Earl Sweatshirt is a South African-American hip-hop artist who began his career as a teenager under the name Sly Tendencies. He adopted his current stage name after being invited to join the rap collective Odd Future in 2009, at just 15 years old. His debut album Doris won over even the genre’s most critical listeners, and throughout his career he has earned respect especially for his virtuosic and authentic storytelling.
In August 2025, Earl Sweatshirt released his latest album Live Laugh Love. The artist has said the album began as ironic criticism but evolved during the process into a serious commentary on the chaos of existence. Compared to his earlier works known for e.g. strong sampling, the new album has a hazy, cinematic sound, and lyrics drawn from themes like love and spirituality.
