It’s been a few years since Earl Sweatshirt liberated his third studio LP Some Rap Songs, a critically acclaimed effort that saw additional appearances from Standing on the Corner and Navy Blue. Earl’s parents, civil rights professor Cheryl Harris and late South African poet/political activist Keorapetse Kgositsile, were also featured on the standout track “Playing Possum.” Since then, the Odd Future alum has continued to bless his loyal fanbase with music, including by way of the 2019 EP Feet of Clay. A deluxe version of that project made landfall last year, making for a total of nine genre-bending tracks and contributions from the likes of Mavi, Mach-Hommy, Maxo, and more.
In a recent interview with Anthony Fantano, The Alchemist revealed that Earl Sweatshirt has in fact completed a new album, which is said to be titled Sick!:
“Earl’s album is incredible. He has an album that is done and it’s incredible. I’m excited about that. And I do have some work on there. … It’s insane. I think everybody will be happy, he’s in his bag.”
Today (Nov. 19), Earl gives us all a taste of what to expect with “2010,” which Earl teased by sharing coordinates on social media (which led to a billboard) and providing a QR code leading to a snippet of the Black Noi$e-produced cut. As expected, “2010” is full of the multi-layered, replay-worthy rhymes that’s made him into one of the illest emcees of his generation and hip hop overall:
“I’ma need a bigger bag for the cohort, tryna make a millionaire out of slum dogs, bet that, head crack, blunt force, cozy with the east Africans up north, where seven make a three, turn a ten by law, crescent moon wink, when I blinked it was gone, left the crib, smacked, no sheath on the sword, made it by the skin of my teeth, thank God…”
Check out Earl Sweatshirt’s visual for “2010” below.