Earl Sweatshirt Teams Up With MIKE, Surf Gang on Single ‘Leadbelly’

Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, and producers Surf Gang joined forces for a new single, “Leadbelly.” The track comes off their upcoming collaborative LP, Pompeii // Utility, out April 3 via 10k/Tan Cressida/Surf Gang Records.

The album is a double record, with Pompeii showcasing MIKE’s tracks and Utility focusing on Sweatshirt’s work. Both rappers worked with Surf Gang’s Harrison, evilgiane, Elipropperr, and Flea Diamonds on the songs. MIKE and Sweatshirt have been collaborating regularly since touring together in 2019.

“I relate to MIKE like my actual sibling,” Sweatshirt recently told The Face. ​“That’s the foundation that made it easy for the project to come together.”

MIKE added, “We’ve been working toward the same thing for a long time. It was already there.”

The rappers will hit the road in June on their Home on the Range tour in support of the album. Ahead of the tour, they will team up with Surf Gang for three secret shows in Los Angeles, New York City, and London.

Last year, Sweatshirt dropped a surprise album, Live Laugh Love. The LP followed his 2022 effort Sick! and 2023’s Voir Dire, a collaboration with the Alchemist. 

MIKE, meanwhile, shared Pinball II, a follow-up to his album Pinball, last May. The rapper told Rolling Stone in 2024 that he wanted to keep releasing music on a regular basis. “I’m trying to flood the streets, bro,” he said. “I’m trying to keep dropping. I can’t lie. I’m in a mode right now. I’m trying to fuck shit up, and I’m trying to see all my homies fuck shit up. So that’s my main shit right there. World takeover. But, nah, for real. Just trying to give my life back to this shit.”