The album features guest appearances from Odd Future members Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, Jasper Dolphin, Taco, Domo Genesis, Mike G and Syd.

The single "Yonkers" is considered responsible for garnering the significant internet and industry buzz surrounding Odd Future at the time of the album's release.

[3] Close friend and fellow Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt was notably not featured on the album due to attending Coral Reef Academy in Samoa at the time.

[6] "Bitch Suck Dick" is an over-the-top trap parody featuring stereotypical misogynistic lyrics from Jasper Dolphin and Taco, similar to Bastard's "Tina" and Wolf's "Trashwang".

[12] On February 16, Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed "Sandwitches" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, making it the first television appearance for any Odd Future member.

[13] One month later, on March 16, 2011, Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed the tracks "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" on the mtvU Woodie Awards with the rest of Odd Future.

[16] On March 17, 2011, Tyler announced the release date of Goblin with a video on his website that flashed the words "Fuck 2DopeBoyz & NahRight", slamming two blogs who he claimed didn't give him recognition early in his career.

[39] David Jeffries of AllMusic commenting that "Tyler's production is as attractive as ever, contrasting his disgusting rhymes and gruff voice with subdued, sometimes serene beats that echo and creep".

[33] Slant Magazine critic Huw Jones praising its production and stating that "Goblin could well be one of the decade's most significant releases...a masterpiece for those capable of stomaching it".

[40] The reviewer Jen Long from the BBC enjoyed Tyler's lyrical "run of shock tactics reminiscent of Eminem", many strongly criticized the similarity.

Club said, "Brash and unwieldy as it seems on the surface, Goblin is a deliberately created work of art, one of the densest and most provocative statements that independent rap has produced in years".

[37] Max Feldman of PopMatters said, "It's that sort of shameful thing that would prevent us from seeing Goblin for what it really is: a massive spoonful of marvelous hip-hop medicine, of the most unnerving, hyperreal humour you may well ever hear".

[43] Randal Roberts from the Los Angeles Times commented that the album just "presses the same button that Elvis, Johnny Rotten, Chuck D and Eminem did" and after "about 50 minutes you just want Tyler, the Creator to shut the hell up".