Amid an ongoing US tour, having just played an LA show at The Echo last Wednesday, Open Mike Eagle continues his winning streak for his newest album, Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, out via his label, Auto Reverse Records. Among the tracklist is “my co-worker clark kent’s secret black box,” a jazz-infused head bop reminiscent of rappers like Q-Tip.
Although the album draws inspiration from movies like “Get Out” and “Sorry to Bother You,” the core of Neighborhood Gods Unlimited finds the emcee delving deep into his own trauma, as well as the collective trauma of marginalized people.
About the album, Mike said, “I was shattered as a young person and I spent the majority of my life not knowing it…This is a story about how people who are trying to find themselves get confused when they encounter things that remind them of themselves.”
With hypnotic production courtesy of K-NITE, Mike uses the Superman story to take on the persona of a disgruntled co-worker who knows Clark Kent’s secret. However, what first appears to be a fun take on an iconic character instead reveals itself to be an exploration of jealousy over others’ accomplishments, in effect showing Mike’s prowess as a storyteller.
The second verse, in particular, is where Mike’s aptitude for unorthodox punchlines and poetic song structure is on full display, with the Superman metaphor extending to how naysayers likely viewed him during his early days as a rapper. It’s the sort of plot twist that sneaks up on you, that comes as a welcome surprise, prompting repeated listens just to grasp the world of depth within each line fully.
Open Mike Eagle is currently on tour with headline shows, along with opening sets for Phantogram. A second Los Angeles tour date was added for Mike. Catch him on August 19 at the Hammer Museum alongside Jordan Patterson and J.Rocc. The show is free and part of the Hammer’s summer concerts series.
Visit Open Mike Eagle on Instagram and his website to stay updated on new releases and tour dates.
Listen to “my co-worker clark kent’s secret black box” the new single from Open Mike Eagle.
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