Tyler the Creator is a creative genius multipotentialite.
Multi-Platinum, Grammy award–winning rapper, music producer, fashion designer, and actor.
But what really sets him apart isn’t just the output. It’s the process.
There’s a framework for creating innovative work that stands out!
He summed it up in one line:
“Create like a child, edit like a scientist.”
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserThis isn’t just about music. It’s a framework anyone who does creative work could and should use.
Here’s how it works:
Self 1 (The Scientist) → the ego, the overthinking, judging brain.
Self 2 (The Child) → the true creative self, raw authenticity, it’s your gut instinct and intuition.
Tyler creates with the child wild, messy, free, then edits with the scientist.
The Creative Process
He makes multiple versions of each song without judgment. I have a client who calls these “mesterpeices”
He’s not trying to write anything good; he’s just exploring ideas and concepts.
Hooks, verses, whole versions of songs.
He creates from a place of creative truth, free from ego, free from comparison, free from judgment.
Then he switches to Self 1 (the scientist).
He knows what frequencies and mixes work with the public, so he shapes and packages his creative truth into something people connect with.
He only does that after he’s finished.
Where Most Creatives Fail
Most people create from Self 1 (the Scientist).
That’s the trap.
They let fear and insecurities drive the creative process.
Judging, second-guessing, editing in real time.
And that’s why they choke.
We are perfectionists. Perfection is not only about the fear of failure, it’s the fear of criticism.
When we create in Self 1, we don’t take risks.
We dilute our message.
We self-edit our work out of fear of criticism or trolls.
Creative geniuses challenge the status quo. They push boundaries. That’s why they stand out.
When we create from Self 1 (the scientist), we stay in our lanes. We create out of fear.
And we end up with mediocre work that is ignored.
This is why you need to separate your ego from the creative process, and create like a child
Self 1 – The Scientist (Ego)
The Scientist (Self 1) is about:
Judging
Self-editing
Perfectionism
Fear of failure
No risks
It’s ego-driven. It is filled with your fears and insecurities
If the scientist shows up too early, the work never breathes.
Self 2 – Create Like a Child (Creative Genius)
When Tyler creates, he doesn’t aim for perfection. He’ll make multiple versions of a song in one sitting.
Raw. Playful. Unfiltered.
The Child (Self 2) is about:
Playful
Curious
Intuitive
Risk-taking
Presence / Flow
No judgment
This is the true creative self. It’s where creative genius lives.
But here’s the catch: it takes practice to disengage the ego when creating.
Most of us are so used to judging ourselves that switching it off feels unnatural at first.
The work is learning to trust Self 2 long enough to let ideas flow.
The Takeaway
Most creatives fail because they let their fear and perfectionism shape their creative process.
They try to create like a child and edit like a scientist at the same time.
It kills flow.
Tyler’s genius is showing us how to separate them:
First, let the child create, aim for a 3/5.
Then, let the scientist polish and refine.
Keep them apart to protect both flow and excellence.
It’s a simple creative framework, and it works everywhere: music, writing, content, videos, business.
Child first. Scientist second.
That’s how creative genius is born.
Always create like a child!
I've learned to do this with my cooking videos. I've learned that I can just create something and make it look perfect later through editing. Now I apply the process to other creative projects