Some Rap Songs was released on November 30, 2018. On January 30, 2019, Earl uploaded an 8-minute short film titled Nowhere, Nobody in promotion of the album, featuring different songs from the album throughout the video.
Singles
The album's lead single, "Nowhere2go", was released on November 8, 2018. The album's second single, "The Mint" featuring Navy Blue, was released on November 20, 2018.
Critical reception
Some Rap Songs was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 86, based on 19 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.0 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as 83 out of 100, based on 19 reviews. Reviewing the album for The A.V. Club, Clayton Purdom stated "Well, it can be . But it's also ecstatic. Make no mistake: This is an album by one of the best rappers alive, elbowing slant rhymes and assonance into his disses and exhaling those singularly oblong sentences of his." Fred Thomas of AllMusic saying "Simultaneously sad, strange, and warmly nostalgic, Some Rap Songs is excitingly listenable and emotionally connected despite its abstruse approach. The album's triumphs are in its fearless risk taking and the insight it allows into the journey of Earl Sweatshirt's constant creative regeneration." Timmhotep Aku of Pitchfork said, "The project is distinctly rough around the edges, to great effect; there's the sound of dust popping off vinyl and cassette hiss throughout.... His uncle and father are gone, but Earl is still here, carrying on their artistic legacy—and, with the help of his collaborators, building his own." Sputnikmusic wrote, "Every loop reveals another layer to the undulating beat, but for the first time thus far it's Earl taking the spotlight, rising above the track with a tired yet hopeful rap that's so melodic he's nearly singing. And in case you were worried the boy wouldn't spit, it's followed quickly by "December 24", a song dating back years under the name "Bad Acid" which provides the strongest link to the more aggressive and conventional early 2010s Earl." Daniel Spielberger of HipHopDX praised the album saying, "Some Rap Songs is reminiscent to Earl's late friend Mac Miller's final album Swimming. Both bring the listener through the process of overcoming trauma and healing but ultimately, choose to leave the story unfinished." XXL critic Chris Gibbons said, "Some Rap Songs packs a lot in 25 minutes, making for an unsettling listen that is also one of the most personal, gripping rap records of the year." Charles Holmes from Rolling Stone stated, "Some Rap Songs is the rare album by an immensely talented lyricist who deigns not to pull out any fireworks, opting to sink into the cushion's of a therapist's couch in the search for an honest work of art. It's a delicate statement of restraint, and in this case the process shows more of the artist than ever before." Sam Moore from NME enjoyed the album, saying, "Some Rap Songs may be a brief exercise, but its ambition and the—largely successful—execution of its ideas demonstrate that the enigmatic Earl is as fascinating as ever." M. T. Richards of Exclaim! said, "Although a very strong record for what it is, Some Rap Songs lacks the emotional power of the two albums that preceded it, particularly Doris, which charted Earl's transition back to civilian life from a Samoan wilderness camp."
Accolades
Track listing
Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes. Sample credits
"Shattered Dreams" contains samples from "Shattered Dreams" as performed by The Endeavors and written by John Thomas Jr.
"Cold Summers" contains a sample of "Road Man " as performed by Mighty Flames and written by Willy N'For, Emmanuel Baloka and Jimmy Stormy.
"Ontheway!" contains samples from "Trust in Me Baby" as performed by Soul Superiors and written by Sherman Willis.
"The Mint" contains a sample from the film Black Dynamite.
"The Bends" contains a sample from "After Loving You" as performed by Linda Clifford and written by Lowrell Simon and Richard Tufo.
"Veins" contains a sample from "I Made a Mistake" as performed by Billy Jones and written by Curtis Mayfield.
"Playing Possum" contains vocal samples from "UCLA Law Keynote" as spoken by Earl's mother, Cheryl Harris, and an excerpt of "Anguish Longer Than Sorrow", a poem written and spoken by Earl's father, Keorapetse Kgositsile.
"Riot!" contains a sample from "Riot!" as performed and written by Hugh Masekela.
