Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love (Album Review)

Earl Sweatshirt continues to prove that no one in hip-hop is moving like him right now.

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TOP 5

5. TOURMALINE

Wait a second, Earl Sweatshirt is capable of singing?

Earl Sweatshirt’s singing style on this track instantly reminded me of Stove God Cooks. It’s that drowsy rap style you usually hear paired with drug talk. Instead, Earl flips it into something more vulnerable, reflecting on come downs and the search for real love. If it wasn’t so mumbly, I’d love this track even more. BTW, Earl recently said people who hate on mumble rap are racist. I guess I’m racist.

4. FORGE

When does Earl Sweatshirt decide when he’s going to have a title with full caps?

99% of why I’m feeling this track comes down to the beat. It immediately reminds me of Pusha T and Rick Ross’s iconic “Hard Piano,” produced by Ye, though this version takes a more unorthodox approach. Unlike the preceding track, Earl sounds more serious here, rapping with a cold, calculated delivery—almost out of breath at times—as he talks about being war-ready and having a heart colder than Pete Hegseth’s. As the song progresses, the threats get increasingly unique and chilling. This track is pure cold-blooded energy.

3. gsw vs sac

I have no clue why this song is called “gsw vs sac.”

On “gsw vs sac,” over a funky beat that feels like something Dolemite himself would stroll down the street listening to, Earl lays down slippery, effortless bars. He speaks on giving “him” praise, paints vivid pictures, and even raps about blades that come with roses (That bar was f**king sweet). His wordplay on this track is next-level, and his flow is surprisingly on point. The crackhead closing out the track—or maybe Eddie Griffin—fits perfectly.

Earl Sweatshirt is one of the best rappers when it comes to laughing while he’s rapping.

2. Live

Did Earl Sweatshirt make this track after being punched in the nose?

I hate that Earl Sweatshirt sounds so distorted on “Live,” because this track has some of his best raps. Over a glimmery, rugged instrumental, he commands the beat with precision, delivering his tightest cadence on the project. I also appreciate how he feels out the track in a very calculated way. But once the beat switches, the song completely falls apart—Earl sounds loopy and underwater. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I hate this song.

1. INFATUATION

Have you ever gotten your ass kicked in a living room with a cozy fireplace with some milk and cookies on the table?

“INFATUATION” is incredibly soothing. The instrumental is smooth and soulful, creating a vibe that’s easy on the ears. Earl blends an aggressive edge with laid-back flair and punchy delivery. Lyrically, he reflects on his journey, embracing being comfortable in his own skin—even when outnumbered. It’s as if he’s plotting his next move while sitting at a dinner table with close friends, calm but calculating.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

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Check out the individual track ratings we gave—these are what we used to calculate the overall score!

RGM RATING

(85%)

There isn’t a single rapper on planet Earth doing what Earl Sweatshirt is doing. From the structure of his songs to the production choices he makes, he has built a lane that is uniquely his. Earl thrives in unpredictability, consistently releasing tracks that challenge the norms of hip-hop while still leaving fans hooked.

Take, for example, the way Earl keeps most of his songs under two minutes. While many rappers aim for radio-friendly lengths, he instead uses brevity as his weapon, making every second count. His beat selection is equally wild—tracks often sound like they were pulled out of a time capsule from the 1960s, then remixed by producers who live and breathe hazy experimentation. The result is something messy on the surface but brilliant when you lean in.

What makes it all even more fascinating is how Earl approaches flow. Half the time, it doesn’t even sound like he’s trying to ride the beat in a conventional sense. Yet, somehow, he still exudes complete control, rapping in a slippery, “gotcha” kind of way that feels deliberate and masterful. He’ll throw in random but striking bars—like name-dropping Wake Forest basketball or flexing about women—that shouldn’t make sense but somehow do within the world he creates.

This off-kilter creativity has me comparing his work to a surreal mixtape—something like the hip-hop version of a horror movie tape that only makes sense to those who are willing to sit with it. Earl Sweatshirt is in his own orbit, and love it or hate it, you can’t deny that no one else is even attempting what he’s doing.

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