Artist: Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist

Album: Voir Dire

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Background by u/djreshiram

Voir Dire is a French phrase that has several meanings. The english translation of the phrase is “to speak the truth”. In law, Voir Dire is a process of preliminary examination of either a witness or juror, typically to weed out possible biases in the courtroom. In hip-hop, Voir Dire is the newest album from Los Angeles rapper Earl Sweatshirt, joined by veteran producer The Alchemist.

Long before the existence of this album, Earl Sweatshirt has been collaborating with The Alchemist. After Earl’s initial come-up through LA rap group and sensation OFWGKTA, he found himself working with the melting pot of rappers and producers that lay at home in Southern California. With Earl being an obvious standout for having such tightly crafted verses of rhymes and vivid punchlines, it was inevitable he would find himself at The Alchemist’s home in Santa Monica. Fellow OF member Hodgy Beats made the connection happen, which would lead to an ongoing friendship between Al and Earl. It wasn’t until 2016 the duo dropped an official song called “Wind in my Sails”. (It was later revealed the song “Uncle Al” off of Earl’s debut, Doris, was ghost-produced by The Alchemist).

Earl and Al continued to release songs through the years, such as “E. Coli” off of The Alchemist’s EP Bread, “Mtomb” & “Whole World” on Earl’s 2019 EP, Feet of Clay, “Nobles” in 2021 for Al’s EP series This Thing Of Ours and on Earl’s last album Sick! In 2022 on “Old Friend”, “Visions” and “Lye”.

It was inevitable the two would gear up for a joint project. On Xwitter, Earl and Al have mentioned they have already made and released a project together under a secret name and uploaded it to YouTube. Given the nature of the two it is very likely they are joking, but the fun idea that it does exist somewhere on YouTube was amusing for fans of both artists. However, whether it does or doesn’t exist is irrelevant now, as we have been blessed with Vore Dire.

As Earl was gearing up for his 10th anniversary of his debut Doris, he and the Alchemist began teasing their new project. In August, Earl’s website led people to solve puzzles on a Web3 site called Gala Music. The puzzles would then give clues to the album. By the end of the month a listening party was taking place in London, and on that same day, August 25th, Voir Dire was released for free on Gala Music alongside 11 NFTs. On October 6th, the album was released on streaming services with 3 alternate tracks, 2 of which featured Vince Staples.

The album finds Earl being honest with his current self, in a place of reflection and realization. He allows The Alchemist’s hip-hop heavy production of rare samples and filtered effects to be strapped back, much as Earl’s word count. Both take a minimalist approach to their crafts making the most happen with the little they have. On common ground, both allow their greatest assets to shine while giving a hypnotic project that is equally parts beautiful as it is tough. Earl’s rhyming and visual wordplay captivate the listener while Al’s masterwork of his equipment shines with unique and colorful loops that allow for minimal drums that highlight the vocals.

Earl’s ventures into abstract and experimental hip-hop arrive at possibly the highest point of his career in Voir Dire. Sick! was Earl channeling into more conventionally modern hip-hop beats and both Some Rap Songs and Feet of Clay dove into the abstract sounds and experimentation that would lead us to Von Dire.

As a rapper and producer myself, this album hit every mark for me as an obvious hip-hop AOTY (my AOTY is Poppy’s Zig). Earl’s rapping as of late has easily been my favorite of his career. His lazy cadence works so effortlessly while other times he delivers more animated performances to elevate his lyrical content. Since Earl has constructed a “more is less” approach to writing, his analogies and punchlines have gotten much more impactful, as well as highlighting his rhymes as they happen so often with less words to rhyme. Furthermore, The Alchemist is easily one of the best producers in hip-hop, especially when it comes to underground style boom bap. With drumless beats being ever so popular in the genre currently, Al seems to be one of the best at transforming a sample into movements through layering, sequencing and filtering.

Voir Dire is easily one of the best projects in both artists’ careers, and I’m excited to go through all 14 tracks released for the project. I will be reviewing the album based on the tracklisting of the physical release of Voir Dire with the additional track, “All The Small Things” being omitted from the physical, I’ll discuss that song last.

Review by u/djreshiram

100 High Street

Track one opens with a glistening string loop before Earl raps drums until they’re filtered in. He keeps the same flow but keeps the rhyme emphasis consistent, even when he changes to a different rhyme, you almost can’t tell. “100 High Street” is a simple intro track showcasing Earl with almost no alteration from The Alchemist until the outro where he does his thing. A vocal sample over some tight filter effects cue in a woman talking about royal ancestors. Perfect opener.

Vin Skully

The video version of the song appropriately includes a Vin Scully sample. Vin was a LA legend, famous for being the Los Angeles Dodgers commentator. The sample is taken from his retirement speech. The sample sounds like a dusty desert town with an electrifying guitar lick with a nicely tucked bumping bass. Earl comes in with a quick hook going gung ho with the baseball references. His floaty flow stays wide as he uses all the spaces to initiate words in his cool lowkey finesse flow. Earl reminisces his past of poverty and addiction and traumas that came from those. Earl gives a highlight verse with a Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story reference. The song ends with a tape slow down on the beat and a vocal sample about usage.

Sentry (feat. MIKE)

The lead single from the album, “Sentry” features underground hip-hop sensation “MIKE” as one of two artists featured on the album. The song starts with a grunt before Earl rips away on the 12/8 time signature. The Alchemist chops up a sample, leaving it in its time signature giving a swung performance. While Earl flows as he typically does, MIKE comes in and shines while keeping the same melodic verse throughout the entire odd metered beat. The song is quick and sharp with a fade-out to close us into the next track.

Heat Check

“Heat Check” was not initially on the album for the August release date. Replacing “All The Small Things”, the song features a smooth 80s sample of chill drums, warm keys and lush bass. The chops are perfect with cuts into drum breaks and vocal parts. The intro filters out to hear someone exit a vehicle before Earl comes in with his now signature wide flow. “Heat Check” is full of punchlines and clever analogies, as he talks about how he doesn’t mess with most people, outside of his circle. The song is top notch on both artists end, as it ends with a sample back to the same man on the outro of “Vin Skully”.

Mancala (feat. Vince Staples)

Another song that was added to the streaming and physical versions of the album. “Mancala” features Vince Staples with his first of two appearances on this album. The sample comes in and Al takes you right to church with beautiful piano chops full of choir claps and simple drums rocking with a bass line that follows the keys splendidly. Earl comes in so sharp with great bars and an impressive rhyme scheme. After Earl demolishes his verse, Vince comes in mimicking 21 Savage on “A Lot” with his typical gang-adjacent vernacular. The song ends with the sample ending into a skit of Earl having a conversation with his friend in a drive-thru.

27 Braids

Track 6 features one of the most personal songs on the album with Earl opening up about his introduction to fatherhood. He goes through the motions of telling his family while now changing his life perspective to become a good father figure. The beat is a loop of sustaining strings and synths with a guitar lick hammering in, alongside blippy sound effects that sound other-worldly. Earl’s best lyrics easily come for this song as the track goes into a horror movie sample to conclude.

Mac Deuce

The sample from the previous track plays into “Mac Deuce”, with a mesmerizing keyboard line to take charge in the beat. The loop plays a couple times before Earl comes in with some of the most interesting flows on the album. He finds every pocket of the sample, rightfully so, as this comes off as one of Al’s best sample finds on the project. This track ends with a Krush Groove sample about being on top.

Sirius Blac

Probably named after the weed strain, and not the Harry Potter character, the almost drumless sample chop of bells, flutes, guitar and strings comes together nicely with Earl coming in fiercely on the beat. He raps a solid minute and some change before delivering a dope hook before the song fades out.

Dead Zone

Track 10 on the original comes at track 9 here, with “Dead Zone”. The beat is another almost drumless loop, with a syncopated array of piano hits, with high note strings in the ambiance. Earl comes in and finds the pockets of the beat much as he did the entire project; with very wide flows and great wordplay. This is one of the few songs to feature a more traditional hook, as it comes in the beginning of the song and the outro. The man who talks on “Vin Skully” returns here for the outro.

The Caliphate (feat. Vince Staples)

Easily a highlight that lands only on the streaming and physical versions of Voir Dire, “The Caliphate” is the closest thing we get to a trap beat on the album. The haunting beat features a gorgeous string run accompanied by piano and vocal cuts. The drums are simple but effective, with a subby trap bass head-bopping the song along. The song features Earl and Vince trading bars, but Earl definitely gets more bars and damn near steals the show in his third verse. Vince ends with a rare 5 bar verse before the outro goes to a tuned down sample with Miriam Makeba speaking over it.

Free The Ruler

Both the streaming versions and the Web3 version of the album end with “Free The Ruler”. Named after the late LA rapper Drakeo The Ruler, who was incarcerated from 2018-2020 before his death in 2021. The beat features vocal stacks alongside a flickering piano and somber drums. Earl comes in with the final thoughts as he talks through more life lessons and reflection, much as he has on the entire project. The song is a perfect ride out before fading into a battle scene sample to finish the album.

My Brother, The Wind

This song is featured as track 12 on the physical and track 5 on the Web3 version. The song is surrounded by a soul chop with a synth and vocal chop. Earl raps about being around LA and living his best life while tackling the beat right on versus riding the beat.

Geb

Track 13 on the physical and track 9 on the Web3, “Geb” features another classic Alchemist chop with a nice texture of strings and horns alongside a foreign woman coming in for half of the end phrases. A longer cut on the album, Earl raps a stellar verse before heading into a refrain. The beat fades out into a discussion about bacteria.

All The Small Things

Only featured on the Web3 edition as track 4, this song is not a Blink-182 cover. The angelic sample sample is a beautiful synth collage with bouncy bass and over-reverberated drums. A shame it’s not in the streaming version off the beat alone, Earl raps a solid verse with one reference to the pop-punk band.

Favorite Lyrics by u/djreshiram

100 High Street

Seen Skeppy out in Shoreditch

He said the telly for the hoes

Keep them heifers off ya doorstep

Geese fеathers under forehеads

Vin Skully

Big mama with the vision of sorrow, now I know why they wept

I watched it brew into a quarrel, I know just what to bet

Now we halvin’ like Dewey Cox out in the shed

I had to unify all the plurals in pairs

Sentry

Tough clay, all of it’s red

Stuck in the jeans and the fabric, and the twenty-three little strands

Freddie Hubbard sing through the ax

Chop another piece off the branch

Heat Check

I caught a whiff of sidewinder slitherin’ in the vine

And listened, his hissin’ like spinnin’ vinyl

This cylindrical system of life, vicious cycles

Mice give up when it’s dinnertime

The 6ix9ine style snitching spiteful

Mine the biggest, but I’m staying tight-lipped

In addition, I ain’t switching sides

Mancala

Uh, I recollect all the pain I had to author, fresh

Wading out in the waves, foot on a colonizer neck like a collar, curtailed

I’m tryna follow the trail

Cut off the coattails they hangin’ on to, I plo—

I plot on how to prevail and drop gems like Mancala

When I’m put on the spot I don’t bail

My mama always be there

27 Braids

My mama sayin’ that I’ll never be alone

Even though she gotta know that I know she dismayed

With the choices I made

The only way forward is unafraid and focused when I’m holdin’ these reins

Yell “thanks” over my shoulder to my auntie Elaine

Mac Deuce

Don’t be shocked I couldn’t save you from your thoughts or what the fame do

From the sharks and what they fangs do

Or from your heart and what that pain do

From the start, built a box I couldn’t break through

You was lost

I picked apart, what amazed you, it was soft

Sirius Blac

Windows open, I know this breeze

Lucifer son of the morning

I’ll let you talk yourself to sleep

These niggas scared of morals

I just went pro for the Justice League

Dead Zone

Have the pull-out like a flatbed, get it crackin’ like cueballs

Plastered on the wall like a fathead in a pool hall

Mastiff, the dog really that big

Action, true story, they all caption

The Caliphate

Holyfield when I go to him, talk

Ayy, bro, you know I’m not involved

We eagles on attack, big dog

Talons full of snacks

I couldn’t kiss away my last

My Brother, The Wind

What’s goin’ on? I’m in the mall with the Jordan face

High as Hell

Keep the reggie, off a seventy of wedding cake

Geb

Father Time told us the frog leap was over

We outside and they in the front lawn bitin’ they tongue

It’s on tuck like Doubtfire, close as a secret

My mouth shut ’til the bag wired then I release

All The Small Things

Turn the lights off, carry me home

Keep ya head still, the battle uphill

Stillwater’s got depth, don’t hold your breath

Or hold your breath

Talking Points by u/djreshiram

Did you listen to the Web3 version or streaming version? If both, which do you prefer?

Where does this song rank in Earl and Al’s discography?

Favorite beat? Favorite verse?

Is Earl one of the best in the experimental/abstract hip-hop world?

Does The Alchemist ever miss?