Odd Future’s Tyler the Creator signs one-album deal with XL Recordings

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Following a lengthy bidding war that reportedly included Interscope Records, Tyler the Creator, the fountainhead of ballyhooed local rap collective, Odd Future, has signed a one-album deal with XL Recordings. According to sources within the Odd Future camp, the 19 year-old rapper/producer will receive ‘full creative control and will eventually receive his masters back.’ The sources didn’t specify when the latter would occur.

The British-based home of Radiohead, Vampire Weekend, and Adele, XL will release ‘Goblin,’ Tyler’s commercial debut at an undetermined date this spring. At the moment, ‘Yonkers,’ its first single is available for sale at iTunes.’

Last Friday, Odd Future released the ‘Yonkers’ video, which has gone on to become a runaway viral smash, with roughly 375,000 views in its first 72 hours. The startlingly evocative video’s success reflects the partial culmination of a massive wave of attention that has surrounded the teenaged crew since its emergence last summer.

Currently in the midst of a short run of dates throughout the East Coast, the group’s next local appearance will be at the Coachella Festival in April.

--Jeff Weiss