Here's something we didn't expect to see (or hear) today: Future Islands singer Samuel Herring and Los Angeles rapper Earl Sweatshirt have collaborated on a new song called "Play It Cool." Stream it above, or click here to go to vanityfair.com, which premiered it today.
"Play It Cool" is a track off "The Alchemist and Oh No Present: Welcome to Los Santos," a new album inspired by the video game "Grand Theft Auto V."
Herring received the beat first from Alchemist and Oh No, who produce together under the name Gangrene, Alchemist told the magazine. Herring laid down the hook and then the track was sent to Earl, who told Vanity Fair in an email that the singer's famous appearance on David Letterman's show caught his eye.
"I was instantly moved to get on the song after seeing the dude from Future Islands' dance moves," Earl wrote to the magazine.
The album — which also features Killer Mike, Phantogram, Little Dragon and others — drops on April 21.
Could this be the first of multiple collaborations between Earl, the Odd Future-affiliated MC who plays Rams Head Live on April 22, and Herring? We hope so, because we know the Future Islands frontman can hold his own on the mic. (Video clip briefly contains explicit language.)