Earl (mixtape)

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]

Earl
Mixtape by
Earl Sweatshirt
ReleasedMarch 31, 2010 (2010-03-31)
Recorded
  • 2009–10
StudioThe Trap(Los Angeles)
Genre
Length25:54
LabelSelf-released
Producer
Earl Sweatshirt chronology
Earl
(2010)		 Doris
(2013)
Singles from Earl
  1. "Earl"
    Released: July 26, 2010

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.[2]

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.[3][4]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork8.3/10[5]

Pitchfork Media called the album "mesmerizing".[6] 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".[7] Music site Gorilla vs. Bear listed it at number 12 in its list of the 30 best albums of 2010.[8] Complex magazine rated Earl as the twenty-fourth best album of 2010.[9]

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.[10]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Thisniggaugly"
Tyler, the Creator1:18
2."Earl"
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
  • T. Bennett
Tyler, the Creator2:26
3."Couch" (featuring Ace Creator)
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
Tyler, the Creator3:16
4."Kill"
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
Tyler, the Creator2:20
5."Wakeupfaggot"
Tyler, the Creator0:42
6."Luper"
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
Tyler, the Creator1:59
7."epaR" (featuring Vince Staples)
Left Brain4:00
8."Moonlight" (featuring Hodgy Beats)
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
  • Long
Tyler, the Creator2:04
9."Pigions" (featuring Wolf Haley)
  • Kgositsile
  • Okonma
Tyler, the Creator3:33
10."Stapleton"
  • Kgositsile
  • Branden Martin
BeatBoy4:16
Notes
  • "Thisniggaugly" and "Earl" feature additional vocals from Tyler, the Creator and Taco.
  • "Wakeupfaggot" features additional vocals from Syd tha Kyd.
  • "epaR" features additional vocals from Hodgy Beats.
  • Tyler, the Creator is credited as 'Ace Creator' on "Couch," and as 'Wolf Haley' on "Pigions."

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.[11][12] 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
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Stapleton"BeatBoy4:16
2."Earl"Tyler, the Creator2:27
3."Couch" (featuring Tyler, the Creator)Tyler, the Creator3:17
4."Kill"Tyler, the Creator2:21
5."Molliwopped" 1:43
6."Luper"Tyler, the Creator2:00
7."epaR" (featuring Vince Staples)Left Brain4:01
8."Moonlight" (featuring Hodgy Beats)Tyler, the Creator2:05
9."Deerskin"Madlib2:13
10."Orange Juice" (featuring Hodgy Beats)Bangladesh3:51
11."Chordaroy" (featuring Tyler, the Creator and MellowHype)Left Brain5:01
12."Drop"
2:28
13."Mezmerized" (featuring Mylo) 2:48
14."Swag Me Out" (featuring Jasper, Odd Future, Wolf Gang and Tyler, the Creator) 7:18
15."Home"James Pants1:48
16."Brand New" 0:52
17."Blade"DJ Khaled1:24
18."Fuck This Christmas" (featuring Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats)Tyler, the Creator4:31
19."WattStax"Weird Eye1:56
20."Pigions" (featuring Tyler, the Creator)Tyler, the Creator3:34
21."Dat Ass" 1:09
22."FYC" (featuring Gruzen) 3:56
23."Cool" (featuring Mike G) 2:27
24."CopKiller" (featuring Hodgy Beats)Left Brain1:24
25."Rebellious Shit" 2:16
26."Stones Throw" 1:14
27."Rick James" 1:58
28."Dat Ass (Remix)" (featuring Big L) 1:48
29."Number 4 (Instrumental)" 4:24
Notes
  • The instrumental for "Deerskin" is originally the instrumental for "All Caps" by Madvillain, produced by Madlib.
  • The instrumental for "Orange Juice" is originally the instrumental for "Lemonade" by Gucci Mane, produced by Bangladesh.
    • Hodgy Beats was mistakenly credited on the re-release's track list; Tyler, the Creator is the correct feature.
  • "Chordaroy" was originally on MellowHype's 2010 mixtape BlackenedWhite.
  • The instrumental for "Drop" is originally the instrumental for "Drop" by Rich Boy, produced by Cha Lo and Polow da Don.
  • The instrumental for "Swag Me Out" is originally the instrumental for "Not a Stain on Me" by Big Tuck.
  • "Home" was released as a standalone song on February 8, 2012, the day Sweatshirt returned from Samoa, and the instrumental for it is originally the song "Theme From Paris" by James Pants.
  • The instrumental for "Blade" is originally the instrumental for "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me" by Terror Squad, produced by DJ Khaled.
  • "Rick James" was mistakenly released as an Earl Sweatshirt song. The song is actually titled "BADBOI222" and was released by Long Island rapper "BIG BREAKFAST".

References
  1. "OFWGKTA: Earl Sweatshirt – EARL". Oddfuture.tumblr.com. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  3. "Earl Sweatshirt - Earl lyrics". Genius.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  4. Harvilla, Rob (May 18, 2019). "Who's (Still) Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Gang?". The Ringer. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  5. Sheldon Pearce (August 12, 2018). "Earl Sweatshirt: Earl". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  6. "Articles: The /b/ Boys: Odd Future and the Swag Generation". Pitchfork. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  7. alteredzones on 12/21/2010 at noon. (2010-12-21). "2010: Albums". Altered Zones. Archived from the original on 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  8. "gorilla vs. bear's albums of 2010". Gorilla Vs. Bear. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  9. "Articles: The 25 Best Albums of 2010". Complex. 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  10. "The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)". Pitchfork. 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  12. "Earl". Amazon.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
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