“523” is an Earl Sweatshirt produced track under his pseudonym RandomBlackDude and serves as an interlude for his studio album Doris. The production features some light drums and an eerie piano played on a loop throughout the duration of the track. This eeriness follows previous track such as “Centurion” and “Hive,” to continue with the dark and distant themes this album brings to the listener. The whole instrumental is reminiscent of a slowed down version of the Silent Hill soundtrack.

It’s possible that the song title is in reference to acetaminophen and oxycodone, also dubbed “Percocet,” which are drugs used as pain relievers. This would make sense considering the broken mind state that Earl carries with him throughout the album, most notable on the lead single “Chum.” Other people have theorized that it was the date he made the track – May 23rd.