Earl Sweatshirt, real name Thebe Kgositsile, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. Closely linked with rap collective Odd Future, he has collaborated with Frank Ocean and Vince Staples on mixtapes.
The rapper is sent to Samoa to a school for at-risk young men, Coral Reef Academy, resulting in a two-year hiatus from music.
He returns to USA where he joins Odd Future on stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
Earl Sweatshirt’s full length debut Doris drops, featuring guest appearances from Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean, along with Vince Staples, RZA, and Mac Miller. The release was met with widespread critical acclaim and debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, cementing the young rapper as one of hip hop’s hottest properties.
Earl’s sophomore record I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside surprise releases, with claims the record label gave him no notice they would release the album. Earl maintains I Don’t Like Shit… was his first album.
The rapper unveils his new clothing brand DEATHWORLD featuring a collection of subtle staples.
Sweatshirt releases his third studio album, Some Rap Songs.
Early in the year the rapper says that Some Rap Songs will be his last album with Columbia Records and that he is “excited to be free because then can do riskier shit.”