Earl Sweatshirt, Sick!

By Leo Hewitt-Provost

01/14/2022

Before teasing new music with the likes of ‘2010’, ‘Tabula Rasa’ and more recently ‘Titanic’, which all served as singles for the promotion of his ‘Sick!’ album, Earl Sweatshirt’s fans had wondered when the Californian rapper would release a new project.

After excelling in 2021 with the likes of Boldy James on ‘Photographic Memories’ to ‘Falling out  the Sky’ on Armand Hammer’s album produced by The Alchemist, Earl decided to continue his run of form by releasing three singles that served as appetisers for the album he would eventually release in 2022.

Sick! Is composed of 10 tracks and features Zelooperz on Vision, produced by Black Noi$e, who also produced 2010, Titanic and Fire in the Hole.

The Alchemist also added his personal touch on two tracks, on Old Friend, the song literally sounds perfect and is barely a minute long, composed of one verse only, the instrumental is so menacing yet encouraging and stimulating. Evidently The Alchemist knows how to work depending on the individual he is collaborating with; Photographic Memories last year is a perfect example of his chemistry with Earl Sweatshirt. The sample on Old Friend is sumptuous and Earl’s sole verse is simply one long message which he conveys with his demeanour. It transitions perfectly to 2010.

On Sick!, the theme of the song is slightly different but his flow is very catchy over the drums. 

On Vision featuring Zelooperz, the rapper from Detroit utilises the instrumental to adapt his cadence and flow to the song, his tone is very catchy and the transition to Earl’s part is executed excellently. The two artists have worked before together and have this exquisite chemistry over this somewhat unorthodox beat.

Tabula Rosa, featuring Armand Hammer was released in 2021 and served as the second single for the album. The song was accompanied by a music video, shot very differently from your typical music video, it portrayed Earl Sweatshirt with Armand Hammer, Boldy James and The Alchemist in the studio. Although not produced by the latter, the influence he has on Rbchmbrs and Theravada- both produced the song- is undeniable and is portrayed here. It is worth noting how smooth Earl sounds after rapping after Armand Hammer, which he usually does perfectly anyway.

The Alchemist is back on Lye and it is interesting to compare this song to Old Friend, as it sounds nothing alike, sonically it sounds so different and much more amicable.

On Lobby (int), his nonchalant approach to the beat does not take away his talent lyrically, which is something I have always admired about earl sweatshirt. It is hard to be lyrically talented, but it is even harder to stay that way when you want to take a different approach depending on what mood you're in. To some, this track may sound like he has taken an easy route, but it takes a lot of skill to be this nonchalant over the instrumental, he does it effortlessly. 

On God Laughs, perhaps the most technical and best song on the album, Earl sounds like an echo of himself, he sounds like he is underwater and is trying to escape. The instrumental is trapping him and will not let go until is absorbed. There are so many interpretations with this song that's it's almost mind blowing. Not many hip-hop artists could come across this song and replicate the way it was supposed to come out.

On Titanic which served as the final single before the release of the album, its pace is faster than most on this album, Na-kel Smith provides additional vocals to the song, something he has already done in the past with Earl as well as Tyler the Creator.

Fire in the Hole is the last track of the album, and its production is beautiful, Black Noi$e, who produced 2010, vision and titanic has been one of the key elements of Sick! The song is very calm and soothing.

Only regret is that good things comes to an end.