A year ago Earl Sweatshirt was still regarded as a mystery as he was not in the public eye while attending school at Coral Reef Academy in Samoa. Despite having a relatively small catalog of released music, he was one of the most buzzed about hip-hop artists in recent years. Fast forward to today and Sweatshirt is back on U.S. soil and putting out music.
His latest song "Chum" was released in early November and it's the first solo single for Sweatshirt since his return from Samoa. The deep, personal lyrics he displays on the track make it apparent why people have been clinging onto his verses for years.
"It's probably been twelve years since my father left, left me fatherless / And I just used to say I hate him in dishonest jest / When honestly I miss this nigga, like when I was six / And every time I got the chance to say it I would swallow it." - Earl Sweatshirt on verse one of "Chum"
Today, Earl dropped the official video for "Chum" and the black and white visuals fittingly compliment the sparse track. The video was directed by Hiro Murai and the song will be featured on Sweatshirt's next album Doris.
Chum was directed by Hiro Murai, and delayed by The Man
— Earl Sweatshirt (@earlxsweat) December 4, 2012
This albums called Doris.
— Earl Sweatshirt (@earlxsweat) December 4, 2012