Label: Tan Cressida/Columbia Records

Release Date: August 20



A lot has happened since the auspicious release of Earl Sweatshirt's 2010 debut album Earl. This summer, after a lengthy Samoan detention, two rounds of solo albums from his Odd Future compatriots, attention-grabbing festival spots and headlining tours, a TV show and buckets of controversy, the follow-up, Doris, will finally see the light of day.

All the usual suspects are along for the ride (Tyler, the Creator, Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Vince Staples, Casey Veggies) along with some new friends (Pharrell and Chad of the Neptunes, Mac Miller, RZA). But advance material like "Chum" and "Whoa" prove that Earl's jaw-dropping lyricism has somehow gotten even sharper over the years—and now that he's laying off the shock rap tactics, his potential seems boundless. —Craig Jenkins