Everyone Grows Up; Earl Sweatshirt’s “Live, Laugh, Love”

By: Jonathan Marin

Earl Sweatshirt is back at it again with his newest release titled “Live Laugh Love.” Marking the 7th full length album in the artists discography. We find ourselves in the new album traveling with Earl to a new period of his life.  Earl Sweatshirt, now 31 years old has recently become a family man.  Years of grief-stricken and emotionally confused songs on “Doris” and “I don’t like sh*t, I don’t go outside” to now. “Live Laugh Love” finds the artist fully embracing himself, his family, and his new status in life. Understanding where he came from, how it affected him and how it’s up to him to course correct not only for him but for his children.  

Earl Sweatshirt’s albums have always been introspective, always painting an interesting picture of his state of mind at each portion of his life. “Live Laugh Love” is no different.  “God knows my heart and that I’m trying to change the course, I’m working on it.” When I found Earl as a young lad, a lyric like this almost seems foreign to me as an artist, as back then, on his songs, it wasn’t so much perspective and much more just genuine despair. It’s so amazing to hear growth flow through an artist in his songs, especially when accompanied by Earl’s signature lo-fi aesthetics. 

The album’s standout track is “Tourmaline.” Earl Sweatshirt seemingly felt the same way, as “Tourmaline” is one of the few tracks with a music video attached to it.  The subject matter aligns with the purposeful and positive nature of the album. The song reflects on a darker time in Earl’s life, and the process of digging himself out of a hole that had been dug for years. “The sun bouncing through the funhouses, I got used to the comedown. I leaped, bounded, and jumped out of it.” This is the one track I would recommend to anyone who wants to listen to this album.  

Earl Sweatshirt’s shifted mentality is showcased in an interview with Zane Lowe in which his process and the album’s themes are explored. He talks about fatherhood and marriage, and the new perspective it has brought to him. “Exhaust”, the album’s closing track, is a song that’s highlighted in the interview, the title being a double entendre for riding off into the sunset and crossing the finish line. The track works as a perfect send off for the project.  

 Earl Sweatshirts ‘Live Laugh Love’ is the ending to a long period of growth and transformation. It examines the journey to becoming whole as a person and what that means for the people who will be in your life for years to come. Tracks like “TOURMALINE” and “CRISCO” reveal why this album is such a short but glorious edition to the Earl Sweatshirt discography, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.