Pitchfork selected rapper Earl Sweatshirt’s track ‘Making the Band (Danity Kane)’ as the 10th best song of 2023, calling it a “swift shattering of every preconceived notion of what an Earl Sweatshirt song sounds like.”
Having no idea what a typical Earl Sweatshirt song sounds like, I’m not equipped to agree or disagree with that statement. Nor do I have the time or interest to explore the man’s catalog to form an opinion.
So I’ll just say that this track is short enough to not get on my nerves, and it has an interesting backing track. As for the lyrics, I wondered if this is the first time Gene Hackman has been referenced in a rap song, but a Google search revealed that the late Mac Miller name-dropped the actor in ‘Eggs Aisle.‘
[Verse]
What is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
Lil’ mama off Danity Kane
Been geeked up, how many days?
Yeah, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
How many bands I’m finna make?
Feel like Diddy standin’ in a bank
I feel like Diddy dancin’ in the rain
You yappin’, I’ma go in your face
Bruce Banner, how I handle the rage (You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry)
Yeah, loose cannon, enemy of the state
Gene Hackman, we gettin’ away
Two hammers, how we get in the safe
Uh, do damage in a critical way
Boof packs and we ship it away
You mad, got ’em feelin’ a way
Yeah, too bad, hundred-dollar eighths
I don’t got the time or the space
Sixteen-passenger plane
Uh, Sistine Chapel, I pray
Fish cheeks snap on the bait
Chipped teeth, snack on the prey
Uh, stampede crackin’ the gates
Blow money fast just like a game
Go through the cash like it’s a phase
Uh, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
Lil’ mama off Danity Kane
Been geeked up, how many days?
Uh, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
How many bands I’m finna make?
Feel like Diddy standin’ in a bank
Mm, feel like Diddy dancin’ in the rain
You yappin’, I’ma go in your face
Bruce Banner, how I handle the rage (You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry)
Loose cannon, enemy of the state
Gene Hackman, we gettin’ away
Two hammers, how we get in the safe
Do damage in a critical way
Boof packs and we ship it away
You mad, got ’em feelin’ a way
Too bad, hundred-dollar eighths
If I don’t got the time or the space
Sixteen-passenger plane
Sistine Chapel, I pray
Fish cheeks snap on the bait
Chipped teeth, snack on the prey
Stampede crackin’ the gates
Blow money fast just like a game
Go through the cash like it’s a phase
What is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
Lil’ mama off Danity Kane
Been geeked up, how many days?
Yeah, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
How many bands I’m finna make?
Feel like Diddy standin’ in a bank
I feel like Diddy dancin’ in the rain
You yappin’, I’ma go in your face
Bruce Banner, how I handle the rage (You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry)
Yeah, loose cannon, enemy of the state
Gene Hackman, we gettin’ away
Two hammers, how we get in the safe
Uh, do damage in a critical way
Boof packs and we ship it away
You mad, got ’em feelin’ a way
Yeah, too bad, hundred-dollar eighths
I don’t got the time or the space
Sixteen-passenger plane
Uh, Sistine Chapel, I pray
Fish cheeks snap on the bait
Chipped teeth, snack on the prey
Uh, stampede crackin’ the gates
Blow money fast just like a game
Go through the cash like it’s a phase
Uh, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
Lil’ mama off Danity Kane
Been geeked up, how many days?
Uh, what is the plan? Fuck is you sayin’?
How many bands I’m finna make?
Feel like Diddy standin’ in a bank
Mm, feel like Diddy dancin’ in the rain
You yappin’, I’ma go in your face
Bruce Banner, how I handle the rage (You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry)
Loose cannon, enemy of the state
Gene Hackman, we gettin’ away
Two hammers, how we get in the safe
Do damage in a critical way
Boof packs and we ship it away
You mad, got ’em feelin’ a way
Too bad, hundred-dollar eighths
If I don’t got the time or the space
Sixteen-passenger plane
Sistine Chapel, I pray
Fish cheeks snap on the bait
Chipped teeth, snack on the prey
Stampede crackin’ the gates
Blow money fast just like a game
Go through the cash like it’s a phase
Meet Me In Montauk 
10th best song of 2023? Not in my opinion.
Got into Earl Sweatshirt’s work with “Doris”, released in the distant 2013. What a great record. But never heard anything he made after it.