Many still fondly remember I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, Earl Sweatshirt’s brilliantly titled sophomore album from 2015. The title said it all – back then, he sounded utterly defeated, as if everything around him were falling apart. But even more memorable might be a recent headline on Stereogum: »Earl Sweatshirt Now Likes Shit, Goes Outside.« That headline captures the essence of Live Laugh Love, the rapper’s new album, perfectly. On the opener »gsw vs sac«, he even sounds like he’s holding back a laugh – it used to be more like tears.
A lot has stayed the same: like most of his releases, Live Laugh Love runs short (about 24 minutes), features abstract chopped-up beats, and delivers sharp thoughts in the most cryptic ways. Earl Sweatshirt remains one of the most gifted rappers of his generation. His style, rooted in MF DOOM’s legacy, recalls kindred spirits like Billy Woods, yet feels wholly his own. When he mumbles, he really mumbles – what he says at the end of »Live« is hard to decipher at first. But it sounds great nonetheless.
What’s new is the light streaming through the cracks in the beats. While the previous album SICK! felt like a transitional project shaped by the pandemic, Live Laugh Love marks a new chapter in Earl Sweatshirt’s life. He raps about his son, and there’s a cozy tone throughout. Once again, the title says it all: tracks like »TOURMALINE«, where he nearly sings, rank among his most upbeat songs to date.
But of course, not everything is blissful. The album cover shows Earl Sweatshirt (for the first time) clearly, grinning with a joint in his mouth – yet it feels like zooming out would reveal utter chaos surrounding him. Still, that chaos only becomes stressful if you let it. You could just go with the flow – and make a fanatic record like Live Laugh Love.
