Hearing the continued evolution of Earl Sweatshirt's projects is something else. I never know what I'm going to get going into an Earl project and that's part of the beauty of it. He's shown the ability to release bangers, deep cuts, and express himself over some cutting edge experimental production. On SICK!, Earl is able to do it all on a compact and concise project. It could be a 4 minute song or a minute long interlude. Either way he's going to make the duration an experience where he's going to say what he needs to.
Per usual with an Earl project, the production is top tier. The time all the producers spent with these beats shows. Black Noi$e absolutely knocked it out of the park on tracks like Vision, 2010, and Titanic. Whether it's soft piano keys, a vocal sample, or horns, every track carries a full sound that draws your ears into a peaceful bliss. The balance of relaxed instrumentals with bangers makes me excited to see what Earl raps over next.
SICK! features some of his sharpest rapping to date. His word play and flows seamlessly connect with the instrumentals. His voice exudes confidence and familiarity, embracing the music like an old friend at this point. Earl doesn't marry a single style, keeping each song to a fresh and new vibe throughout the album. Some of the songs have a cozy, comfortable feel of reflection, as Earl looks over the past couple of years even if it's not all sunshine and roses. His words make you feel like a page is turning as the future approaches and absorbs us all.
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