Earl Sweatshirt Returns with Stunning New LP of Dutsy, J-Dilla-esqe Beats and Dense Raps

Despite only clocking in at around 25 minutes, Earl Sweatshirt’s new EP Some Rap Songs is almost overwhelming in its audacity. The beats have a classic J Dilla vibe, bouncing between murky and soulful, but the rapper born Thebe Neruda Kgositsile doesn’t use the dusty, minimal vibes to wax nostalgic or follow any templates. Instead he doubles down on his introspective, smart and heady lyrics that show why he is one of the best rappers around right now. Listen to “The Mint” above to get a sample, but it’s worth listening to the whole record to get a sense of the ambitious-yet-claustrophobic world this young (he’s still only 24!) artist has created. 

josh keller

Writer / co-founder