“SICK!” Album Review
By Brodie Patrick
From the age of 16, Earl Sweatshirt has resided in the rhythmic shadows of the rap genre while making waves throughout the underground scene. Now, he emerges triumphantly in the spotlight with his newest album release, titled SICK! Sweatshirt fantastically breaks genre conformity on all ten tracks, and this outing is an amalgamation of his experience, style, and execution.
Earl’s “off-the-top” lyrical composition and unorthodox, car-rattling beats of his first studio album, Doris, caught early listeners by surprise. Two years later, his unmatched style and jaw-dropping authenticity on his second album, I Don’t Like ****, I Don’t Go Outside, validated his spot among the greats, quickly launching his childhood hobby into an early career. His overall consistency and variety of sounds across his near-perfect five-album discography only solidify that Earl is here to stay.
The Songs:
The album begins with “Old Friend,” bringing multiple layers of ghostly violin strings to soothe listeners while Earl reminisces about his early career with Odd Future, addiction, and the struggles of the American working class plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Old Friend” exemplifies Sweatshirt's newfound sense of transparency within his lyrics, painting raw emotion over “The Alchemist’s” beautifully haunting beat.
As soon as the listener thinks the younger, pessimistic Earl is back, the album abruptly switches with the second track, “2010,” referencing Earl’s time spent in Samoa at Coral Reef Academy. Upbeat and floaty keys from “Black Noi$e” captivate listeners and positively charged lyrics smoothly skip along with the beat, like a rock across a pond. The resulting sound is futuristic, yet the vocals keep the overall theme of reconnecting with the world realized and fresh for the listener.
“Redirect the fight where it's meant for/Triumph over plight and immense loss/Ride alone at night, I get clear thoughts” - Earl Sweatshirt (2010)
“Vision” (feat. Zeeloperz) honestly speaks for itself. 10/10, would listen again.
A mid-album masterpiece titled “Tabula Rasa” (feat. E L U CI D and billy woods). Dreamy piano keys float across the track as E L U C I D undoubtedly rips the beat apart with his aggressive rhymes. His counterpart, Billy Woods, immediately follows suit and drops multiple successful African societal influencers’ names, paying homage to the likes of Kofi Annan, and Wole Soyinka. Sweatshirt sweeps up the pieces and shows his wordsmithing mastery by switching to an off-beat rhyme style.
The true show-stopper “Lye”s within the sixth track. Brass and soul combined by The Alchemist with lyrics that history buffs and rhyme lovers could both enjoy - easily my personal choice for one of the best song on the album.
“(Rome)in' the citadel on foot/ eleven when the spl*ff gave me a rush/ Play in the cuts like a DJ/ Let me know if you wanna tangle with some/Lemon meringue, Wallabees sole stained gum/Explorin' a couple different avenues and stayin' dangerous.” - Earl Sweatshirt (Lye)
Earl tackles sensitive topics on the eighth track, promptly titled “God Laughs.” Following the passing of his highly influential and well-respected father (Keorapetse Kgositsile), the rapper expressed overwhelming feelings of cultural isolation and complacency.
“True pain, I couldn't eat or sleep for seven days/ Maimed me, I ain't weak/ Keep changing for the better, what to do when your job thankless/ In the middle of the marsh where mosquitoes chomp ankles” (God Laughs) encapsulates Earl’s heartbreaking mindset during his time in mourning.
Overall:
“SICK!” shows an impressive progression of Earl Sweatshirt’s maturity, mental health, and sobriety after meeting international fame at such a young age. Whereas many modern rappers seem to hit rock bottom as soon as they hit the top of billboards, Sweatshirt and the majority of his peers from Odd Future have continuously shown resilience and remained humble. Sweatshirt turns a new leaf with this album release by exposing his insecurities, deepest regrets, and traumatic past. “SICK!” acts as an anthem for young adults breaking through a time of isolation while also creating a new standard for Earl Sweatshirt’s new creative direction.
Photo of Earl Sweatshirt singing taken from Flicker.com