New MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt Collab
A new collaborative track, “MINTY // EARTH,” by MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, and Surf Gang just dropped [https://x.com/i/status/2031219727394062355]. There's a full video release accompanying the track. Hype!
MIKE, born Michael Jordan Bonema, spent his childhood moving between New Jersey, England, Philadelphia, and New York City, influencing his experimental style. He launched his career in 2015 via Bandcamp and gained recognition in hip-hop circles with his 2017 project, *May God Bless Your Hustle*. MIKE co-founded the underground hip-hop collective sLUms. Earl Sweatshirt, born Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, is the son of South African political poet Keorapetse Kgositsile. He gained initial fame as Sly Tendencies before joining Odd Future in 2009. At 16, Earl garnered critical praise for his second mixtape, *Earl* (2010). Surf Gang is a New York-based record label and collective founded by producer Evilgiane in 2017. Originally a skate crew, they evolved into a music collective with members across the US. Surf Gang operates more like a roster of players, tapping into individual skills at will, rather than crowding onto a single track. "MINTY // EARTH" comes from a larger collaborative project between MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt titled *POMPEII/UTILITY*, a 33-track double album entirely produced by Surf Gang. The album is conceptually based on the eruption of Pompeii, exploring themes of building and destruction. Harrison from Surf Gang was a key producer in bringing this long-awaited collaboration to life.
