"Tyler Creator ( or Ace) Releases This Full Length Self Produced Album, Mostly About His Father, Rape, Box Logos And Jesus. Also Featuring Unicorns And Transexuals. Click The Title To Download." (or just click here)
And no, he wasn't lying. That is truly what the album deals with from most to least prevalent. Revered by some, Bastard made a statement about Tyler and Odd Future: "We will scare you while impressing you and if you don't like it, fuck off." About 3 months later, after a few more Odd Future releases, a 10-song album was released on the same website. EARL by Earl Sweatshirt had similar selling points to Bastard,
"Earl Sweatshirt Releases His First Fucking Album. Lyrics About Rape, Coke, And Couches Will Be Blaring In Your Ears With The Dopest Fucking Beats To Date. Featuring Production By Tyler The Creator, Left Brain And Others. DOWNLOAD BY CLICKING THE FUCKING TITLE. "(or here)
Again, they weren't pulling any punches about the subject matter, only this release was seemingly darker. Tongue twisting lyrics over admittedly "dope" beats would take aback any person who was half listening. It was appalling, yet smooth. It was aggressive, yet intriguing. Frankly, it was somewhat grosser than Bastard, but it was executed with the sort of professionalism that would be admired by most people within the Hip Hop industry.
Oh, and it was done by a 16-year-old.
Specifically, this 16-year-old.
Born Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, better known by his stage name, Earl Sweatshirt was born to a law professor at UCLA (his mother), and a South African poet (his father). Thebe grew up in Los Angeles, without his father after he left when Thebe was six.
It is truly difficult to answer the question, "Who is Earl Sweatshirt?" The best course of action is to ask Earl himself. The titular track of his first album has some first words that sum it up substantially:
"Yo, I'm a hot and bothered astronaut crashing while
Jacking off to buffering vids of Asher Roth eating apple sauce
Sent to Earth to poke Catholics in the ass with saws
And knock blunt ashes into their caskets and laugh it off"
Vulgar? Check. Offensive? Check. Now, poetic? Also check. Rappers are in the business of rhyming words, and this is where Earl breaks the mold. Obviously, the words rhyme, but it's the continued usage of the same sounds that populate each line that make Earl so impressive. Spoken Word poets who have written for years often can't attain the ability Earl has in this category. And it isn't just this song in which Earl shows off his talent, it's almost all. This kind of talent at such a young age is practically unheard of. In fact, it brings someone to mind... who was it again?
The comparison has to be made. A short album, great beats, emceed by a teenager, Illmatic and EARL are both prime examples of the wunderkins of rap. Where they differ is obviously the subject matter. Nas dealt with the streets while Earl dealt with things most people don't feel comfortable talking about (for good reason).
Included in that group of most people is Thebe's mother. After the release of EARL, and in turn Earl's (relatively) massive following, Earl was forced into becoming a recluse by his mother, starting with his mother not granting permission for a good amount of his music to be released. This left fans stunned. Earl was gone. Unseen and unheard for years. While Odd Future knew the whereabouts of Earl, they remained silent throughout his time away. In April of 2011, Complex released an article in which they released their own research on Earl's location, and revealed that Thebe Kgositsile had been residing at the Coral Reef Academy is Samoa.
The Coral Reef Academy is basically a rehabilitation program for troubled kids. Whether it is depression, anger, or even drug use the Coral Reef Academy takes young men through a long process in which they are to emerged cleansed. Fans didn't take kindly to the notion that Earl was sent here against his will by his mother. These fans, though, had the completely wrong understanding. The angry mob that were Earl Sweatshirt fans were under the impression that his mother had heard his album and based solely on the music his mother had shipped him off. In an interview with Peter Rosenberg shortly after his return, Earl laughed at this notion. He was both open and closed off when saying to Peter, "Nah, I was fucking up."
Earl returned in 2012 with a few features, and a couple singles. None of them bigger than the projected first single off his album to be released in 2013, "Chum."
A loop of a beat, a heavy bass, but a perfected flow. In his return from Samoa, Earl is no longer rapping about Rape, Coke, and Couches, but about how he actually feels (sound familiar?). His fears of fame, his feelings about his absent father, the expectation of his old fans. Earl has clearly turned over a leaf; however, not a new leaf. Rather, the same flow-filled, poetic leaf from the "Rape" side to the "Great" side. What EARL did was leave people wide-eyed, and it did it for 3 reasons: 1. Did he really just say that? 2. Is this kid really only 16? and 3. These rhymes are crazy!
EARL left listeners troubled, but respecting for the wrong reasons; "Chum" does so for the right reasons.
Earl has spoken of releasing an album in the near future, saying that those who enjoyed his more vulgar songs will probably not enjoy it as much. "My mom likes it," said Earl. Doris is projected to drop in 2013.
