Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist are once again teaming up for a release, with both artists sharing the cover art for something called Flying High dropping this Friday, June 30. While fans appear to be speculating that it’s a joint album from Earl and Al with the latter on production, the two have given few details, although clicking on the cover art on Alchemist’s post pulls up the names of some of their frequent collaborators like Billy Woods, Boldy James, Jay Worthy, Larry June, and MIKE, suggesting that it could be The Alchemist’s project with all those rappers featured.
The Alchemist has worked with most of the artists listed above as recently as early this year. He and Boldy James have released four projects together to date, with the most recent being Super Tecmo Bo in 2021, while he and Larry June dropped The Great Escape this March. Billy Woods appeared on the album Haram as part of the duo Armand Hammer with Elucid, while MIKE teamed up with Al and Wiki late last year for the EP One More.
Earl Sweatshirt returns with a new video promising a new sound. “Making The Band (Danity Kane)” is a bit of a departure from the murky, sample-driven music longtime fans might associate with Earl, featuring a glitchy, uptempo beat produced by Clams Casino and Evilgiane that prompts a more contemporary approach to rap from the Los Angeles native. Never fear, though; Earl’s bars remain packed to the brim with multisyllabic metaphors and his brusque stance toward hit-making hip-hop.
“Making The Band” is Earl’s first new track of the year and continues the musical evolution from his 2022 album Sick! Considered one of the best hip-hop albums of the year, Sick! saw Earl inching toward a more mainstream-friendly sound, embracing 808s and less layered loops, and looking very much like he was having more fun rapping than he ever had before.
Meanwhile, we’re going on two years now since Vince Staples revealed he, Earl, and Alchemist were working on a joint project, so the streets need that before anything else. Please and thank you.
In the meantime, check out Earl’s video for “Making The Band (Danity Kane)” above.
Jimmy Butler is having a great playoffs. Despite the Miami Heat entering as an eight-seed, the team has absolutely balled out. In the first round, they took down the first-seed Milwaukee Bucks in five games. They followed that by eliminating the five-seed Knicks in six games.
That set up a rematch with the Boston Celtics, marking the third time in four years that the two teams have faced off for a place in the NBA Finals. Despite the Celtics entering as the second seed, the Heat have absolutely dominated. Heading into Game 4 on May 23, the Butler-led heat are riding a 3-0 series lead and looking to sweep Boston. However, rapper Earl Sweatshirt has something else on his mind other than the basketball on display.
Earl Sweatshirt Questions Butler’s Dreads
all I ask is that one of you interviewers in this post season please ask jimmy wtf was on his mind when he did the fake dreds
Taking to Twitter, Sweatshirt voiced his desire to get some real answers from the post-game press conferences. “all I ask is that one of you interviewers in this post season please ask jimmy wtf was on his mind when he did the fake dreds.” The tweet is in reference to the long dreads that Butler debuted during summer workouts last year. During the playoffs, Butler has kept it short and tight on top, capped off by his signature headband. The rapper followed up with a quote tweet of this original statement. “salute to the underdog of sorts but also we can’t just forget and forgive this easily.”
However, it’s unlikely that the question is going to come up in a presser anytime soon. The primary reason for this is that Butler already addressed the viral images of his hair. Last September, Butler was asked about his hair. “I’m just messing with stuff to make the internet mad. That was my goal this summer and it worked,” Butler told reporters. Maybe Sweatshirt missed that moment. Despite this, Butler will look to close out the Celtics in front of a home crowd on Tuesday night. If they can finish the series, it will set up a matchup against the Nuggets in the Finals. How did you feel about Butler’s long hair? Let us know in the comments.
Yesterday (May 22), the rapper tweeted, “all I ask is that one of you interviewers in this post season please ask jimmy wtf was on his mind when he did the fake dreds.” He added, “salute to the underdog of sorts but also we can’t just forget and forgive this easily.”
all I ask is that one of you interviewers in this post season please ask jimmy wtf was on his mind when he did the fake dreds
In case you missed it: Last summer, Miami’s Jimmy Butler debuted a new long-haired look, one that was very different from his usual style. He even wore it during Media Day, so his 2022-23 player photo on sites like Basketball-Reference features the hair, even though he didn’t end up sticking with the look for too long.
Earl’s question probably won’t come up any time soon for a couple reasons: It’s not exactly a timely topic anymore, and Butler has already answered it. Back in September, he told reporters, “I’m just messing with stuff to make the internet mad. That was my goal this summer and it worked.”
Earl Sweatshirt is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Odd Future and its eclectic members arrived at the perfect time. The iconic LA-based group’s rise coincided with a tidal wave of internet counterculture that begin to seep through the younger generations. The hip-hop collective formed in 2007 around its leader, Tyler, The Creator. Deciding to forego his jobs at Starbucks and FedEx, his rebellious attitude quickly propelled the collective to stardom. Sporting ski masks while strolling down the left side of sidewalks, the group’s image was primarily associated with a steadfast desire to go against the status quo.
Behind the chaos is a quiet architect who managed to keep it all together. That man was Christian Clancy, Odd Future’s manager. At the time, Clancy had recently departed Interscope Records, where he was working with rappers such as Eminem and The Game. Becoming tired of rinse and repeat nature of major labels, Clancy had planned “to hike the Himalayas, do yoga, chill the f**k out.” However, his inspiration was re-vitalized when he watched the music video of Tyler, the Creator’s “French.” Essentially, the video sees Tyler unleashing mayhem amidst a menacing verse. While the talent was utterly unhinged, Clancy was eventually able to hone in on the potential of Tyler and the collective as a whole.
Odd Future’s Impact Went Beyond Music
(Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
Music was solely one aspect of the entertainment value of Odd Future’s members. Their empire included Loiter Squad, an online radio station, and an iconic line of street fashion. The collective has grown immensely since their respective teenage days. Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator would blossom into worldwide superstars, each creating genre-defining records such as Blonde and Igor, respectively. Lyrical virtuoso Earl Sweatshirt forged strong ties with budding underground acts from New York, helping spearhead a new wave of East Coast hip-hop. The comedic minds of Yung Taco, Jasper, and Lionel Boyce have had successful careers on the film screen.
Still, the group’s founder, Tyler the Creator, questions the influence of Odd Future. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, he stated, “I still don’t even know the impact we had on a generation. I just lived in it. We were just doing our thing and being us. I don’t think I know how much deeper it goes aside from some people wearing certain shirts.” It’s a fair point to raise, as a glance back into their influence can sometimes feel more like a fever dream rather than a trend-setting revolution, especially when considering the “riots” they supposedly incited.
The Group Spearheaded a Digital Era Of Sound
(Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
The impact of Odd Future’s members went beyond influencing fashion or influencing chaos. The group’s refusal to fall within certain creative boundaries inspired a generation to be fearless, or express themselves in as authentic a manner as possible. The DIY nature of their work inspired a slew of artists that succeeded them. Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty were no longer waiting to sign a deal as they were blowing up on Soundcloud. Clairo and Kali Uchis were recording their songs on cheap mics at home. Odd Future, in essence, made un-polished creative work cool again.
Their influence was heightened by their innate connection with the digital era of sound. This isn’t NWA selling tapes out of the trunk. Rather, this was a technologically sound group of teenagers who had an innate knowledge of how to get their message out to millions. The group was constantly uploading to Tumblr and YouTube, whether producing beats or skateboard videos around Los Angeles. In many ways, Odd Future’s marketing inspired many other creatives to outsource their product in a unique manner. Now, musicians weren’t just releasing a new single. They were armoring their enterprise with a clothing line or an impromptu chain of YouTube videos.
Odd Future Celebrated Self-Expression
Odd Future’s impact challenged surface-level societal interpretations of what Blackness should look like. Each member brought a distinct vibe to the table that managed to be both polarizing and unifying. By being unapologetically themselves, they inspired teenagers and young adults to step out of the societal box they were put in. The group was a prime example of how anyone can still win when they go against the grain.
Similar to many creative ventures, legacy is often the biggest tell of how influential a piece of art really was. In Odd Future’s case, their influence clearly goes beyond what Tyler, the Creator may believe. While the group’s individual members now distance themselves from their teenage personas, they’ve influenced a new generation of creatives who still bump tracks such as “Oldie” and “White” to this day. While the likes of Pharrell Williams and Kanye West inspired them, they laid the creative foundation for a more experimental era of hip hop expression.
Los Angeles rapper Earl Sweatshirt’s rise in the Hip-Hop scene began in 2009 as a member of the alternative rap collective Odd Future. While fellow Odd Future members such as Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean have become worldwide stars in their own right, Sweatshirt has carved his own path in the underground and experimental rap scene. Sweatshirt is known for his lyrical ability, word play, and rhyme schemes, which are often compared to late rapper MF DOOM’s, and his sound has progressed and changed significantly since Odd Future’s inception. This list will rank all four of his studio albums. It will only contain full-length studio albums, so mixtape project ‘Earl’, 2020 EP ‘Feet of Clay’, and EP ‘Solace’ will not be included.
4. SICK! (2022)
Sweatshirt’s most recent album, ‘SICK!’ was released in 2022, four years after his last full length project, ‘Some Rap Songs’. While Sweatshirt became known for his sludgy, dirty sound, he veered away from it on this project in favor of clarity. ‘SICK!’s’ release was a sign of maturity for Sweatshirt as he abandoned many of the shock-rap qualities of his earlier projects and instead rapped about topics such as fatherhood and overcoming addiction and other mental health issues.
Highlights of the album include the intro track ‘Old Friend’ which contains a sound similar to many of the songs on Earl’s previous album, ‘Some Rap Songs’, as well as the final track of the album ‘Fire in the Hole’ as Earl raps about his maturity in relationships and as an artist.
The project is still obscure, as tracks such as ‘2010’ and ‘Tabula Rasa’ feat. Armand Hammer features Earl on beats unlike any other, however, the project lacks the indescribable rawness that was present on ‘Some Rap Songs’. Despite this, ‘SICK!’ was one of the best albums of the year upon its release and its low placement on this list is only due to the strength of Earl’s previous three projects.
3. Doris (2013)
Earl’s first full-length album came after a three year hiatus due to Sweatshirt’s mother sending him to a boarding school in Samoa. His disappearance sparked the “Free Earl” campaign by Odd Future and ‘Doris’ was one of the most anticipated albums of 2013. At the time of its release, Sweatshirt was only 19 years old, his youthful hunger on full display on this project.
‘Doris’ is arguably Sweatshirt’s most technically proficient project in terms of rhyme scheme and lyricism as tracks such as ‘Woah’ contain flows where nearly every word rhymes. The album also includes features from fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, and Domo Genesis, as well as features from Vince Staples, RZA, and Mac Miller. Sweatshirt’s youthful nature is apparent on tracks such as Sasquatch as ‘Doris’ occurred within a metamorphosis for Earl as he began to abandon his shock-rap qualities in favor of more substance-driven songs.
Highlights from the album include ‘Chum’, a deeply personal track that shows Earl’s maturity as he speaks on his difficult relationship with his father and other issues of adolescence. ‘Hive’, which features Vince Staples and Casey Veggies and displays Sweatshirt’s aptitude for whimsical wordplay and rhyme schemes.
This dichotomy of subject matter is consistent throughout the album, as Earl stayed true to his Odd Future roots, and also displayed his ability to deliver tracks with emotional weight behind them. Tyler, the Creator even mentions this contrast on his intro to ‘Woah’ as he tells Earl that just because he made ‘Chum’ and “got all personal” does not mean he can’t go back to that “old fucking 2010 shit”. ‘Doris’ lacks the artistic maturity of some of Sweatshirt’s later projects, yet Earl’s potential and prodigious talent shined throughout the album and was a testament of things to come.
2.I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside (2015)
Many fans believed Sweatshirt would take a more conventional approach to his music after the success of ‘Doris’ and the growing star-power of Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean in 2015. ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside’ was presumed to be the sophomore breakout album that propelled Sweatshirt into the more mainstream sectors of the Hip-Hop scene, however, Sweatshirt decided to do the total opposite, as “IDLSIDGO” is one of the darkest, most depressing albums of the past decade.
“IDLSIDGO” begins with ‘Huey’, a track about Earl’s struggles with addiction as he raps “I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother”. The project continues with the three track run of ‘Mantra’, ‘Faucet’, and ‘Grief’ in which Sweatshirt details his continuing struggles with addiction, depression, and the grief of his grandmother’s passing.
‘Faucet’ and ‘Grief’ are two of the best tracks on the album and two of the best of Earl’s discography. He enmeshes his lyrical ability with intense storytelling and psychological turmoil. “IDLSIGO” also contains features from Dash, Wiki, Na’kel Smith, and Vince Staples. Smith’s feature on ‘DNA’ is one of the most well-remembered. Na’kel raps about his own grief following his friend’s recent passing.
The project is ten tracks and only has a run-time of thirty minutes, yet not a second is wasted as it holds its listeners in a grief-stricken haze as Sweatshirt delivers one of the most gut-wrenching and depressing performances of any artist of the last decade. ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside’ is an audial display of the pits of depression and grief and Sweatshirt encapsulates the feeling as only he can. The only thing keeping this album from the number one spot on this list is the brilliance of Sweatshirt’s following project.
1. Some Rap Songs (2018)
No one could have predicted what Sweatshirt would do next following ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside’, as Earl proved on that album that he was in a lane entirely his own. At only twenty-five minutes long, ‘Some Rap Songs’ leans even further into the experimental and conceptual as the album feels less like a musical project and more like a mind-bending trip into the psyche of Sweatshirt’s mind.
The project is deeply personal and psychological as Earl speaks on many topics present in his previous work, such as depression, addiction, and his relationships with his parents, yet ‘Some Rap Songs’ features a vulnerability that even ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside’ did not. ‘Some Rap Songs’’ brilliance lies in its sonic uniqueness, as Sweatshirt raps complexities over subdued soulful loops that often do not even include drums.
The album is a symbol of Sweatshirt’s artistic maturity, as he all but neglects any sounds even reminiscent of conventionality and instead creates a project that is beyond comparison. The album begins with ‘Shattered Dreams’, as Earl allows listeners to enter what can only be described as a “dream-state” or place of limbo, and Sweatshirt proceeds to hold listeners there as each track following bleeds into the next, causing the album to feel experiential and otherworldly.
Sweatshirt’s subject matter is loose and fleeting, as Los Angeles rappers transitions topics from line-to-line, and yet this messiness and confusion personifies Sweatshirt’s mental state and somehow ends up cohesive and highly conceptual. There is an indescribable sinking nature to the project as it fades in-and-out as Sweatshirt lays down some of his most complex rhyme schemes and flows.
Playing Possum
The thirteenth track of the album, ‘Playing Possum’ also features both of Sweatshirt’s parents, Cheryl Harris and Keorapetse Kgositsile, as Earl shares an audio clip of one of his mother’s lectures and one of his late father’s poems. The final track of the album ‘Riot!’ is an instrumental that samples the 1969 song “Riot” by Hugh Masekela. The decision to end the project with this sort of silence is a moment of genius by Sweatshirt, and despite the absence of Earl’s lyrical ability, which was at one point his calling card, the song is one of Sweatshirt’s most beloved by fans. ‘Some Rap Songs’ is a project that transcends genre and tests the bounds of musical creativity. Its sheer uniqueness and artistry places it at number one on this list as it examines the human psyche through its conceptual and experimental form.
At some point in the last five or so years, someone on the Jeopardy! staff figured out that having answers and clues based on hip-hop is really amusing to the show’s audience. And so, there have been references to Public Enemy (and the Funky Bunch), ASAP Rocky, Lil Jon, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar, and Megan Thee Stallion in recent contests, and invariably, the results have been entertaining — whether contestants’ answers are accurate or not.
The latest rapper to get the Jeopardy! treatment is Earl Sweatshirt. The Los Angeles-based former member of Odd Future appeared as the $800 clue in the “Rappers” category (they have a whole category!) last night. Now, it’s possible — even likely! — that our flustered contestant knew the correct answer. After all, the rapper whose name she blurted out is also named after a garment — damn near the same garment, in fact.
What that says about the state of rap names, in general, is probably a question for another day, but as far as linguistic replacements go, you could do worse than “A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.” The viewers’ frustration at the faux pas may appear to belie that assertion, though. She also mispronounced the “A” in “A Boogie” but considering everybody has to read everything online and just figure it out, this is something we are all going to have to get used to.
The fact remains that Earl and Artist look almost nothing alike (for what it’s worth, there are so many photos of A Boogie wearing so many other items that are not hoodies, maybe a name change is in order). Nor does their music sound alike, although that didn’t come up on Jeopardy!. In the end, none of the contestants could guess and host Mayim Bialik had to give the answer. On the bright side, maybe it worked out for Earl and A Boogie’s streaming numbers when viewers inevitably googled both to figure out what the big deal was. Check out more fans’ reactions below.
If you, like me and (apparently) Mayim, were not familiar with the (correct answer) Earl Sweatshirt or (Audrey’s incorrect answer) A Boogie wit da Hoodie, congratulations, you learned something new on Jeopardy tonight! (Thanks Audrey) #Jeopardypic.twitter.com/Atvh6AJzVq
Jeopardy is a place where contestants show off their knowledge of everything from science to pop culture. It’s a difficult game show but one that families have watched for decades as they themselves try to figure out the right answers. The questions leave contestants stumped sometimes, especially if it’s out of their wheelhouse of knowledge. Still, those moments lead to hilarious reactions online and even, from the host themselves.
Hip-hop knowledge became incredibly useful in Jeopardy over the past few years. Alex Trebek used rappers as answers throughout the four decades he hosted the show and that trend continues even after his death. During a recent episode, “Rappers” was a category of its own and Megan Thee Stallion was the answer to one of the questions. “Her 2021 album Something for Thee Hotties is a compilation of her freestyles and some previously unreleased songs,” read the host. While the contestant, Lucas, got it correct, not everyone was as well-read in hip-hop trivia.
In the same “Rappers” category, one contestant became slumped when Earl Sweatshirt was an answer. During the game show, host Mayim Bialik showed a photo of Earl in a hoodie before posing the $800 question. “He’s seen here actually in a hoodie around the time of Doris, his major label debut album,” Bialik asked. Contestant Audrey confidently responded, “Who is A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie?” Bialik awkwardly stuttered as she said no while another contestant, Arush, laughed. “That is Earl Sweatshirt,” Bialik said.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time a contestant fumbled a rap-related question. In fact, there have been a number of them in the past, including one a contestant confused The Funky Bench for Public Enemy. As the internet hounded her down, Chuck D leaped to her defense on Twitter. “Everybody don’t know everything… it’s why I introduce myself wherever I go and whoever I talk to … it’s just courtesy. But the sad thing is not knowing those other Chuck Ds,” he said. Check out Earl Sweatshirt/A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie mix-up above and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
BLOOM OUT NOW!
(@rec3de) 
(@ABCDEFGHIrock) 
