E. Coli (song)

Last updated
"E. Coli"
Single by The Alchemist featuring Earl Sweatshirt
from the EP Bread
ReleasedNovember 27, 2018
Genre Alternative hip hop
Length2:12
Label ALC
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) The Alchemist
The Alchemist singles chronology
"Fork in the Pot"
(2018)
"E. Coli"
(2018)
"Still Playing Celo"
(2019)
Earl Sweatshirt singles chronology
"The Mint"
(2018)
"E. Coli"
(2018)
"Farm"
(2019)

"E. Coli" is a song by American record producer the Alchemist featuring American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. Released on November 27, 2018, [1] it was the only single from the former's extended play Bread, released three days later. [2] It is one of the Alchemist's most popular songs. [3]

Contents

Background and composition

An early version of "E. Coli" had been performed live by Earl Sweatshirt in 2015, and had "floated around [...] for a few years online" before the release. [4] [5]

The beat, produced by the Alchemist, is made up of a looped sample from "La Prima Volta" by Italian music group the Lovers. [6] Tom Breihan, writing for Stereogum , describes the production as "broken [and] psychedelic", but "brighter and more concrete" than the production on Sweatshirt's Some Rap Songs . [7] Atwood Magazine describes the song as "hip-hop at its most hypnotic, ambient, and laid-back", and having "an arrestingly catchy string melody, with a melodic and floating bass that sidelines the tight and understated drums." [5]

Jon Blistein, writing for Rolling Stone , describes Earl Sweatshirt's lyrics and performance as "[blending] braggadocio, despair and humor." [8] The lyrics include references to actor Paul Giamatti and Sideways (2004), which Giamatti starred in. [9]

Music video

An official music video, directed by Jason Goldwatch, was released in tandem with the song on YouTube on November 27, 2018. [10] The "not-safe-for-work" video splices together scenes from the Japanese TV-series Ultraman with clips from a porn parody of the same series. [11] [12]

Reception

As of May 2024, the song has over 145 million streams on Spotify. [13]

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References

  1. Centeno, Tony M. (2018-11-28). "The Alchemist "E Coli" Featuring Earl Sweatshirt: Listen To New Song". XXL . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  2. Strauss, Matthew (2018-11-27). "Earl Sweatshirt Joins the Alchemist for New Song "E Coli": Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  3. Bratter, Maximo (2023-02-23). "Hip-hop's modern musical architect". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  4. Burks, Tosten (2018-11-27). "Video: The Alchemist – "E Coli" (ft. Earl Sweatshirt)". Spin . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. 1 2 "The Alchemist & Earl Sweatshirt Effortlessly Create A Glistening Immersive Soundscape On "E Coli"". Atwood Magazine. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  6. Tracklib (2023-07-21). "Sample Breakdown: The Alchemist ft. Earl Sweatshirt - E. Coli". YouTube . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  7. Breihan, Tom (2018-11-27). "The Alchemist – "E Coli" (Feat. Earl Sweatshirt)". Stereogum . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  8. Blistein, Jon (2018-11-27). "Hear Earl Sweatshirt Team With Alchemist for New Song 'E Coli'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  9. Schatz, Lake (2018-11-27). "Earl Sweatshirt joins The Alchemist on sick new song "E Coli": Stream". Consequence . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  10. Sawyer, Jonathan (2018-11-28). "Earl Sweatshirt Connects With The Alchemist On New Track "E Coli"". Highsnobiety . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  11. Williams, Aaron (2018-11-27). "Earl Sweatshirt Teams Up With The Alchemist For An Outrageously NSFW 'E Coli' Video Featuring 'Ultraman'". Uproxx . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  12. Darville, Jordan (2018-11-27). "The Alchemist shares video for "E Coli" featuring Earl Sweatshirt". The Fader . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  13. "E. Coli (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)  The Alchemist, Earl Sweatshirt". Spotify . Retrieved 2024-05-09.