A BOY IS A GUN* album art

A BOY IS A GUN*

Tyler, the Creator
IGOR (2019)
Moderate 88 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Retro soulful production with sampled grooves creates a warm, nostalgic texture, but pleading emotional vocals and building intensity add moderate sensory engagement without harshness.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsmild

A retro-themed track about the emotional turmoil of a same-sex romance, sampling 'Bound' by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and featuring Solange's vocals.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: emotional, melancholy, nostalgic

Traditions: alternative rap, hip-hop, soul

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Tyler, the Creator's catalog

We have 47 songs from Tyler, the Creator in the library. Of those, 7 are rated Safe, 28 Moderate, and 12 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.3, making it the #30 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from IGOR

We have 2 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2019 context

Released in 2019. We have 448 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.1/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
emotional · 2189melancholy · 5399nostalgic · 1573
Traditions
alternative rap · 37hip-hop · 800soul · 787

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "A BOY IS A GUN*"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "A BOY IS A GUN*" by Tyler, the Creator?

"A BOY IS A GUN*" by Tyler, the Creator rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "A BOY IS A GUN*" — what is its dynamic range?

"A BOY IS A GUN*" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "A BOY IS A GUN*" have sudden or surprising changes?

"A BOY IS A GUN*" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "A BOY IS A GUN*" best for?

In our library "A BOY IS A GUN*" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "A BOY IS A GUN*" released?

"A BOY IS A GUN*" is from 2019, on the album "IGOR". It appears in our 2010s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "A BOY IS A GUN*"?

We tag "A BOY IS A GUN*" as emotional, melancholy, nostalgic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "A BOY IS A GUN*"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "A BOY IS A GUN*"?

"A BOY IS A GUN*" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

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moderate
DR 6
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moderate
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moderate
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moderate
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safe
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The National
moderate
DR 7

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Homesick
Dua Lipa safe
Passing Afternoon
Iron & Wine safe
The Tree of Forgiveness
John Prine safe
I Remember Everything
John Prine safe
Honky Tonk Blues
Hank Williams safe

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