Earl Sweatshirt, Billy Woods and Alchemist make for quite the recipe — and the dish is now fresh out of the oven and best served hot.
On Friday (June 30), Al dropped Flying High, an eight-track EP featuring four songs with Hip Hop’s most abstract spitters and four instrumental versions of those same songs. Guests include T.F, Boldy James, MIKE, Sideshow, Larry June and Jay Worthy, but one track in particular stands out.
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“RIP Tracy” is a two-act poetry recital over a sleepy and dreamy Alchemist beat. Earl and Woods both come through with lyricism of the highest standard, and a strong case could be made for this being the tracklist’s highlight.
Earl opens with the lines: “Uneasy steps, deep in it like needle in flesh/ In the center, couldn’t see the end/ Indecision, leave the pieces split,” and then when Woods takes over, he maintains the same introspective tone. “Sometimes you run out of lies/ Sometimes you tell the truth just to pull ’em offsides,” he spits.
The Alchemist is a collaborative machine, and he has previously worked with both Earl and Woods. Most recently, he released a full-length LP with Larry June titled The Great Escape.
Billy Woods has also been busy. Last month, the New York MC released Maps, a 17-track album with West Coast producer Kenny Segal. The tracklist features contributions from Danny Brown, Aesop Rock and Quelle Chris, among others. HipHopDX rated the album 4.6 out of 5.
Earl hadn’t released any new music this year until now and he continues to keep his public appearances to a minimum. His track record, however, has remained solid as he upholds a high standard whenever he decides to drop fresh material.
2023 marks a decade since the release of his seminal studio debut, Doris. The album was released on August 20, 2013, to critical acclaim despite the incessant controversy surrounding Earl and his collective, Odd Future, at the time. The 15-track package features contributions from Vince Staples, Frank Ocean,Tyler, The Creator, Mac Miller and RZA, among others, and is responsible for putting Earl on the map as a solo artist.
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To commemorate its legacy, the 29-year-old rapper will perform the album in its entirety for a one-off show in Los Angeles. The event, which is set to take place at the Novo on August 19, will also feature fellow Odd Future member Domo Genesis.
