Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE Announce Joint Album ‘POMPEII // UTILITY,’ Share Singles “Earth” and ”Minty”

Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE have maintained a close creative partnership for years—evidenced by standout cuts like MIKE’s “allstsar” (2020) and Earl’s “Sentry” (2023)—and now, these celebrated underground lyricists are collaborating on POMPEII // UTILITY, a collective LP helmed by the SURF GANG crew. This expansive 33-track release arrives April 3, with today’s drop featuring the lead tracks, Earl’s “Earth” and MIKE’s “Minty.”

As per the official announcement, the record “provides an grounded and communal vibe—an shared perspective on empathy, delight, sorrow, transformation, and our duty to something beyond ourselves.” SURF GANG member Harrison handles the beat for “Earth,” a mellow blend of synthesizers, low-end bass, and sparse digital rhythmic textures. In the song’s debut verse, Earl delivers his lines with a sluggish, nonchalant flow that provides an intriguing counterpoint to his triumphant lyrical content.

They were camping out, nah, we were lurking
We keep moving forward and they pull back
It’s a rhythm, you can’t skip a step
They keep glamorizing the streets
I’ll return, don’t concern yourself with me

During the second stanza, Earl maintains a cool, understated delivery, barely articulating his words as he pushes forward.