Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE just dropped off the Alchemist-produced track “Sentry,” the first release off of the Odd Future affiliate and the legendary beatmaker’s upcoming collaborative album Voir Dire. While it didn’t officially hit streaming services or YouTube (and we have no official release date for the project), this new track and music video spread around the Internet and social media. With a release party scheduled for this Friday (August 25), there’s good reason to believe that we’re getting this highly anticipated collab soon. What’s more is that it’s great to see Earl and MIKE collaborate given how much they’ve inspired and drawn from each other’s work.
Moreover, the track (like most of Uncle Al’s production) is a dense, earthy, and haunting sample loop that perfectly fits the MCs’ more laidback demeanor. It’s also phrased and chopped in a very interesting way, as Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE take completely different approaches when it comes to flow. The former tackles it in regular 4/4 time, or at least sounds like it, whereas the latter employs a triplet flow, switching up how “Sentry” hits rhythmically. It may be a stark and minimal soundscape, but it heightens the abstract and personal lyrics at play. Furthermore, these three creatives make a lot out of a little, using unconventional and unique approaches to turn a chop and some bars into so much more.
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Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist’s “Sentry” With MIKE: Watch The Music Video
Meanwhile, in the music video, they simply rap in an empty and coldly lit hallway, but don’t seem disheartened by their circumstances. This often sums up their lyricism: despondent, reflective, and downtrodden; yet always resilient, vivid, and hungry. As he celebrates ten years since his first studio album Doris, Earl is still putting out high-caliber material with remarkable consistency and an emotive punch. If you haven’t heard “Sentry” yet, find it with the link below or watch the video above. Also, stick around on HNHH for more on Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, The Alchemist, and Voir Dire.
Quotable Lyrics
Had a couple things on my chest,
That’s where the demons would sit,
I took a seat at the head,
It’s time to eat, I need to breach heavy set
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