Thebe Neruda Kgositsile (aka Earl Sweatshirt) makes his return with his first full album since 2015. This record from the Odd Future (hip-hop collective) man is filled with complex lyrics on complex topics, and of the fifteen tracks, only two exceed two minutes in duration. Some Rap Songs is full of soul searching and comes after a difficult few years for the rapper from L.A. Since he released I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside in March of 2015, both his father (South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsile) and his uncle (South African jazz icon Hugh Masekela) have passed away. On top of this he has been battling with some depression and anxiety problems which have kept him out of the game for the best part of the last two years.
One of the defining aspects of the album is the way in which it has been produced (mainly by Kgositsile himself). The samples and loops are purposely unbalanced and chaotic, and the lo-fi effect is present throughout the record giving it a sort of old vinyl sound. These chaotic samples could be giving us an insight into Kgositsile’s overactive mind and his hectic flow of ideas. As well as focusing part of the album on tributes to his mother, father and uncle on tracks such as Azucar, Playing Possum and Peanut, the rapper also brings attention to his mental health during his time off with the singles Nowhere2go and The Mint (featuring rapper Navy Blue), stating ”two years I been missing living life” on the latter. The disjointed production is what gives this album a unique quality and despite the powerful lyrics not always being on the beat, it sounds great! Earl Sweatshirt has, in a sense, paved the way for a newer, jazzier type of alt-rap which many younger rappers have started to embrace. © Euan Decourt/Qobuz