Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal's Hip Hop Masterpiece
DOOMED! combines deeply personal lyrics with powerful beats in a breakup album.
1Album Theme
DOOMED! is the first full-length collaboration between Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal. The album delves into the theme of breakup, combining Eagle's personal lyrics with Segal's commanding beats. The opening track, 'Out to Lunch,' greets listeners with robotic hi-hats. The album emphasizes that breakup is a universal experience.
2Production Details
Kenny Segal delivers some of his most compelling beats since his 2023 album Maps with Billy Woods. The album features warbly piano samples, strings, detuned saxophone melodies, and psychedelic synths. 'Streets of Rage: Public Arguments Edition' stands out with a bassline reminiscent of Madlib's work.
3Lyrics and Narration
Open Mike Eagle offers a deeply personal experience through his lyrics on the album. Lines like 'She cut deep with short barbs, but twist me up with a lil whisper' convey the complex emotions of a breakup. 'Unfinished Concrete Initials' features even more vulnerable moments, such as 'In my daydreams your name’s curse words so I bleeped it.'
4Musical Diversity
The album presents a wide musical range, from lowkey funk to jazz piano. The chorus on 'She Swear I’m Colorblind,' featuring Billy Woods, is supported by wind chimes and a high-pitched whine, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the onset of a panic attack.
5Humorous Touches
Open Mike Eagle's humorous side also shines on the album. On 'Schrödinger’s Green Room (There but Uninvited),' he humorously declares, 'All my thoughts is intrusive,' as if trying to be heard over a bad phone connection. The album is also rich with pop culture references to anime, Kitty Pride, and Beanie Babies.
6Artistic Collaboration
Although Eagle and Segal have orbited each other and collaborated before, DOOMED! marks their first full-length collaboration. Eagle's melodramatic storytelling and attention to microscopic details perfectly complement Segal's melancholic and occasionally ominous beats.
7Reaching Listeners
DOOMED! is available on Bandcamp and major music platforms like YouTube Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Qobuz, and Deezer. The album appeals particularly to hip hop and alternative rap listeners, with Eagle's intimate narration and Segal's production setting it apart.
8Album's Significance
DOOMED! stands out as Open Mike Eagle's most intimate album. While exploring the theme of breakup, it not only offers a personal experience but also breathes new life into the hip hop genre. The collaboration between Eagle and Segal produces a work that will leave a mark on the music world.
Original article: The Verge (theverge.com) — Open Mike Eagle ve Kenny Segal'dan Hip Hop Şaheseri