Lyin’ on the edge of a cliff / Watchin’ everything fall down / Lyin’ on the edge of the world / I ain’t afraid of anything
Artists who rely on schtick and jokes as the foundation for their music are usually more comedian than musician. Weird Al Yankovic wouldn’t be a household name if he stuck to serious themes and his accordion. Usually, groups like Flight of the Conchords, The Lonely Island, and Tenacious D are quickly dismissed as a funny sideshow act, with an emphasis on “act”. Not real. USUALLY.
I’m doin’ what I’m ‘posed to do, doin’ what I wanna do / I set myself for a move and a follow through
Open Mike Eagle is one of the exceptions to the rule (although I admit I played tracks from The Lonely Island’s “Turtleneck & Chain” album unironically in a DJ set). Dude can really rap, and not rap as defined by Hip Hop Twitter (i.e. 20-year old suburban kids). Real rap. Poetic lyricism, expert flow, soulful musicality. More Mac Miller than Lil Dicky. If he wasn’t so camouflaged as Open Mic Night, he would be recognized as one of our more important voices in hip hop.
With solo and collaborative projects in the teens, Open Mike Eagle has had longevity as a self-identified creator of “art rap,” critically acclaimed and well known in indie rap circles. His latest release, Anime, Trauma, and Divorce is Eagle’s 2020 contribution and the source of our track of the week, “The Edge of New Clothes.” In the midst of a mid-life crisis and pandemic, the vibe of this track is more dark than humor. Produced by Belgium electronic music producer Luden, we hear internal dialogue over a metronome paced beat. Metallic sounds dominate this horror film score, as Eagle implores us to take control of a life spinning out of control:
Make your own choices, self-care and your medicine / But I can see the sweat right there in the letterin’ / Businesses don’t fight fair, it’s competitive / Money have you singin’ nightmares in your head again
Hilarious, huh?