It’s 2011. The internet is losing its mind over a collective called Odd Future, and a blue jay and a raccoon are busy working at a park on Cartoon Network. On the surface, these two worlds have zero business crossing over. Yet, the Regular Show Tyler the Creator cameo remains one of the most surreal, "wait, did that actually happen?" moments in animation history.
Honestly, if you weren't watching Regular Show during its Season 3 peak, you missed the era where J.G. Quintel basically had a blank check to invite whoever he wanted into the booth. This wasn't some corporate synergy play. It was just a bunch of weirdly talented people making a cartoon about a rap battle that somehow featured the future of hip-hop.
The Episode: Rap It Up
The episode is titled "Rap It Up," and it’s a classic Regular Show setup. Pops, the giant-headed, lollipop-loving optimist, gets his feelings hurt by a group of hot-shot rappers. To defend his honor, Mordecai and Rigby have to enter a rap battle.
Tyler, the Creator doesn't just show up as a background character. He voices Blitz Comet, a member of the rival rap trio known as "CrewCrew." But he wasn't alone. The lineup for CrewCrew was actually insane:
- Tyler, the Creator as Blitz Comet
- Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) as Alpha Dog
- MC Lyte as Demel-Ishun
Think about that for a second. In 2011, you had a pioneer of female rap, a rising TV star/rapper, and the most controversial kid in music all in one recording session for a kids' show. It’s the kind of guest list that would cost a fortune today, but back then, it was just... vibes.
Why Tyler was actually mad about his character
Here’s a bit of trivia most people forget: Tyler actually had a "problem" with his character. In several interviews and social media posts over the years, Tyler joked—or maybe was half-serious—about how the show handled his height.
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In real life, Tyler is about 6’2”. Donald Glover is around 5’9”. However, in the Regular Show universe, Blitz Comet (Tyler) is significantly shorter than Alpha Dog (Glover). Tyler famously ranted (hilariously, of course) about how they made him "short as hell" while making Glover the tall, imposing leader of the group.
Blitz Comet vs. The Power of Poetry
The actual rap battle in the episode is a trip. Most "rap episodes" in cartoons feel forced or cringey, but this one actually had bars. Well, cartoon-appropriate bars.
The CrewCrew comes out swinging with high-energy disses. Blitz Comet wears a yellow hat and a varsity jacket, looking exactly like the kind of kid who would have been hanging out at the Odd Future shop on Fairfax at the time.
The funniest part? Tyler, known for having one of the most "R-rated" vocabularies in the industry, had to keep it completely PG. No swearing. No "Goblin" energy. Just pure, rhythmic trash-talking about a guy with a big head.
"Look at that, your bird friend's dropping words absurd again / Useless rhymes that expose the nerd in him."
The Pops Factor
The resolution of the episode is peak Regular Show. While the CrewCrew (Tyler and company) are focused on aggressive battle rap, Pops wins the fight through the "power of poetry." He starts reciting heartfelt, rhythmic verses about friendship and being true to oneself.
It’s so wholesome it literally makes the CrewCrew's heads explode. Or, well, they get defeated by the sheer sincerity of it all. It’s a perfect subversion of the "tough guy" rapper trope that Tyler was already parodying in his own career.
Why this cameo still matters in 2026
We’re over a decade out from this episode, and it still pops up on TikTok and Twitter every other month. Why? Because the Regular Show Tyler the Creator collaboration represents a specific moment in the "indie-to-mainstream" pipeline.
Back then, Regular Show was the cool show that "adults" watched while pretending it was for kids. Tyler was the "scary" rapper who was actually just a massive nerd for cartoons and skate culture. Seeing them meet in the middle was a signal that the gatekeepers of culture were changing.
It also paved the way for more experimental guest spots on the show. Later on, we’d see everyone from Neil deGrasse Tyson to Tim Curry voicing characters. But the "Rap It Up" trio remains the gold standard for guest casting.
Real Talk: Was the rapping actually good?
If we're being honest, the rapping is... fine. It's cartoon rap. But hearing Tyler's gravelly, distinct bass voice coming out of a small, animated skater kid is gold. You can hear the effort he’s putting into the delivery, even if the lyrics are about Mordecai being a "loser."
It’s also one of the few times we see Tyler and Donald Glover in the same "project" together, which is a weirdly rare occurrence given their overlapping fanbases and career trajectories.
How to find the Tyler the Creator episode
If you’re looking to rewatch this or see it for the first time, here is exactly where to go:
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- Season & Episode: Season 3, Episode 9.
- Episode Title: "Rap It Up."
- Original Air Date: November 21, 2011.
- Where to Stream: Currently available on platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max) or for purchase on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Next Steps for the Regular Show Superfan:
If you enjoyed the "Rap It Up" episode, you should check out the Season 5 episode "I Like You Hi" which features some equally great musical moments, or look up the behind-the-scenes clips of Tyler and Donald Glover talking about their time in the booth. Their chemistry, even in short bursts, shows why that era of Cartoon Network was so special.