Earl Sweatshirt has been in the back of people’s heads since the release of his EP Earl at age 16. Since then, the rapper has gained popularity through his debut album Doris, his membership to Tyler, the Creator’s group Odd Future, and his mellow, uber-chill contribution to Frank Ocean’s Super Rich Kids in 2012, recorded when he was just 18 years old. Now 21 and fresh off the release of his second album I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside to critical acclaim, many are becoming die hard fans of the Los Angeles rapper.

Earl Sweatshirt brought his current tour to the Republic New Orleans, last Saturday, September 12th. The show couldn’t come soon enough, as it had been rescheduled from May 8th due to illness. With fans waiting months, the line grew long even before the doors were opened.

At 11pm Earl Sweatshirt made his first appearance on stage. This was a relief, as it was rumored that he had been showing up late for his shows. This one started right on time. The crowd was cheering at unthinkable volumes. He picked up the mic, started his first song “Mantra” off his new album, and the mosh pit lost all sanity.

After it had calmed down by the second or third song, the crowd, while still quite animated, began to truly listen. Everyone watched in awe as Earl, backed by his sidekick Nakel Smith (who had made appearances on each of the opener’s sets), had a lyrical catharsis which mixed his best work off both of his albums. He wasn’t afraid to get close to the front of the crowd, and he wasn’t hesitant to invite them on stage.

He performed with feeling and realism, and the entire crowd was with him the whole way into the after show. Offering a slower, more majestic version of hip-hop, Earl’s show was louder than most expected, but this only hyped the crowd up more.

Earl Sweatshirt (real name: Thebe Neruda Kgositsile), is climbing the ladder with a ton of momentum. This show proved why Kendrick Lamar recently named Earl his favorite rapper. He is clearly one of the most talented artists out there and deserves any and all recognition. Be sure to check this guy out, and don’t miss his live shows, because it’s worth every penny.

Written by: Steven McAfee