Just when you think you have Tyler, the Creator figured out, he pivots. He values shock tactics, after all. After releasing his gorgeous 2017 album, Flower Boy, he returns out of the blue with a hard-edged, flexing one-off track that’s part Grammy celebration, part Odd Future send-off, part shameless ego-booster, and all impulse-driven. The booming “OKRA,” a “throwaway song” released randomly on YouTube with a vibrant video, is a punchline-heavy slapper that flaunts Balenciaga luggage worth a balloon payment as he plots future thrills.

Tyler is out to remind everyone he can rap with the best of them, stacking his memorable bars into one of his more minimalist beats, mostly bass and snare with flashes of piano and strings. Often, Tyler seems to value his talents as a producer and auteur above those as a rapper, but on “OKRA,” he leans into his skills as a wordsmith, borrowing a flow from Valee. With his detailed arranging style noticeably absent, the focus is clearly on the verses, which are packed with unconventional reference points. “Tell Tim Chalamet to come get at me/Skin glowing clear of acne, diamonds see/Through so holographic/Red ones look like Aidan Mackey,” he raps. Even the more well-worn call-outs (“Fresh Prince,” Django Unchained) are approached from fresh angles. The cadences are at once fluid and jagged, and Tyler raps like he’s doing donuts through his own imagination. With “OKRA,” as he brings his most formidable raps in some time, he’s clearly preparing for his next adventure.