In 2010, LA rapper Earl Sweatshirt, aka Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, released his debut self-titled mixtape. The then 16-year-old was subsequently sent to a Samoan boarding school by his mother.
Doris, named after his late grandmother, is the first studio album from the young rapper – now back in LA – and is starkly inward-looking.
Despite the remarkable backstory and build-up to this album, Sweatshirt’s delivery is deadpan and he’s not at all keen on exerting himself on the listener.
‘Sunday’ is an early highlight, with bubbling synths, chugging bluesy guitar riff and a guest spot from Frank Ocean that indicates he should rap more.
Elsewhere, the noir-y ‘Centurion’ is one of two excellent Vince Staples-featuring songs with an eerie, looped violin sample, and contains one of the few choruses on the album.
But even among these highlights, there’s nothing that truly grabs your attention. Hooks are hard to come by, and although the woozy production syncs up with Sweatshirt’s drawl to make an evocative mood, it’s not an album you’ll crave to spend extended periods of time with.
It’s a lingering malaise not at all assisted by opener “Pre”, which feels like hard work with its very bland synth melody.
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Nonetheless, credit must be given to Sweatshirt for not feeling pressure from outside influences and clearly creating something that reflects his state of mind.
In terms of rhymes, there is plenty to love here for hip-hop heads, and it’s clear Sweatshirt has great albums in him. Hopefully next time he can harness his talents to create something more outward-focussed.
