XXL Magazine released its annual freshman class for 2013 this week with the question, “Best ever?” on the cover.
Even though XXL included talented up-and-coming artists like Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Chief Keef, I believe they missed an important artist that fits the freshman bill more than any person on the list with an exception for 18-year-old Joey Bada$$.
His name is Earl Sweatshirt.
The 19-year-old Odd Future artist rose to fame as sort of a mystery after Tyler, The Creator’s stardom brought attention to the group, but there was one problem —nobody could find Sweatshirt.
His music video, “Earl,” off his mixtape, “Earl,” had fans of all different genres of music going mad trying to figure out what happened to him.
In February 2012, Earl returned to his home of Los Angeles after a stint in the Coral Reef Academy where his mother sent him because of the trouble he was getting into before he was known across the country as Earl Sweatshirt.
Since his return, Sweatshirt has done nothing but show more and more promise of potentially becoming one of the greatest lyricists of our generation.
Sweatshirt has released two music videos in the past year, “Chum” in November and “Whoa” this month, and both have generated more than 4.5 million views combined already.
Sweatshirt shows progression as an artist on both singles which will be featured on his highly-anticipated, upcoming album, “Doris.”