Last month, an investigative report by Complex purported to locate the whereabouts of missing-in-action Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt, revealing his real name (Thebe Kgositsile) and his current residency (a therapeutic camp in Samoa). In this week's issue of The New Yorker, journalist Kelefa Sanneh's own efforts to find the young enigma are revealed, including conversations with Earl's mother and father-- as well as Earl himself.

In order to read Sanneh's entire story, you'll have to get a copy of the magazine or a subscription to read the digital edition-- but a blog post from staff writer Nicholas Thompson provides some of the feature's more fascinating details.

Sanneh was put in contact with Earl via e-mail through the rapper's mother. (To clarify: Earl's mother sent the e-mails from Sanneh to Earl, and from Earl to Sanneh.) When asked if his current confinement was involuntary, he replied, "No, no no no no no no no no no no."

Earl went on to elaborate on how he feels regarding his fans' clamoring for his release: "Initially I was really pleased that all these people claimed that they wanted me released because I thought that translated into 'they care,'" Earl wrote. "So time progresses and the fan base gets bigger and the 'Free Earl' chants get louder but now with the 'Free Earl' chants come a barely indirect 'Fuck Earl's Mom' and in the blink of an eye my worry changes from 'will there still be this hype when I get back' to 'Oh shit I just inspired a widespread movement of people who are dedicated to the downfall of my mom." He also had this to say about his eventual return to music: "I don't have any definite date...You'll hear from me without a doubt when I'm ready."

You can read more here, including excerpts of interviews with Earl's mom (who agreed to speak under condition of anonymity, to protect herself from OF fans) and dad, South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsile.