Sick!
Sick! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 14, 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2020-2021 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 24:00 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Earl Sweatshirt chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sick! | ||||
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Sick! (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. It was released on January 14, 2022, through Tan Cressida and Warner Records.[1] The album features collaborations with Armand Hammer and Zelooperz, along with additional vocals by Na-Kel Smith. Production was handled by the Alchemist, Black Noi$e, Navy Blue (under the alias Ancestors), Samiyam, Alexander Spit, Theravada, Rob Chambers, and some co-production by Earl himself.[2] It was preceded by the singles "2010", "Tabula Rasa" featuring Armand Hammer, and "Titanic".[3]
Background[edit]
Earl Sweatshirt called the album his "humble offering of 10 songs recorded in the wake of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns",[4] as he "leaned into the chaos" of the world's growing "anger and restlessness".[5] The album was announced on December 10, 2021.[1]
Cover art[edit]
The album cover depicts a framed mold of Earl Sweatshirt wearing a mask surrounded by two pills, African photos, a clove of garlic, and some sage.[5]
Critical reception[edit]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[6] |
Metacritic | 85/100[7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Arts Desk | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Beats Per Minute | 86%[10] |
Clash | 9/10[11] |
No Ripcord | 8/10[12] |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paste | 8.2/10[14] |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10[15] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sick was met with widespread critical acclaim from critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 85, based on 17 reviews.[7] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.9 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[6]
Tom Breihan of Stereogum named Sick! "Album of the Week", stating, "SICK! is the first Earl Sweatshirt album that doesn't sound more freaked-out and withdrawn than the one that came before. It's a dense, rich, contemplative piece of work... [it's] a strange and insular rap record, but it's a rap record nonetheless, and it's a great one".[18] Concluding the review for AllMusic, Fred Thomas felt that while " Sick! is brief, with just ten songs clocking in at around 24 minutes, but every move is placed with intention and forethought. Sharp, direct, and fluid in a way that's almost supernatural, Sick! perfectly conveys the duality of frustration and drive to persevere that arises from living through exceptionally difficult times."[8] Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Dylan Green compared the album to its predecessor; "Sick! doesn't recontextualize the genre in the same way Some Rap Songs did, but it's an act of self-revolution. It magnifies a newly assured Earl Sweatshirt, skin shed and free to ascend."[15]
Track listing[edit]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Old Friend" | The Alchemist | 1:19 | |
2. | "2010" |
| Black Noi$e | 2:28 |
3. | "Sick!" |
| 1:51 | |
4. | "Vision" (featuring Zelooperz) |
|
| 4:14 |
5. | "Tabula Rasa" (featuring Armand Hammer) |
|
| 4:11 |
6. | "Lye" |
| The Alchemist | 1:52 |
7. | "Lobby" (interlude) |
| Samiyam | 1:12 |
8. | "God Laughs" |
|
| 1:24 |
9. | "Titanic" |
| Black Noi$e | 1:52 |
10. | "Fire in the Hole" |
| Black Noi$e | 3:37 |
Total length: | 24:00 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a recording engineer.
- "Titanic" features additional vocals by Na-Kel Smith.
Charts[edit]
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] | 56 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] | 133 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] | 82 |
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[22] | 86 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] | 38 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[24] | 23 |
US Billboard 200[25] | 80 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] | 45 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Zemler, Emily (December 10, 2021). "Earl Sweatshirt Previews New Album With Single 'Tabula Rasa'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 7, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt Reveals Full Track List for 'Sick!' Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (December 10, 2021). "Earl Sweatshirt Announces Sick Project, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ Murray, Robin (December 10, 2021). "Earl Sweatshirt Announces New 'Sick' Project". Clash. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Bustard, Andy (December 10, 2021). "Earl Sweatshirt Announces New Album 'Sick!'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ a b "Sick! by Earl Sweatshirt reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ a b "Sick! by Earl Sweatshirt Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Sick! – Earl Sweatshirt". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ Thorfinn-George, Harry. "Album: Earl Sweatshirt - Sick!". The Arts Desk. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ Sentz, Tim (January 21, 2022). "Album Review: Earl Sweatshirt - SICK!". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Murray, Robin (January 14, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt - SICK!". Clash. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Glassey, Jackson (January 26, 2022). "Earl Swearshirt: SICK! - Music Review - No Ripcord". No Ripcord. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (January 16, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt: Sick! review - a musically rich reset". The Observer. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Buford, Jayson (January 21, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt: 'SICK!' Album Review - Paste". Paste. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Green, Dylan (January 13, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt: Sick! Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Kearse, Stephen (January 14, 2022). "Review: Earl Sweatshirt's 'Sick!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Bedenbaugh, Thomas (January 20, 2022). "Earl Sweatshirt 'Sick!' Review: A Direct, In-Your-Face Account of Isolation". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (January 11, 2022). "Album Of The Week: Earl Sweatshirt's 'SICK!'". Stereogum. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 January 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1664. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 24, 2022. p. 6.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Earl Sweatshirt – Sick!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ "Earl Sweatshirt Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "2022 3-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Earl Sweatshirt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Earl Sweatshirt Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.