Open Mike Eagle has done it... again.
Open Mike Eagle is a hip hop artist from Chicago. He's been around for a good number of years, releasing projects since 2010, he was one of the innovators in the alternative hip hop genre, even one of the first to coin the phrase "art rap". In one of his latest endeavors, he released this, Brick Body Kids Still Daydream. A concept album about the projects Mr. Eagle used to live in, down in south side Chicago. A few years ago, these buildings were torn down, what was left was Mike with a shit ton of feeling about it. Here, they manifest into one of his most consistent albums ever.
I've been listening to this man since the release of Dark Comedy, an album I hold near and dear to my heart. Every since then, Michael Eagle has impressed me with his quirky bars, clever wordplay, and fantastic lyricism. It only continues here, except even darker, even urgent at times.
Mr. Eagle is a lot more conceptual here, he sticks to the projects theme the entire album, a departure from what we're used to. In a NPR interview, he gave the thought process for the album, in which he compares the buildings that were demolished, to the black struggle in America. He made a point that the buildings were not replaced with anything. They were torn down for just being them, which he compared to being a black man in America. Soon as he said that, this album made a LOT more sense. Not like it was difficult to decipher it before, however, it provides more context and depth to the album. It sticks to him deep, especially since he used to live there.
Look at the track "No Selling (Uncle Butch Pretends It Don't Hurt)", he talks in detail on the environment of the area, living with his brother, and how he tries to pretend it doesn't effect him, when really he hurts inside. Or the track "(How Could Anybody) Feel At Home", honestly made me almost want to cry. It showcases that the only actual place that felt like home, or at least the last place, was the projects, and he's travelled so much that no other place is home anymore.
Most of the other tracks explore these types of emotions. I haven't even gotten to the themes of gentrification. The perfect example is the last track, "My Auntie's Building". He tells of his auntie's building that was torn down, and all the people she connected with, mostly the children in the building. Now they're all gone. The album art showcases this. When the buildings go down, the people do too.
I have to mention before we end, the production is... different than past Open Mike Eagle albums. There's very few light moments here. Most of the album explores discomfort, sadness, displacement, injustice, and the condition of America and their projects. The production is perfect for showcasing these moods. The bass is mostly muddy, the production is glitchier than before, sometimes sounding like it's coming from the projects themselves. There's no pop tunes, there's no time for it. It's his most consistent project yet.
Oh my, the features in this album are great as well. Don't you DARE miss Sammus' feature in the song "Hymnal". Fucking. Breathtaking.
So yeah, this album is fantastic. It's not great in a "replayable" sense, it's mostly great in Michael Eagle himself. He brought together this great concept, great beats, even better lyrics and themes. It might be his most powerful album yet.
9/10
Favorite Tracks: Brick Body Complex, My Auntie's Building, (How Could Anybody) Feel At Home, No Selling (Uncle Butch Pretending It Don't Hurt), Daydreaming in the Projects, Hymnal
Least Favorites: uhhhh... I guess 95 Radios even though it's good?
I've been listening to this man since the release of Dark Comedy, an album I hold near and dear to my heart. Every since then, Michael Eagle has impressed me with his quirky bars, clever wordplay, and fantastic lyricism. It only continues here, except even darker, even urgent at times.
Mr. Eagle is a lot more conceptual here, he sticks to the projects theme the entire album, a departure from what we're used to. In a NPR interview, he gave the thought process for the album, in which he compares the buildings that were demolished, to the black struggle in America. He made a point that the buildings were not replaced with anything. They were torn down for just being them, which he compared to being a black man in America. Soon as he said that, this album made a LOT more sense. Not like it was difficult to decipher it before, however, it provides more context and depth to the album. It sticks to him deep, especially since he used to live there.
Look at the track "No Selling (Uncle Butch Pretends It Don't Hurt)", he talks in detail on the environment of the area, living with his brother, and how he tries to pretend it doesn't effect him, when really he hurts inside. Or the track "(How Could Anybody) Feel At Home", honestly made me almost want to cry. It showcases that the only actual place that felt like home, or at least the last place, was the projects, and he's travelled so much that no other place is home anymore.
Most of the other tracks explore these types of emotions. I haven't even gotten to the themes of gentrification. The perfect example is the last track, "My Auntie's Building". He tells of his auntie's building that was torn down, and all the people she connected with, mostly the children in the building. Now they're all gone. The album art showcases this. When the buildings go down, the people do too.
I have to mention before we end, the production is... different than past Open Mike Eagle albums. There's very few light moments here. Most of the album explores discomfort, sadness, displacement, injustice, and the condition of America and their projects. The production is perfect for showcasing these moods. The bass is mostly muddy, the production is glitchier than before, sometimes sounding like it's coming from the projects themselves. There's no pop tunes, there's no time for it. It's his most consistent project yet.
Oh my, the features in this album are great as well. Don't you DARE miss Sammus' feature in the song "Hymnal". Fucking. Breathtaking.
So yeah, this album is fantastic. It's not great in a "replayable" sense, it's mostly great in Michael Eagle himself. He brought together this great concept, great beats, even better lyrics and themes. It might be his most powerful album yet.
9/10
Favorite Tracks: Brick Body Complex, My Auntie's Building, (How Could Anybody) Feel At Home, No Selling (Uncle Butch Pretending It Don't Hurt), Daydreaming in the Projects, Hymnal
Least Favorites: uhhhh... I guess 95 Radios even though it's good?
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