Technique Preview

Tyler, The Creator’s “Sticky,” which features GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne, is a stellar example of how a song title can be creatively reinforced in a song through a variety of hook types and delivery styles. Instead of relying on a single repeated phrase or melody, Tyler, The Creator and his team of collaborators build a network of vocal, instrumental, and lyrical hooks that all tie back to the “Sticky” concept.

These hooks appear in different forms throughout the track, sometimes expected, sometimes surprising, but always with intention. The result is a song that grabs the listener early, holds their attention, and leaves them with something that lingers, staying true to the title itself.

“Sticky’s” Hook Arrangement

Intro (I) – Chorus 2 (B2): Foreshadowing, Familiarity & Groove

The opening four sections – intro, verse 1, chorus 1, verse 2, and chorus 2 – share a unifying sonic identity through the whistle hook, introduced in the song’s sparse intro. This initial moment achieves several important outcomes:

• Instant Recognition: The whistle’s unusual yet distinct melodic contour acts as an immediate sonic signature. From the first few notes, listeners know exactly which song they’re hearing.
• Mood Setting: Its tense, slightly off-kilter vibe immediately immerses the listener in an eerie, unsettled atmosphere, setting the emotional tone for what follows.

The whistle then carries into verse 1, where it supports Tyler, The Creator’s lead alongside shouted gang vocals and vocal effects. This repetition does more than reinforce the hook – it cleverly foreshadows the “It’s gettin’ sticky” gang vocal hook that debuts in chorus 1. This tactic makes the hook feel familiar the moment it arrives, enhancing its stickiness and memorability.

Chorus 1 also introduces Tyler’s repetitively rapped “It’s gettin’ sticky, sticky, sticky” hook into the mix. Together, this layered presentation of the whistle hook, the gang vocal hook, and Tyler’s lead “sticky” hook creates a highly unique “hook center” that replaces traditional instrumental layering with a vocally driven, groove-based catchiness.

In verse 2, these hooks drop out initially, placing full focus on Tyler’s high-range vocal shift – a clever and engaging dynamic contrast. The whistle hook then returns in the latter half, further reinforcing it in the listener’s mind. 

Chorus 2 reprises the full hook arrangement of chorus 1. However, Tyler’s high-range vocal persists into the section, giving the familiar “sticky” hook a fresh sonic twist that enhances memorability while keeping things engaging.

"‘Sticky’ is packed with hook foreshadowing and creative reinforcement techniques—and this is just scratching the surface! HITTRAXX and Hit Songs Deconstructed subscribers can read the full analysis here.