Video: Earl Sweatshirt “Hive”

Earl Sweatshirt’s upcoming album Doris has been one of hip hop’s most anticipated releases ever since the teenage phenom returned from his Samoan exile about a year and a half ago.  The tracks released previously, “Chum” and “Whoa,” proved Earl’s amazing rhyming talent was still intact and were prime examples of his developing maturity as an artist.  His excellent new video for “Hive” continues that trend and is likely the last sample we’ll get from Doris before the album drops next month.

Earl brings two of his old buddies along for the ride this time.  Casey Veggies and Vince Staples aren’t official Odd Future members, but they have appeared on OF songs from the very beginning which makes the collab feel incredibly natural.  Casey lends Earl a hand on the hook, but it’s the guest verse from Vince Staples that really grabbed my attention.  On his early OF appearances, Staples displayed an ability to match Earl bar for bar when it came to over-the-top macabre verses, but with his verse here, and throughout his new free album Stolen Youth, Staples proves his style has matured considerably as well.  Staples’ street smart verses have been top notch lately and this one meshes perfectly with Earl’s more abstract style.  Earl’s intricate wordplay is spectacular as ever (with that fuckin’ flow that s-s-so belittles men they tentatively tend to turn to go when I am finished), but Vince Staples is equally impressive and makes this one of the best songs I’ve heard this year.  Check out the striking visuals chosen for the song below and pre-order Doris via iTunes.

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Written by John Bugbee