Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist’s Hidden Gem: ‘VOIR DIRE’ Unveiled
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In a serendipitous revelation, the prodigious collaboration between Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist has come to light. Their unexpected 11-track masterpiece, ‘VOIR DIRE’, is slated for an official release next month. But its inception, unbeknownst to fans, happened four years prior when The Alchemist discreetly dropped it on YouTube under a pseudonym.
The covert release stayed submerged in the depths of the platform, its existence becoming the stuff of fan legends. A fervent scavenger hunt by ardent supporters recently unearthed this long-speculated album. Whispers of this collaboration turned palpable last month when a teaser, the lead track ‘Sentry’ with Mike, emerged on various streaming platforms. This was but a precursor to the announcement of the entire album, set to grace streaming platforms on October 6, 2023, via Tan Cressida / ALC / Warner Records.
Enhancing its allure, three fresh tracks have been appended since its initial, clandestine release: ‘Heatcheck’, ‘The Caliphate’, and ‘Mancala’. The spotlight shines particularly bright on the last two, featuring the brilliant Vince Staples. To further whet the appetite of fans, ‘The Caliphate’ was unveiled over the weekend, accompanied by a visually engaging music video.
Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist aren’t just stopping with the album. They have announced an expansive North American tour this November, enlisting the talents of Mike and Black Noi$e. The musical odyssey begins on November 6 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, journeying through iconic cities like San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, and Detroit before the month’s end.
Reminiscing on their synergy, Earl Sweatshirt, in a 2022 Mixmag cover story, articulated his profound appreciation for The Alchemist. He reminisced about their work on ‘Sick!’, saying, “Al is a truly remarkable individual, someone who genuinely holds my well-being dear. Collaborating with him transcends mere recording; it becomes an intimate experience. Being in his space allows me the freedom to be authentically me, in all my intricacies, enabling a pure, unfiltered musical expression.”
In essence, ‘VOIR DIRE’ isn’t just another album; it’s a testament to an organic partnership between two artists, a hidden treasure now ready for the world to revel in.
