Tyler, the Creator Says Artists Need to Be ‘Delusional’ In Order to Succeed

In some aspects of life, being delusional isn’t typically looked at as a positive quality. But Tyler, the Creator believes delusion is a must for artists and creatives across the board.

Tyler participated in a “Tyler Talk” panel for Converse in London while on tour earlier this week, which saw him harp on the importance of having delusion when creating, and how artists need a solid team around them to align with their vision.

“To make stuff, you gotta be delusional,” he said around the 26-minute mark. “And when you’re delusional, you need people around you that trust you. Because what the f–k they gon’ trust? You say some normal stuff like, ‘The sky is blue.’ Yeah, you don’t need people to trust you to say that. I’m delusional, but I knew what I wanted to do since I was five years old.”

Tyler later recalled a girl asking him about what career he would’ve pursued if he didn’t do music, but there was never another option for the Grammy-winning artist.

“My imagination doesn’t even go that far because this is the only thing I was supposed to do,” he explained. “Like, I was legit the 12-year-old delusional kid like, ‘So I’mma get a Grammy.’ and n—-s was like, ‘Shut up, Charizard just beat Pikachu.’ So, just be delusional.”

Tyler is gearing up to reunite with Converse to launch the 1908 Program. The California native put a modern spin on the Naut-1 and the Coach Jogger silhouettes, while still maintaining authenticity to the Converse legacy.

Fans around the globe can shop the archival collection on Converse’s website come June 20, while Los Angeles natives will be able to attend the 1908 Pop-Up shop on June 12 to get a first look at Tyler’s vision.

Tyler is still trekking across the globe as part of his 2025 Chromakopia: The World Tour, which will land in Glasgow for a pair of shows this weekend.

Watch the full Tyler Talk below: