Earl (mixtape) explained

Earl
Type:Mixtape
Artist:Earl Sweatshirt
Cover:earlcover.png
Studio:The Trap (Los Angeles)
Length:25:54
Label:Self-released
Next Title:Doris
Next Year:2013

Earl is the debut mixtape by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. It was released as a free digital download on March 31, 2010, on the Odd Future website.[1]

Background and lyrics

Earl is notable for its depraved and violent lyrics, which detail the fictional misadventures of the young Earl Sweatshirt, as he commits acts of murder, rape, kidnapping, and violence. The album features production by BrandenBeatBoy (credited as BeatBoy) and fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Left Brain. The album features vocals from Tyler, the Creator, Vince Staples, Hodgy Beats, and some backing vocals from fellow Odd Future members Syd Tha Kyd and Taco Bennett. The lyrics featured on the album were written and recorded in 2009–2010, when Earl was 15–16 years old. The content present throughout the album includes various drug references, macabre themes of murder, rape and sexual lyrics.

On the title track, Earl, Tyler, and Taco rap about their distaste for 2DOPEBOYZ over frustrations the blog wouldn't publish Odd Future's music.[2] [3]

Critical reception

Pitchfork Media called the album "mesmerizing".[4] Pitchfork's sister site Altered Zones listed Earl as one of their top twenty albums of 2010, praising the album for its ferocity and for making "some of the most vile verses sound eloquent".[5] Music site Gorilla vs. Bear listed it at number 12 in its list of the 30 best albums of 2010.[6] Complex magazine rated Earl as the twenty-fourth best album of 2010.[7]

Accolades

The mixtape was recognized as one of The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far, a list published by Pitchfork Media in August 2014.[8]

Track listing

Notes

Unauthorized Tidal & Amazon Music re-release

On April 6, 2015, Earl was re-released on music streaming services Tidal and Amazon Music. The updated track list combined most of the original tracks from Earl (excluding "Thisniggaugly" and "Wakeupfaggot") with tracks recorded prior to Earl, back when Sweatshirt went by the stage name Sly Tendencies. Other tracks include songs Sweatshirt featured on around the time of Earl.[9] [10] This is an unauthorized release from the company Classic Hits. Despite being available for purchase, most included songs were previously released for free.

Track listing

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OFWGKTA: Earl Sweatshirt – EARL . Oddfuture.tumblr.com . 2010-03-31 . 2011-02-27.
  2. Web site: Earl Sweatshirt - Earl lyrics. Genius.com. November 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Who's (Still) Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Gang?. Rob. Harvilla. The Ringer. May 18, 2019. November 15, 2021.
  4. Web site: Articles: The /b/ Boys: Odd Future and the Swag Generation . Pitchfork . 2010-10-18 . 2011-02-27 . 2011-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110305105034/http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7863-the-b-boys-odd-future-and-the-swag-generation . dead .
  5. Web site: alteredzones on 12/21/2010 at noon. . 2010: Albums . Altered Zones . 2010-12-21 . 2011-02-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110228025824/http://alteredzones.com/posts/642/2010-albums/ . 2011-02-28 .
  6. Web site: gorilla vs. bear's albums of 2010 . 2 December 2010 . Gorilla Vs. Bear . 2011-02-27.
  7. Web site: Articles: The 25 Best Albums of 2010 . Complex . 2010-12-15 . 2012-03-02.
  8. Web site: The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010–2014) . Pitchfork . 2015 . 31 May 2015.
  9. https://store.tidal.com/us/album/48306405
  10. Web site: Earl. 20 October 2021. Amazon.com.

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