THE NUTSHELL:
Earl Sweatshirt, member of the wild Odd Future, step bro of Tyler, The Creator, not to mention, an extremely compelling lyricist. What's not to love?
TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW:
1. Pre feat SK La' Flare Rating: 8/10
Remark: Love the synths used in this track. Had an idea how this album would turn out from the eerie theme of 'Hive'. This track was just sick. Great prelude. It stepped up slightly with Earl's verse. Very neat.
2. Burgundy Rating: 7/10
Remarks: Not really feeling the pitch-shifted vocals in this track, but man, does Earl have an extremely clean flow on this. You can't expect a high end and explosive production on an Earl Sweatshirt project. He has a ear for this hard banging repetitive beat with just a pinch of rawness to it which you can either love or love to hate.
3. 20 Wave Caps feat Domo Genesis Rating: 9/10
Remarks: Just wished this was longer. Domo was really spitting hard on this. Earl sounded a lot like Tyler on this, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
4. Sunday feat Frank Ocean Rating: 10/10
Remarks: What is it with the Odd Future clan that has to get extremely emotional about a relationship at a certain point. However, mad love to how vivid Frank Ocean is on this track, an extremely honest verse by him. It sounded much like what Tyler did in IFHY, but maybe even better. Great.
5. Hive feat Vince Staples & Casey Veggies Rating: 10/10 *ALBUM'S TRACK TO REMEMBER
Remarks: This song is probably one of the weirdest things I have listen to. It is an extremely well thought out track with a very basic hard hitting beat. Did I forget about the lyrics? It's the dopest thing I have heard all year long. Especially the line when he says,"Desolate testaments trying to stay Jekyll-ish, but most niggas Hyde and Brenda just stay pregnant." A masterpiece for sure.
6. Chum Rating: 10/10
Remarks: This is one of those tear jerker rap tracks. From his father leaving him straight to on him being an outcast. It also demonstrates how good of a lyricist Earl is.
7. Sasquatch feat Tyler, The Creator Rating: 10/10
Remarks: With Tyler slowly losing some vibe, he graciously hands over the prophecy of Odd Future to his step-brother, Earl. Tyler's verse was commendable, but Earls bars though, that was just down right awesome.
8. Centurion feat Vince Staples: 9/10
Remarks: Loving this eerie vibe, it really compliments the flow and the background to what Vince and Earl really tries to paint. Sounds somewhat like a continuation of Hive.
9. 523 Rating: 7/10
Remarks: Not really getting the placement of this interlude, would probably fit as the opener. Still a very authentic mixture of very roughly twerked guitar strings with heavy beats.
10. Uncle Al Rating: 8/10
Remarks: None. It's a 53 second track demonstrating Earl's ability to make cohesive rhymes.
11. Guild feat Mac Miller Rating: 5/10
Remarks: I don't get why Earl has to do this. With that extremely annoying pitch shifter. Don't really care too much about the subject matter. Having Mac Miller in any song would be a mistake. An extremely dysfunctional effort.
12. Molasses feat RZA Rating: 4/10
Remarks: I was extremely hyped when I heard RZA was going to be on this project. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I heard this. The beat was lazy, the rhymes were lazy, most surprisingly, RZA's verse was just bad. Very disappointing.
13. Whoa feat Tyler, The Creator Rating: 6/10
Remarks: Wasn't really a fan of this track when it initially dropped. My views have not change. I think Earl's verse was awesome, but the ridiculously irritating semi-moaning sounds in the background just gives it away.
14. Hoarse Rating: 9/10
Remarks: Earl's flow was good. One of the better production efforts in this album. A good step up from those chain of below avearge tracks
15. Knight feat Domo Genesis Rating: 10/10
Remarks: Love the subject topic of this track. One of Domo's most emotional efforts. Don't really get why this is a closing track but, nevertheless that doesn't take away the fact that this is a great song.
ALBUM SCORE:
8/10 (B+)
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