One of hip-hop’s most underrated rappers, Open Mike Eagle, is gearing to release an album alongside producer Paul White on March 25. Hella Personal Film Festival was first announced at the beginning of February alongside the project’s first single, the tongue-in-cheek, witty “Check To Check.”
One of Open Mike Eagle’s best qualities is his lighthearted and comical approach on social, political and personal issues. When he delivers his soft and stimulating punch lines, they usually come with a small smirk and a head shake. The Chicago native is one of the best at helping the listener understand the complex issues in the simplest and most entertaining way. This is further verified on his and Paul White’s latest tune, “Admitting The Endorphin Addiction.”
White delivers a bright and melodic backdrop drawn straight out of a the opening credits of an 80s coming-of-age movie set in L.A., which helps aid the song’s darker topic of accepting addiction. “I heard that when you in a fucked up space no one can hear you signal help,” he begins the songs, before detailing the difficulties that come after realizing acceptance is the first step: “Staring at my phone wondering how endorphins travel via screen. As I feel my withdrawal, I understand them 90’s songs.” While the addiction and fighting through it can be somber, the idea Mike Eagle is aware, open and accepting of it leaves the track on a hopeful note.
Paul White and Open Mike Eagle both talked to Noisey, who premiered the single, about the song/album.
Paul White: “The track ‘Admitting the Endorphin Addiction’ was the first song I got back from Mike when we started this project. This was the song that told me this was going to a great collaboration, I got so excited after hearing this! Then I heard his lyrics, his melodic rhyming, and his singing and I got shivers hearing the track really coming to life.”
OME: “It’s a song about addictions of all sorts. All addictions are ultimately about chemicals in the brain associated with pleasure release. This is a story about a guy realizing where he stands in terms of his own brain chemistry and the world around him.”
Stream “Admitting The Endorphin Addiction” below, and pre-order Hella Personal Film Festival on Bandcamp.
Open Mike Eagle will perform at SXSW next week and in New York in April. Check the locations below.
Mon 3/14 – The Onion @ Barracuda – Austin, TX
Tues 3/15 – Esther’s Follies – Drennon/Sexpot Comedy Show – Austin TX
Wed 3/16 – Wichita @ Barracuda – Austin, TX
Sat 3/19 – FFF Fest @ Mohawk – Austin, TX
4/13 – Baby’s All Right – New York, NY
