Is Tyga Borrowing From Tory Lanez’s Playbook with $TARFACE?

Tyga has the internet asking: Is he borrowing a page from Tory Lanez‘s playbook? Tyga probably expected people to talk about the music, but instead, they are focusing on a familiar sonic aesthetic. His new $TARFACE rollout has opened the floodgates to a debate regarding whether his latest creative direction draws too heavily from the incarcerated artist.

These shimmering synths, nostalgic vibes, and 1980s-inspired production sounds awfully familiar to many listeners. While some have pointed to his collaborator Fenix Flexin, the conversation consistently circles back to the “Fargo” sound that defined a specific era of modern hip-hop.

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Synthwave has become a dominant trend in music, with major stars like The Weeknd and Dua Lipa embracing the nostalgic sound. However, Tory Lanez was an early adopter of this lane, successfully blending R&B and rap with neon-soaked production years ago. Tyga’s latest single, “Gave U Racks,” has led many to question if he is intentionally mirroring that specific artistic evolution.

Despite the speculation, there is no animosity between the two. They have collaborated in the past, most notably on the track “Broke Leg.” Their history even includes a humorous anecdote from 2019, when Tory publicly thanked Tyga for sharing the secret behind his hair restoration. Regardless of the debate, Tyga’s new project is gaining significant traction, proving that his latest pivot is capturing attention in a crowded market.