One last good bye before I take my .45, shoot a hole in the sky, rip it open and climb inside.
October 19, 2010 7:25 AM Subscribe
Eyedea: A Life Cut Short. On Sunday, Michael "Eyedea" Larson's mother confirmed on Facebook that her son had passed away over the weekend. Eyedea was a talented and well-respected indie rapper with Rhymesayers.
A PayPal has been set up for anyone who wishes to help the family with the memorial service. This article from the Harvard Crimson is a few years old, but does a decent job of expressing what Eyedea was all about. He will be missed.
A PayPal has been set up for anyone who wishes to help the family with the memorial service. This article from the Harvard Crimson is a few years old, but does a decent job of expressing what Eyedea was all about. He will be missed.
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posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:50 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:50 AM on October 19, 2010
Love his work. RIP, Michael, your relentless honesty and keen perceptions will be missed.
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posted by LooseFilter at 8:02 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by LooseFilter at 8:02 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by JoJoPotato at 8:04 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by JoJoPotato at 8:04 AM on October 19, 2010
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So bummed to hear about this over the weekend.
Eyedea was a prolific battle rapper, and won several awards as such. Here are some of his battles:
Eyedea v. E-Dub
Eyedea v. Slug
Eyedea v. R.K.
Eyedea v. Murs
Eyedea v. Brother Ali
Eyedea v. Propane
Eyedea v. Dose One
Eyedea v. P.E.A.C.E.
Eyedea v. Shells
Eyedea v. Optimus Prime
Eyedea v. Unseen
Note: Battle rap is basically two people making brutal personal attacks on each other in 60 second intervals. Kind of like our modern political debates, but with more references to sexual relations with the opponents mother. If this sort of thing offends you, skip these.
posted by rollbiz at 8:08 AM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
So bummed to hear about this over the weekend.
Eyedea was a prolific battle rapper, and won several awards as such. Here are some of his battles:
Eyedea v. E-Dub
Eyedea v. Slug
Eyedea v. R.K.
Eyedea v. Murs
Eyedea v. Brother Ali
Eyedea v. Propane
Eyedea v. Dose One
Eyedea v. P.E.A.C.E.
Eyedea v. Shells
Eyedea v. Optimus Prime
Eyedea v. Unseen
Note: Battle rap is basically two people making brutal personal attacks on each other in 60 second intervals. Kind of like our modern political debates, but with more references to sexual relations with the opponents mother. If this sort of thing offends you, skip these.
posted by rollbiz at 8:08 AM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
Metafilter: more references to sexual relations with the opponents mother
posted by wheelieman at 8:11 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by wheelieman at 8:11 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by wheelieman at 8:12 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by wheelieman at 8:12 AM on October 19, 2010
He is beautiful. .
posted by psylosyren at 8:20 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by psylosyren at 8:20 AM on October 19, 2010
rollbiz: Note: Battle rap is basically two people making brutal personal attacks on each other in 60 second intervals.
Off the top of their head, keeping time with a beat. It's not angry shouting, it's structured angry talking.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:25 AM on October 19, 2010
Off the top of their head, keeping time with a beat. It's not angry shouting, it's structured angry talking.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:25 AM on October 19, 2010
Off the top of their head, keeping time with a beat. It's not angry shouting, it's structured angry talking.
Very true, and the battle almost always ends with a handshake and congratulations to the winner.
I just wanted people to know what they were about to listen to, because it's very different than his studio hip-hop.
posted by rollbiz at 8:28 AM on October 19, 2010
Very true, and the battle almost always ends with a handshake and congratulations to the winner.
I just wanted people to know what they were about to listen to, because it's very different than his studio hip-hop.
posted by rollbiz at 8:28 AM on October 19, 2010
Shit. Talented guy, gone too soon. E&A was such a good album.
posted by penduluum at 8:29 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by penduluum at 8:29 AM on October 19, 2010
Also: Eyedea's discography, and discography for Eyedea and Abilities (Larson and Gregory "Max" Keltgen).
posted by filthy light thief at 8:29 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 8:29 AM on October 19, 2010
He was amazing. I love this line from the Crimson article:
(Contrary to popular belief, he’s never battled Eminem, and would only do so “maybe if we’re both famous, for charity or something cool like that.”)
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posted by ORthey at 8:33 AM on October 19, 2010
(Contrary to popular belief, he’s never battled Eminem, and would only do so “maybe if we’re both famous, for charity or something cool like that.”)
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posted by ORthey at 8:33 AM on October 19, 2010
Awesome. Thanks for the links, guys. I didn't want to clutter the main post too much. That video from the Wake Up Show is excellent.
posted by TrinaSelwyn at 8:43 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by TrinaSelwyn at 8:43 AM on October 19, 2010
Mod note: removed the PayPal link, folks can MeMail the OP if they want to donate, thanks.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:58 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:58 AM on October 19, 2010
Ah... sorry, Jessamyn. I didn't even consider that it might be inappropriate. Thanks.
posted by TrinaSelwyn at 8:59 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by TrinaSelwyn at 8:59 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by eyeballkid at 9:23 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by eyeballkid at 9:23 AM on October 19, 2010
The very first gigposter I ever made :(
Really nice guy too and incredible flow.
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posted by Senor Cardgage at 9:26 AM on October 19, 2010
Really nice guy too and incredible flow.
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posted by Senor Cardgage at 9:26 AM on October 19, 2010
I first heard him (and Abilities) from the "Big Shot" track on Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 and then he dropped off of my radar. Later on I was over at a friend's house and one of the Blaze Battles was on- the one where he battles RK (linked above). Watch that clip and you'll see that he's really on a whole different level then the rest of the rappers, it seems like everyone else is trying to regurgitate rehearsed lines while he's doing it live on the spot, and doing it so well that it almost seems rehearsed. It's a shame he's passed, "battle rapping" is one of the lost arts of the 80s like popping & locking or being able to beat Ms. Pac Man on a single quarter, and he was definitely an artist.
posted by Challahtronix at 9:31 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by Challahtronix at 9:31 AM on October 19, 2010
I went to see him perform live once. I think it was some kinda benefit show. It was Eyedea and Sage Francis, but Slug was hosting the thing and he came out during Sage's set. I think this was either shortly before or after E&A came out. I was a fan of his music but wasn't really ready for what he made happen on stage. So much energy and an all out abandon for attacking the mic. He danced like a madman up and down the stage really getting the crowd into it. He and DJ Abilities were perfect for each other, both really into the art of improvisation. So grateful I have that memory of him.
I can't really believe that he's dead. I get the sinking feeling the cause of death is going to be drug OD.
I remember the intro and outro of his live set was him repeating lines from a song of his: "I run from mistakes, right in my face, it feels like I'm running in place. I run from mistakes, right in my face, it feels like I'm running in place..."
posted by d1rge at 9:55 AM on October 19, 2010
I can't really believe that he's dead. I get the sinking feeling the cause of death is going to be drug OD.
I remember the intro and outro of his live set was him repeating lines from a song of his: "I run from mistakes, right in my face, it feels like I'm running in place. I run from mistakes, right in my face, it feels like I'm running in place..."
posted by d1rge at 9:55 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by caution live frogs at 9:59 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by caution live frogs at 9:59 AM on October 19, 2010
Great music. I kind of lost track of him and the underground scene a while ago, but his CD still gets played frequently in my car. He did his own thing.
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posted by HighTechUnderpants at 11:04 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by HighTechUnderpants at 11:04 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:20 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:20 AM on October 19, 2010
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posted by elmer benson at 12:19 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by elmer benson at 12:19 PM on October 19, 2010
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posted by hap_hazard at 1:42 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by hap_hazard at 1:42 PM on October 19, 2010
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posted by antonymous at 2:10 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by antonymous at 2:10 PM on October 19, 2010
I don't think I have ever seen anyone freestyle as quickly and well as he could. Though he was relentless in battle, he was a genuinely sweet, cool person.
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28. Dammit. This is shocking and unbelievably sad.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:21 PM on October 19, 2010
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28. Dammit. This is shocking and unbelievably sad.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:21 PM on October 19, 2010
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posted by joe lisboa at 3:23 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by joe lisboa at 3:23 PM on October 19, 2010
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