release date yet. Lastly, the album’s announcement came on fairly short notice, not to mention that no vinyl was available on release date (showing that there wasn’t enough time to press a record between its completion and release). We can only speculate at this point, but it wouldn’t be surprising given the above—in addition to the way hip-hop albums are typically released these days. Anyway, none of this detracts from the album’s brilliance, which I explain in my review linked at the top. I guess I really enjoy “mysterious shit…” but don’t we all from time to time?

COMMENTS
Tom L's picture

...neither do I.

MalachiLui's picture

I don't get your point there...

Tom L's picture

but evidently failed.
Let's see if I can clarify.
Jack was invited to record some guitar tracks. Tyler was probably looking for some distorted, typical Jack but did not exactly get that, so he only used a relatively small sections of those tracks. Jack listened and realized that fact, so the normal human reaction would be to be disappointed...but Jack is a pro, and it seems he came to the conclusion that he should not take umbrage (just my opinion). After all, Tyler is a collector of sounds, and due to synthesizers and sampling his palette is virtually unlimited. Jack was being used as a sound generator-an instrument, one might say-not a musical collaborator. There's no shame in being an instrument for Tyler!
Therefore, I conclude that Jack's not bothered (unless he decided that he was being used as a marketing tool and not an instrument).

Some Jack White fans, such as myself, might also be annoyed that his contributions are not at the forefront of this work as his participation was well known..but we have no reason to be irked because Jack isn't.
That's my take, anyone out there might differ.
I hope this makes sense to you. You know a lot more about the situation and the artists than I do. I certainly did not mean to be opaque.

Zardoz's picture

YOU WERE AT JACK'S HOUSE??? What a name drop, but great for you. I'm seriously jealous.

MalachiLui's picture

I was at jack's house in Detroit for a decent portion of one of the days I was in town... it's not his main house but still super cool. there's a lot of other cool things that happened during my trip to Detroit but I can't leak any information. but there is a slight bit more detail about a few things in my twitter timeline (@MalachiLui) though you might have to dig through a few hundred tweets to find it.

Michael Fremer's picture
Seriously jealous!
analogdw's picture

That was my first thought too. No explanation, just happened to be there! Nice Malachi.

Glotz's picture

How does a young guy like Malachi know Jack White? And Michael didn't facilitate a connection?

Michael Fremer's picture
When Malachi was 10 he went to the Third Man Record store in Nashville to buy the Paramount Records Box Volume #2 (how many 10 year olds? etc.). He was noticed by the record store workers (who I was told showered him with more records) and TMR organization took note and posted on its Instagram account a photo of Malachi with his new record box set. Last year after I met Malachi, a reader with connections to Third Man took note (and also is the individual who generously gifted Malachi the Rega P3). When he noticed that Malachi and family had moved to Portland and that Jack White was playing there, he contacted me and we hatched a plan with Malachi's mom, to surprise him with a backstage visit. That's how Malachi met Jack White. Jack invited Malachi and family to Detroit to visit Third Man Pressing, see two Raconteurs shows and "hang out" with the family. (If any of this is wrong, M will be here to correct me!).
Glotz's picture

I hope these brushes with greatness (Jack, You) rub off on him so that he sees that NOTHING will limit him and greatness in life will be his as well! I hope these moments inspire him well.

MalachiLui's picture

I DID NOT BUY THE PARAMOUNT RECORDS BOX SET AT THIRD MAN HQ! I BOUGHT IT BEFORE I WENT THERE AND WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I SAVED UP A YEAR'S WORTH OF MONEY TO BUY IT, THEY WERE IMPRESSED (or whatever you want to call it) AND PUT ME ON THEIR IG.

HEY MICHAEL, GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BECAUSE IN A FEW YEARS, I'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIRE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Michael Fremer's picture
You already have that power!
mrl1957's picture

Some of us old-timer vinyl spinners (past & sometimes present) still get by without hearing aids!

MalachiLui's picture

I JUST LIKE TO SCREAM AT FREMER WHENEVER I HAVE A VALID EXCUSE TO. THE ALL CAPS KEY COMES IN HANDY.

IT'S ALSO A THING TO WRITE IN ALL CAPS, NOT AS A WAY OF SHOUTING BUT JUST A STYLE SOME PEOPLE USE.

the other thing is all lowercase which is what i use the most on twitter because it feels great.

one of these days i'll submit an all lowercase review along with an ALL CAPS REVIEW.

mrl1957's picture

...I'll sport my 3M 90561s and lower the font size on whatever browser I happen to be using.

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