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]
| 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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Background
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
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
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[6] |
| Metacritic | 85/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| The Arts Desk | [9] |
| Beats Per Minute | 86%[10] |
| Clash | 9/10[11] |
| No Ripcord | 8/10[12] |
| The Observer | [13] |
| Paste | 8.2/10[14] |
| Pitchfork | 8.1/10[15] |
| Rolling Stone | [16] |
| Slant Magazine |  [17] |
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 is the first Earl Sweatshirt album that doesn't sound more freaked-out and withdrawn than the one that came before.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
| 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
| 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 |