Why you should take Tyler, The Creator's advice and “just put that b*tch out”

Look at you, locked up in your own creative handcuffs.

Listen.

You don’t need another month.

You don’t need another round of Godforsaken “minor tweaks.”

What you need to do, according to Tyler, The Creator, is to “just put that b*tch out.”

In a recent chat with Zane Lowe about his ninth studio album Don’t Tap The Glass, the Odd Future visionary said something contrary to the narrative we hear from most artists. Many say that a body of work took them half their life and all of their soul to complete.

Tyler instead explained why he didn’t spend years perfecting this album.

“I didn’t wanna be precious,” he said. “I didn’t want to spend three years and try to be super innovative. … I made an album, I was done.” Instead of fussing over details until the joy evaporated, he uploaded it the moment it was finished and moved on. Because, as he put it, “it’s so easy to design your own handcuffs.”

You lock yourself up, throw away the key. And suddenly, what started as fun turns into pressure: from yourself, from fans, from the invisible panel of judges you imagine watching your every move (this doesn’t exist, for the record.)

And you know what? He’s so right. I personally need to get that sh*t tattooed on my frontal fkn lobe. “Just put that b*tch out.”

Because sometimes perfectionism isn’t protection; it’s paralysis.

We trick ourselves into thinking perfectionism is a sign of high standards, telling ourselves we’re “just making it better.” Otherwise known as stalling. 

Because more often than not, perfectionism is just fear in fancy dress. The fear of being judged. The fear that this thing will define you forever. The fear that if you put it out, people can see it. And if they can see it, they can decide you suck. And then what?

The pursuit of making something “innovative” or “ground-breaking” can be a giant ego-driven trap.

The irony is that “good” work that actually exists in the world will always do more than “perfect” work that’s collecting digital dust in your drafts folder.

Take it from me. I have to write three of these articles. Every. Single. Day. At first, I was all like: whaaaaaaat. No? I can’t do that. I need time to painstakingly stress over teeny tiny details that no one gives a flying f*ck about.

Then I was like: ok get over yourself and just do it. Release your inhibitions like Natasha Bedingfield in the rain or whatever.

And now: I’m like oh, get this is actually super liberating.

The craziest part? It’s undoubtedly made my work better than I could ever have imagined.

Why letting go helps:

Momentum > marination. Putting things out keeps you moving. Movement keeps ideas flowing. Sitting on something too long just breeds overthinking.

You don’t get to decide how it lands. Half the time, the thing you thought was “meh” will end up being someone’s favourite.

You’re not gonna get these years back. Tyler’s right—you don’t want to be 80 with a hard drive full of “almost ready” work. Wtf was the point of that?

Less pressure = better work. When you stop trying to create your magnum opus every time, you actually free yourself up to try weird, fun, risky stuff.

And yes, some of your work will make you wince later.

Maybe even physically recoil. That’s not a sign you shouldn’t have put it out; it’s a sign you’ve grown. Cringe is basically proof of progress.

My advice (albeit unsolicited)? Everything you put out is just a snapshot of where you’re at right now. IT’S NOT the defining statement of your life’s work.

So, stop tightening the freaking cuffs. Stop waiting for the “perfect moment” or the “perfect version.” Put it out. Start the next thing. Repeat.

You could get hit by a bus tomorrow. And if you did, would you have put anything out at all? My point exactly. 

-Sophie Randell, Writer