Earl Sweatshirt

Thebe Neruda Kgositsile (born on February 24, 1994), professionally known as Earl Sweatshirt, is am emcee and producer from Chicago, Illinois. Earl Sweatshirt gained early recognition as part of the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future, joining under the stage name Earl Sweatshirt in 2009. His breakout mixtape Earl (2010) was acclaimed for its dark lyrical content and inventive wordplay.

Shortly after, Kgositsile was sent to a boarding school in Samoa for at-risk youth, causing a temporary hiatus in his career. Upon returning in 2012, he signed with Columbia Records and launched his imprint Tan Cressida, releasing his debut album Doris (2013), followed by I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside (2015), Some Rap Songs (2018), and Sick! (2022). His music is known for its introspective lyrics, abstract production, and jazz and lo-fi influences.

In 2023, he released Voir Dire, a collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, initially through Gala Music before a wider release. Earl is widely regarded as a lyricist with a unique delivery and has cited artists like MF DOOM, Madlib, and Jay-Z as influences. As of 2024, he continues to perform and contribute to social causes, including a benefit concert for Gaza and Sudan.