Tyler, The Creator Honored by André 3000 with Innovator of the Decade Award

Tyler, The Creator received high praise from one of his musical idols on December 6, 2025, when André 3000 presented him with the Innovator of the Decade award at Variety’s Hitmaker event in Los Angeles. The award recognized Tyler’s lasting influence on music, fashion, and culture over the past decade.

While presenting the award, André 3000 highlighted Tyler’s relentless creativity and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. “I have known Tyler for a few years now and I have witnessed him surge with ideas and bring them to life repeatedly,” André said. “To see his excitement, momentum and passion is infectious. It’s easy to see that he cares about what he’s doing and that innovating himself is a constant.”

The OutKast legend described his belief that all great art already exists, waiting to be discovered by curious artists, and praised Tyler for his constant curiosity and attention to the world around him.

Tyler responded by acknowledging André 3000 as a major influence on his work, revealing that OutKast’s “She’s Alive” was the first song he taught himself on piano. Reflecting on the award, Tyler admitted initial disbelief. “When my team told me Variety wanted to give me Innovator of the Decade, I was like, ‘Me? What the fuck they wanna give me that for?’” he said. He went on to list artists who inspired him, including Kanye West, Pharrell, Missy Elliott, James Jebbia, Jay-Z, Roy Ayers, and Stevie Wonder.

Tyler noted that the recognition gave him an unusual moment to reflect on his career. “I don’t take the time out to look back at what I’ve done for the last 15 years. Me always looking forward and wondering what the next thing is, that’s where I sit comfortably,” he said. He added that the award made him appreciate his accomplishments. “All this started as a little kid with just a crazy imagination, and I’m super honored to get this. Let’s see what the next 10 years is like.”

This public exchange of admiration is not new for Tyler and André. In November, Tyler performed an electrifying cover of OutKast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad” at the duo’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, further demonstrating the mutual respect and influence between the two artists.

Tyler’s Innovator of the Decade award underscores his continued impact on music, fashion, and culture, cementing his position as one of the most influential artists of his generation.