I was saddened to hear about the death of Michael “Eyedea” Larsen last night, a lyricist and master freestyler who helped carve many a fond memory during my college years. I enjoyed following his career, from freestyle battles, Scribble Jams and underground tapes to his debut with longtime friend DJ Abilities. One of the most memorable performances I’ve ever been to was an impromptu show with him, Slug of Atmosphere, and Abilites at Fat Beats LA about 8-9 years ago, a show that was probably about 95% freestyle and set up like a cypher circle. Like a true backpacker, I filmed the performance and ripped the audio which, if you’re interested, you can download here. It’s an extremely lo-fi recording, but it’s a one-of-a-kind performance, with him and Slug trading punchlines and impromptu verses. I also found one of my favorite Eyedea freestyle battles posted below – the line at around 2:30 seals the deal.
The details surrounding his death are unclear – his mother posting the news on his Twitter account yesterday. Regardless, it’s a huge loss for the community and one that’s sure to resonate for time to come.
R.I.P.
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