Update: Odd Future Rep Casts Doubt on Legitimacy of Earl Sweatshirt Statement

BY Gregory AdamsPublished May 17, 2011

Considering we now know his whereabouts, we thought the mystery of estranged Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt had been solved. A representative for the group has suggested that not all is as it seems, though, hinting that a recent statement from the young rapper could be fraudulent.

While a recent piece on Earl in the New Yorker had the hip-hopper, who is currently enrolled at a school in Samoa, admitting he's pleased so many people are excited over his music, he also insisted that people lay off on his mom, who reportedly shipped him off to a boarding school on the island area. At first we took the statement, which was sent to New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh via email, at face value, but now Odd Future's publicist is questioning whether or not Earl actually penned the passage. For the record, the rep thinks the teen's mother scripted the statement.

"With them on tour [Odd Future] don't want to talk about it," Heathcliff Berru told XXL. "But it makes me wonder if that was Earl speaking or his mother speaking on his behalf. [New Yorker scribe] Kelefa [Sanneh] never technically had direct communication with Earl. All I know is that doesn't sound like Earl. My only thought is for his safe return."

We still don't know when Earl Sweatshirt will be returning to California to rejoin his Odd Future brethren. "You'll hear from me without a doubt when I'm ready," was what the supposed Sweatshirt wrote in his message. Maybe we'll hear from him when his mom wants us to hear from him, though.

As for the rest of the Odd Future gang, considering they're pretty busy dodging beer bottles and fleeing outdoor mobs, they have yet to comment on the situation.

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