Artist Spotlight: Open Mike Eagle

Open Mike Eagle: No Eagle

When Hip Hop emerged from the Bronx in the 70's no one could have forseen the impact it would have on the world. What most people thought was a fad has endured for thirty plus years. Trends come and go and although Hip Hop has suffered through years of commericialization the art form in it's purest state still exist. Some people have labled the non commmercial Hip Hop underground. As if in order for true Hip Hop to exist it must be concealed and hidden from the public. The raw energy of those first pioneers continues to find new bodies to move and young mouths to relay its message. Open Mike Eagle is one such artist who has been willing to accept and harness the energy at the core of Hip Hop culture. As an emcee he has few equals but as an artist he is an eagle flying above the consciousness of commercially limited Hip Hop fan.

The Los Angeles resident and Chicago transplant carries the legacy of Hip Hop artistry. He along with his Project Blowed compatriots have been willing to accept the burden of carrying the word of the Pioneers of Hip Hop. He is an artist more so than a rapper, he paints lyrical gems on the mic that are open for interpretation. He's an architect of music and his album Unapologetic Art Rap will likely be a part of a Hip Hop History cirrculum 100 years from now. In the present the Riverside Rap Examiner tracked down the elusive Los Angeles Rap Artist.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

What's your first memory of Hip Hop?

Open Mike Eagle:

My mom played Eazy E in the car one day when she picked me up from my grandma's house in like 87... She had the big earrings and the fade haircut..the whole nine. That's the first time I ever remember hearing rap music...but then again I was all about the Superbowl Shuffle.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

How is Hip Hop different now then when you first discovered it?

Open Mike Eagle:

The sound quality in the beats is better and more words have been rhymed already so you have to go pretty far to come up with new rhyme schemes...other than that not so much i think...the players are different...but the game has the same archetypes more or less.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

Are you still discovering things about Hip Hop?

Open Mike Eagle:

I'm discovering new things about hip-hop listeners...not discovering a whole bunch about hip-hop...not that there's nothing else to learn, I'm just finding that I had a lot of assumptions about the hip-hop audience in general that I'm having to confront.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

When did you realize you wanted to be an emcee?

Open Mike Eagle:

When I realized that there were people who rapped that werent famous. The first time I saw somebody in a cipher I knew I wanted to do that.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

Who are some of your influences?

Open Mike Eagle:

All Project Blowed emcees. Alot of rock bands (They Might Be Giants, XTC, Tv on the Radio, etc)

Riverside Rap Examiner:

Do you consider yourself an Underground artist? And what is your definition of Underground?

Open Mike Eagle:

Yeah...I guess...Im not a huge fan of that term...it makes me feel like a morlock...like there's something wrong with what I do. I'd rather consider myself "indie"or alternative or some other vague term.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

How has music changed because of the internet? Do you utilize technology to spread your music?

Open Mike Eagle:

The internet made music easy to copy and spread. The internet changed everything. Its a good way to connect to folks and let people know what you're doing but its been the vessel for the great devaluing of the LP.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

What's the difference between Rap and Art Rap?

Open Mike Eagle:

people should expect Art Rap to be good. thats the only difference. If you hear rap that sounds like its pandering or empty then it aint Art Rap.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

Tell us a little about Busdriver. How did you meet and what's the relationship like between the two of you?

Open Mike Eagle:

He's a rap god and he allows me to be his earth friend. Its pretty cool.

Riverside Rap Examiner:

What can we expect from Open Mike Eagle in 2011?

Open Mike Eagle:

A whole nother record that I keep changing the name of. Right now its called "Too Much Else Was Wrong"