This album. I have been waiting for this for nearly a good two years. Earl Sweatshirt is definitely one of the most mysterious rappers around. A member of Odd Future, Earl made a buzz in early 2010 with his debut mixtape titled "EARL". He was only 16 when he released this, which makes it that much more shocking that Earl is talking about topics such as rape, murder, and misogyny. After this, Earl was suddenly shipped to a boarding school by his mother until early 2012. Coming back with O.F. way bigger and more popular than before, people were instantly eager for new material. Now its August 2013, and Earl's new body of work, Doris, is finally here. Let's get into it.
PRE (FEAT. SK LA FLARE)- In a very odd (and possibly a troll move by Earl) this album is not even started with an Earl Sweatshirt verse. A totally unknown rapper called SK La Flare starts this off with a very average verse that i wasn't really feeling. His flow was pretty good, but he had no energy and it felt very generic. Earl comes in with a sick verse, dropping quotables everywhere and a solid flow. This head-bopping beat was pretty cool, and set the mood for the rest of the album. I hate to say it, but LaFlare kind of ruined this song to me. Bad way to start the album...7/10
BURGUNDY- Now this is what i wanted. This is introspective Earl at his finest. Dropping personal lines everywhere, Earl is brutally honest on this one. Vince Staples only adds to the feeling saying things im pretty sure all O.F. fans were thinking for a while. The Neptunes supply a beat that is just EPIC. The horns, drums, and synths sound great and Earl goes HAM over it in the 2nd verse. 9.5/10
20 WAVE CAPS (FEAT. DOMO GENESIS)- This track just feels like classic Odd Future. Domo continues his string of solid guest verses with some fun, braggadocious rhymes. Earl follows up with a nice verse with some nice quotables. This is a good, fun track. I don't really get tired of listening to it. The upbeat instrumental only adds to the aesthetic. Very solid. 8.5/10
SUNDAY (FEAT. FRANK OCEAN)- This is definitely a change of pace. Earl drops a lovey track with Odd Future R&B star Frank Ocean. Overall, I think this track goes over a little weird. It just didn't fit for me. I like the passion in Earl's verse and the beat change up in the middle, but it all feels out of place. I also was not really feeling Frank's verse too much. Nonetheless, a decent song. 7/10
HIVE (FEAT. CASEY VEGGIES & VINCE STAPLES)- Wow. What a banger. I have nothing to complain about. This song is so dark everywhere, from Earl's voice to the minimalistic beat, everything sound eerie and I love it. Vince Staples steals the show. A sick verse all around, with lots of great lines and a flawless flow. This track is just awesome. 10/10
CHUM- Another personal track, but I do not love it as much as Burgundy. This one just felt a little bland. I was not feeling the beat too much, it got a little repetitive, even though the initial piano riff sounded good. Earl got real personal and i did like that, but something about this track was just off. I cant exactly explain it, but this one doesn't really connect with me. Props for the beat at the end though. 6.5/10
SASQUATCH (FEAT. TYLER, THE CREATOR)- EARLWOLF!!! I was very excited for this track given these two's reputation of KILLING track together, and it seriously came through for me. Tyler starts it off with a nice flow and one memorable line after another. Even though this Tyler-produced beat sounds like a throwaway from WOLF, i cant complain about it. Then, Earl drops a seriously dope verse, with such sick lyricism and a nasty flow. Great track. 9/10
CENTURION (FEAT. VINCE STAPLES)- While not as sick as his verse on Hive, Vince Staples comes through yet again with a good verse. A sudden beat change-up leads into some Earl verses. Earl is his usual self here, but the hook felt a little lazy. Still, I liked the vibe on this track, as it felt high-energy during the verses. 7.5/10
UNCLE AL- This beat is crazy, but that doesn't surprise me after seeing that it was made my The Alchemist. He impresses me here. His rapping was on point again, but WHY is this track 53 seconds? This would most likely have been my favorite track of the album if it was just a little longer 8.5/10
GUILD (FEAT. MAC MILLER)- This unlikely collaboration actually doesn't go over too bad. Mac Miller's verse lacks excitement, but his flow was on point. This was one of the only tracks where I was not really feeling Earl's verse, though. Overall, this track felt a little too slow and long. Still decent, though. 7.5/10
MOLASSES (FEAT. RZA)- Some surprisingly upbeat, happy production starts this track off. Earl has some nice verses, as usual. This track is totally thrown off by the hook. First, it is a stupid hook to begin with. Second, you have the RZA and youre gonna let him do just that?? He is horribly underused here. 6.5/10
WHOA (FEAT. TYLER, THE CREATOR)- This track was pretty good. A very cool beat sets up Earl for some solid verses with plenty of cool lines, and Tyler sounds great on the hook. This just does not feel as epic as a lot of other tracks on Doris. 7.5/10
HOARSE- Longtime O.F. fans BadBadNotGood produce this track, and it has a heavy western feel to it. I can't really say anything bad about this track, but I also can't really say anything good about it too, besides Earl changing the tone of his voice up a little. 7/10
KNIGHT (FEAT DOMO GENESIS)- This was an awesome way to end the album. This beat could be my favorite of the bunch, it sounds so peaceful, but its not too happy. Domo puts together another good verse, getting personal about his father. Earl goes into the same topic and ends the song (and album) in an epic way with that final line. One awesome thing to note here is both of the rappers voices getting lower as their verses go on. This track was super dope and a great closer. 8.5/10
DORIS WRAP-UP
+Earl is a super complex lyricist for his age
+Earl can use many different flows and is great at riding beats
+The production has a distinct, dark sound for the most part and it sounds great
+Most of the features came through nicely
-Album gets a little worse near the end
-Awful way to start the album with the first song
-Badly underused the RZA
Best- Hive, Sasquatch, 20 Wave Caps
Worst- Molasses
Earl Sweatshirt- Doris
9.0/10
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