EARFQUAKE

⟵ IGOR'S THEME • EARFQUAKE • I THINK ⟶

EARFQUAKE is the second song from Tyler, the Creator's sixth studio album Igor (2019). It is also the album's only single, being released to radios on June 4, 2019. It is a pop-oriented ballad about urging one's significant other not to leave as their relationship hits some hurdles.

"EARFQUAKE" features a verse from Playboi Carti, as well as backing vocals from Charlie Wilson and Jessy Wilson. A music video for the song dropped on the album's release day, May 17.

The song immediately became one of the most popular tracks by Tyler both on the album and overall, still appearing as his most-popular song on Apple Music in 2022. It was also certified platinum on August 5, 2019, becoming his second song to reach that feat after "See You Again" off Flower Boy (2017). The song was certified 4x Platinum on June 7, 2022.

Background and lyrics

Tyler told his crowd at the album's surprise LA show that the song was written for Justin Bieber and later pitched for Rihanna, but both turned down the track.

The song is said to have leaked on some filesharing sites as early as May 7, ten days before release. Regardless, the song debuted and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending on June 1, 2019.

Tyler tweeted out the song's official lyrics on June 21. Carti's lyrics are simply represented by the phrase, "CARTI LYRICS CANNOT BE TRANSCRIBED," which drew some humorous responses by fans. Not much later, Tyler said his favorite part on the song was the harmonies that were performed by Jessy Wilson at 2:13.

When performing the song on the Igor Tour, he often opened with a lowkey piano intro that builds into the song's beginning. He also performed the song, along with "NEW MAGIC WAND" in a single medley at the 2020 Grammy Awards. "EARFQUAKE" was relegated to a quick harmony performed by Boyz II Men, Charlie Wilson, and T around a fire before T performed the other track in an energetic manner.

Music video

The video takes place on the set for a TV show named The Half an Hour with Pearl Edwards. The show's host (played by Tracee Ellis Ross) awkwardly introduces the audience to the guest performer (Igor) saying that he comes from New York City, his dad is a farmer and that he does ballet, before requesting Igor doesn't smoke any cigarettes since she is allergic to fire smoke.

Tyler goes on to perform the song. He sways his hips and dances as fans dramatically blow his hair and the studio makes use of dramatic close-up shots. During Carti's verse, he is shown playing a piano while smoking a cigarette. He flicks the cigarette off camera and within a matter of seconds, the set is engulfed in flames.

Tyler's face is briefly shown partly disfigured as he collapses to the ground. Firefighters lift him and carry him to safety. The last cut in the video shows a firefighter (also played by Tyler) rapping the song's outro before the camera collapses. He also grabs something that fell on the ground (presumably Igor's IGOR badge) before the video cuts to black.

Credits

• (T. Okonma, J. Carter)
• Produced by Tyler, The Creator
• Rap verse by Playboi Carti
• Background vocals by Charlie Wilson and Jessy Wilson
• Recorded by Vic Weinstein at Chalice Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA & Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Tyler Okonma at COLDWATER STUDIOS, Los Angeles, CA
• Assisted by Ashley Jacobson at Westlake Recording Studios & Thomas Cullison at Chalice Recording Studios
• Playboi Carti appears courtesy of AWGE/Interscope Records