How do two of the most acclaimed artists working today keep their minds sharp? For Daniel Caesar and Tyler, the Creator, it means taking a page from the book of GZA and sitting down to a game of chess — and fostering some friendly competition in the process.
As they've recently shared on social media, the two Grandmasters in the making have taken to facing off against each other, and while Tyler would have viewers believe their games have been one-sided, he would be wise not to discount his opponent's skill.
Between the two, Caesar has the edge when it comes to experience. Not long after releasing his new album NEVER ENOUGH (April 20), the one-time Exclaim! cover star challenged listeners to "meet me on the board" through playing in his Chess.com league.
"My father taught me chess when I was a boy, and when quarantine came around it became the only thing that could help me combat the darkness," Caesar shared in announcing his online league. "Fast forward a few years later and I have my own chess.com league.. Full circle.. I wish i could explain with words how much this means to me but since i cant just meet me on the board."
Tyler appears to have picked up the game more recently. Answering a Twitter follower's question about new hobbies in 2021, the artist revealed his love for the game in sharing, "[I'm] still learning, only played 13 games but [I'm] getting better. i keep a chess set with me now."
As they've recently shared on social media, the two Grandmasters in the making have taken to facing off against each other, and while Tyler would have viewers believe their games have been one-sided, he would be wise not to discount his opponent's skill.
Between the two, Caesar has the edge when it comes to experience. Not long after releasing his new album NEVER ENOUGH (April 20), the one-time Exclaim! cover star challenged listeners to "meet me on the board" through playing in his Chess.com league.
"My father taught me chess when I was a boy, and when quarantine came around it became the only thing that could help me combat the darkness," Caesar shared in announcing his online league. "Fast forward a few years later and I have my own chess.com league.. Full circle.. I wish i could explain with words how much this means to me but since i cant just meet me on the board."
Tyler appears to have picked up the game more recently. Answering a Twitter follower's question about new hobbies in 2021, the artist revealed his love for the game in sharing, "[I'm] still learning, only played 13 games but [I'm] getting better. i keep a chess set with me now."
However many games later, Tyler appears to only capture his moments of victory, like the one below in which he clowns a protesting Caesar and suggests he keep that bass guitar handy. Only the witnesses of this game know who came away with the victory here.
Weeks afterward, Tyler began broadcasting his latest purported victory over Caesar to an Instagram Live audience, proclaiming, "I just whooped Daniel Caesar's ass in chess ... Look at this board, he don't know what to do ... Daniel Caesar just lost at chess by the guy, by the fuckin' man. You stink!"
Once again, without Caesar's side of the story, we can't call a definitive winner, but it seems Tyler eventually came around to celebrating more graciously. He later shared on Instagram, "[Daniel Caesar] is very good tho. I was a lil nervous. good game papa."
One challenger claiming to have Tyler's number on the boards is DJ Drama, who clearly saw the victory celebrations and sought to give his CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST collaborator a taste of his own medicine. Video evidence of the "win for Dram'" leaves Tyler claiming, "What are you talking about? I beat you six times before this. Like, don't do that."
It may only be a matter of time until either Tyler or Daniel Caesar go full GZA and release a custom chess board, or play against audience members on tour ahead of the evening's performance. Way back in 2008, the Wu-Tang Clan member chose the strategy game as a mind-altering work of art in taking the Exclaim! Questionnaire, likening it to "an unsolved Rubik's Cube and you only got one side."
Read Exclaim!'s recent interview with Daniel Caesar, ahead of reading our review of NEVER ENOUGH.
Tyler, the Creator recently unpacked some new tracks as part of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, while DJ Drama will soon come to Toronto on tour with Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and Too $hort.
Weeks afterward, Tyler began broadcasting his latest purported victory over Caesar to an Instagram Live audience, proclaiming, "I just whooped Daniel Caesar's ass in chess ... Look at this board, he don't know what to do ... Daniel Caesar just lost at chess by the guy, by the fuckin' man. You stink!"
Once again, without Caesar's side of the story, we can't call a definitive winner, but it seems Tyler eventually came around to celebrating more graciously. He later shared on Instagram, "[Daniel Caesar] is very good tho. I was a lil nervous. good game papa."
One challenger claiming to have Tyler's number on the boards is DJ Drama, who clearly saw the victory celebrations and sought to give his CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST collaborator a taste of his own medicine. Video evidence of the "win for Dram'" leaves Tyler claiming, "What are you talking about? I beat you six times before this. Like, don't do that."
It may only be a matter of time until either Tyler or Daniel Caesar go full GZA and release a custom chess board, or play against audience members on tour ahead of the evening's performance. Way back in 2008, the Wu-Tang Clan member chose the strategy game as a mind-altering work of art in taking the Exclaim! Questionnaire, likening it to "an unsolved Rubik's Cube and you only got one side."
Read Exclaim!'s recent interview with Daniel Caesar, ahead of reading our review of NEVER ENOUGH.
Tyler, the Creator recently unpacked some new tracks as part of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, while DJ Drama will soon come to Toronto on tour with Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and Too $hort.
