I will never forget the conversation i had with mikey, he was the most nicest guys I've met, i told him i have never heard a musician as talented and inspirational, on the day he died i felt so empty inside i said why him?
STILL PISSED I MISSED THIS SHOW. they played the whole album live before it was released and explained each song beforehand. AND IT WAS FREE ADMISSION. i still wonder how he described "forgive me for my synapses"
9-4-2014 Tonight during my car ride home, I had one of the most intense revelations of my life. As I left a friends house, I immediately put in the Eyedea and Abilities album "By the Throat." We had been listening to an E&A Mix I had burned him a few months prior, to which he immediately fell in love as I did. A song had peaked my interest, so the ride home was inevitably reserved by Michael Larsen. I listened to half of the first track before remembering why I had inserted the disc in the first place. "Burn Fetish," the song that had inspired the jam of this particular album in place of their self titled or First Born album. I flipped to the track I desired and turned up the volume. This happens to be my favorite E&A song, needless to say the words were pouring out of my mouth the instant Michael began. After the first time through the song I had realized just how many words I knew, and clicked the "BACK" button to give it another go. At this point, I had begun to feel things I hadn't in quite a long time. Undivided passion for words I had grown to love, perfected by a man far greater than most. At the end of the track, I followed form and went for another ride. This time, instead of mimicking Michael's voice and tone, I found my own adaptation filling the cabin of the car. I was memorizing the words and projecting my own emotions, all the while Michael in the background coaxing me to grow stronger. To make this my own and put all the pieces together to form a portrait for myself. At this time, I was no longer in my vehicle driving home. I was in a studio with Michael, only it was two studio's separated by a sheet of soundproof glass. Each of us bleeding the words to a song we knew by heart into our own microphones. Full of adrenaline and angst, our bodies and demeanor flowed to the verses as we cracked them off. Towards the end of the song, as the lyrics stop and the melody kicks in, Michael motioned towards the ceiling as if to pick up the pace. We must have screamed together for nearly an hour. I make this assumption based solely on the fact that when I snapped back to reality, my vocal chords and throat hurt so bad I thought I may not be able to talk. If I had to guess, I would say I hit that "BACK" button more than 15 times in succession. Every time flowing more powerful than it's predecessor. The last time through the song with Eyedea in my fabricated studio will be 2 minutes and 55 seconds that I will never forget. His words were helplessly shattering my heart as my brain fought to mold the pieces back into something recognizable. Something I would want to see everyday for the rest of my life, that had coincidentally always been just out of reach. The song was now mine, it had evolved and become one with everything in my soul. My voice first calm and collected, now raw and unadulterated by the confounds of existence. This time as my song settled, Michael opened his eyes, relaxed his assailing pose and smiled through me. I broke into tears and cried the hardest I can remember having experienced in my lifetime. I tasted tears of accomplishment and vowed to spread my wings, never allowing another missed opportunity. Michael taught me that wasting your time settled is the single worst thing that can happen to someone. Life is too short to live within bounds, especially your own. There's so much world to see so, fly free my angel. I'm dying without you, but it's teaching me to live. Heaven ain't something someone else can give, it's all inside of me. R.I.P. ~ Michael "Eyedea" Larsen
Beauty. Only a human with a mindset close to Eyedea will be affected by his lyrics and voice. In fact you are strongly affected, be proud man, you are another example of mere words can infleuce minds.
Saw him twice in here in Chicago, him and Abilities brought incredible energy to their live show. My friends all stood there and chanted ENCORE at the top of lungs for like 10 minutes and they came back out twice I think. We left with broken voices and great memories.
i'm happy to see i'm not the only one who get's that feeling in my spine every time i listen to this song. I've cried walking the woods, listening to it through headphones. It just happened. i fucking love his music so much. I want to say I love him but never got the opportunity to meet him which i will never be able to cope with.
"outnumbered by such a large amount/ no wonder we lost the battle, the counterculture can't count" Some of the wittiest lines ever! This is my favorite song from "By The Throat" (especially this live version together with the video is just fucking powerful). I should listen to the album again. I never really got into it back when it was released.
you will never find another rapper like him! Most rappers dont even spit without the actual song playing behind them so they can follow along but eyedea just spits every word and verse without the back up track he was something else
I met him in Colorado when he played at the Famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. I was so grateful to have met him and not only been at the right place at the right time with over 10,000 people next to you, but see him play live in front of more people then ever thought of by underground Hip-hop artists. Unfortunate to have missed him in my hometown of Austin, TX where he played for a much smaller crowd. to Sdethrow: Who cares why people listen to his music. Love hiphop! Let other find what they love
This is one of the greatest live performances... I wish I could have been there for real. R.I.P. Eyedea. You will be missed for sure. One of the best ever.
Saw them live about a week ago, unreal performers. I think Atmosphere has gotten people from all walks of life and music preferences into the underground rap scene, and I think E&A will pick up some of the former "head bangers" as their top supporters if their sows continue to be as raw and outrageous as the one I saw was
Eyedea is one of a kind. Wierd. Different. An outsider. A GENIUS AND A LEGEND! His lyrics changed me when I was a teenager and influenced me as a young adult and is still pushing me to strive for my passions. Eyedea is a lyrical God! RIP - First Born
so glad these two came back together to put this out. how much they have created/experimented with together and apart over the last decade is impressive. wish the album was longer but am happy with the tracks they released. pioneers in music! look up the definition... they match it across the board. zoop!
I was on the beach last night, alone and quite scared, and i was listening to music to calm down and then this came on my mp3, and I just broke down in the sand and it felt so relieving. I don't think a song has ever done anything like this to me before. Fucking magic.
At Rocksteady Anniversary in '99, Eyedea destroyed another MC in a battle whilst simultaneously walking around him with the microphone until the guy was tied up and cocooned by the cord. I couldn't believe it. One of the greatest acts of improvisation I have ever seen.
RIP Michael Larsen aka (eyedea).....hes one of the reasons why i got into hip hop....from watching his battles to bumpin his music he is a great lost to hip hop....
You guys are still un my top 3 favorite artists❤ 💯 I still want abilities to make me a beat one day.. I asked him, (but it was a few months after Eyedea passed :() terrible timing on my part at the time lol. Anyways Eyedea influenced me SO much coming up lyrically.. and I have lyrics already written for a tribute track. ( I know, the internet right lol) but for real. I pray that happens someday, fuck clout, it would be the shit to give something back to music that gave me so much❤
Man i so agree. If all (or at least most) hip hop was like this and actually had substance and emotion, id listen to it and put as much thought into it as i do listening to them. I def dig this.
Eyedea was a genius. Across multiple genres. Be it Carbon Carousel, Face Candy, E&A, his solo Indie Lo-Fi record, his battles, and musicianship in general. Hip Hop lost a true innovator.
“Balance barefoot on a needle, heaven’s just a jump away”. Classic Eyedea, delivering 4 different meanings in such a simple line. The simple meaning is that life can be fragile balancing act, and a small “jump” is all that’s needed for it to end. The next layer: the needle represents drugs (heroin) and “jumping” on the needle implies “shooting up”. The euphoria from the drug is “heavenly”, which is why it is only a “jump away”. The other side of this is risk of OD’ing-so shooting up is “heavenly” because of the feeling and because of the risk of the user being sent to heaven. The other imagery is that the addict is forced to “balance” their life against the addiction. The user feels a deep depression because they are hooked on the drug but can’t escape its grasp. So the thought “heaven is just a jump away” speaks to the helplessness of the situation-the only way out is suicide.
Impossible to quantify the emotion this song carries. Not sure if it's due to my feeling of loss at his death, or it's just an extremely emotional song. Likely the latter. I met Michael at Scribble Jam 2002, and he was just another guy in the crowd. He suggested I check the RSE merch booth, which I did, and I met Brother Ali. Brother Ali told me to buy Mikey's album, and I said I was a big fan already, and owned all of them. Ali looked back at me with pink eyed soulfulness and... comment limit
All I was saying was that people are expecting way too much this early on. They are both obviously trying to patch some stuff up. At the end of the song you can tell the beat just goes on too long but he improvises with some more lyrics. I think it is a great performance for how new the material is. "No wonder why we lost the battle. The counter culture can't count". Amazing.
I used to think id never see u anymore, but here u are living with me again,ilove u now,i loved u then....ur still alive,.. till the end ...i love u Gabriel .....always
This album is amazing. Eyedea is a real atrist. who the fuck cares what his hair looks like or if his shirt makes him look fat. If your gonna hate, please try some constructive criticism. E&A Please Come to Toronto
I love you still an always will. You watched me fall insane while your soul slept on the floor by my bed. We've been through more then people could ever know or will ever know. R.I.P. baby
@qwertyuiopdan1 ummm thats Michael Gaughan... He was Eyedea's friend and did his album cover "By the throat" (Which he did an excellent job). hes not just sitting there looking bored. He was drawing and painting... before you make further assumptions to his personality know the facts.
i feel like a creep basically all i've done since october 17 was work and come home and watch videos of eyedea. i'm so sad i never got to see him live it's depressing me. i really want to find a video performance of "by the throat" it happens faster than you can ever think, from always and forever to never again in less than a blink. rest in peace
God he's such a good peformer. 10 seconds in and i'm like damn this is the album version.. probably the same with other lyrical rappers but i would be fucking shocked if someone could give me an example that could even compare to eyedea
Michael Larsen was born to stand in front of us. He was one of the blessed few, whose thoughts transcended the barrier between what we think we know; and the eternal possibilities that surround each step we take. He shared a sacred bond with Saturn, as do others who share these traits. Humility is not given a thought because pride means something so different to them. To him. I'd like to think as I write these words, and comprehend his actions;I too am afflicted with this terrible responsibility
I will never forget the conversation i had with mikey, he was the most nicest guys I've met, i told him i have never heard a musician as talented and inspirational, on the day he died i felt so empty inside i said why him?
STILL PISSED I MISSED THIS SHOW. they played the whole album live before it was released and explained each song beforehand. AND IT WAS FREE ADMISSION. i still wonder how he described "forgive me for my synapses"
I miss you Mikey. I've never felt anything like when I listen to your music. You are truly one of the greats man.
9-4-2014
Tonight during my car ride home, I had one of the most intense revelations of my life. As I left a friends house, I immediately put in the Eyedea and Abilities album "By the Throat." We had been listening to an E&A Mix I had burned him a few months prior, to which he immediately fell in love as I did. A song had peaked my interest, so the ride home was inevitably reserved by Michael Larsen.
I listened to half of the first track before remembering why I had inserted the disc in the first place. "Burn Fetish," the song that had inspired the jam of this particular album in place of their self titled or First Born album. I flipped to the track I desired and turned up the volume. This happens to be my favorite E&A song, needless to say the words were pouring out of my mouth the instant Michael began.
After the first time through the song I had realized just how many words I knew, and clicked the "BACK" button to give it another go. At this point, I had begun to feel things I hadn't in quite a long time. Undivided passion for words I had grown to love, perfected by a man far greater than most. At the end of the track, I followed form and went for another ride. This time, instead of mimicking Michael's voice and tone, I found my own adaptation filling the cabin of the car. I was memorizing the words and projecting my own emotions, all the while Michael in the background coaxing me to grow stronger. To make this my own and put all the pieces together to form a portrait for myself.
At this time, I was no longer in my vehicle driving home. I was in a studio with Michael, only it was two studio's separated by a sheet of soundproof glass. Each of us bleeding the words to a song we knew by heart into our own microphones. Full of adrenaline and angst, our bodies and demeanor flowed to the verses as we cracked them off. Towards the end of the song, as the lyrics stop and the melody kicks in, Michael motioned towards the ceiling as if to pick up the pace. We must have screamed together for nearly an hour. I make this assumption based solely on the fact that when I snapped back to reality, my vocal chords and throat hurt so bad I thought I may not be able to talk. If I had to guess, I would say I hit that "BACK" button more than 15 times in succession. Every time flowing more powerful than it's predecessor.
The last time through the song with Eyedea in my fabricated studio will be 2 minutes and 55 seconds that I will never forget. His words were helplessly shattering my heart as my brain fought to mold the pieces back into something recognizable. Something I would want to see everyday for the rest of my life, that had coincidentally always been just out of reach. The song was now mine, it had evolved and become one with everything in my soul. My voice first calm and collected, now raw and unadulterated by the confounds of existence. This time as my song settled, Michael opened his eyes, relaxed his assailing pose and smiled through me. I broke into tears and cried the hardest I can remember having experienced in my lifetime.
I tasted tears of accomplishment and vowed to spread my wings, never allowing another missed opportunity. Michael taught me that wasting your time settled is the single worst thing that can happen to someone. Life is too short to live within bounds, especially your own. There's so much world to see so, fly free my angel. I'm dying without you, but it's teaching me to live. Heaven ain't something someone else can give, it's all inside of me.
R.I.P. ~ Michael "Eyedea" Larsen
Thanks for sharing, beautiful.
Alex Duea shut your lame ass up
Beauty. Only a human with a mindset close to Eyedea will be affected by his lyrics and voice. In fact you are strongly affected, be proud man, you are another example of mere words can infleuce minds.
Amazing read dude. I had chills towards the end
My taste in music has drastically changed and yet this remains my favorite song.
12 years today, king.
What I would have given to see this man live...
life changing. fucking, life changing
Saw him twice in here in Chicago, him and Abilities brought incredible energy to their live show. My friends all stood there and chanted ENCORE at the top of lungs for like 10 minutes and they came back out twice I think. We left with broken voices and great memories.
I would give my left nut to see him live! It's bittersweet that he passed away on my birthday :(
Damn yes..
M M it was perfect.
Finally listening to a mirror that can take the words out of my mouth... thank you Eyedea! You're surely LOVED and MISSED GREATLY!
Is there anywhere where I could find the full recording of this show? I would pay disgusting amounts of money for a DVD of this.
R.Eye.P.
Same :(
Hey mate 6 years later, I have the show and more on vhs now on DVD> online. Message me, free of charge mate.
Sheet Cvnt is that an open offer?
@@sheetcvnt6132 I'm also curious if this offer still stands
Solid, such a beautiful performance, interested
i'm happy to see i'm not the only one who get's that feeling in my spine every time i listen to this song. I've cried walking the woods, listening to it through headphones. It just happened. i fucking love his music so much. I want to say I love him but never got the opportunity to meet him which i will never be able to cope with.
"outnumbered by such a large amount/ no wonder we lost the battle, the counterculture can't count" Some of the wittiest lines ever! This is my favorite song from "By The Throat" (especially this live version together with the video is just fucking powerful). I should listen to the album again. I never really got into it back when it was released.
you will never find another rapper like him! Most rappers dont even spit without the actual song playing behind them so they can follow along but eyedea just spits every word and verse without the back up track he was something else
I met him in Colorado when he played at the Famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. I was so grateful to have met him and not only been at the right place at the right time with over 10,000 people next to you, but see him play live in front of more people then ever thought of by underground Hip-hop artists. Unfortunate to have missed him in my hometown of Austin, TX where he played for a much smaller crowd.
to Sdethrow: Who cares why people listen to his music. Love hiphop! Let other find what they love
One of the best videos on RUclips hands down
This is one of the greatest live performances... I wish I could have been there for real. R.I.P. Eyedea. You will be missed for sure. One of the best ever.
my worst habit's waking up at least once a day
One of a kind MC and truly missed. Dude had more heart than most out there. RIP.
Un artista como pocos trascendiendo el rap descansa en paz R.I.P 😢 te conocí tarde pero disfruto tu música eternamente
Thanks for all Michael. FOR TRUE AND HONEST LYRICS, FOR TALENT, FOR ANOTHER RAP MUSIC
Love love love
Abilities kills it.
Saw them live about a week ago, unreal performers. I think Atmosphere has gotten people from all walks of life and music preferences into the underground rap scene, and I think E&A will pick up some of the former "head bangers" as their top supporters if their sows continue to be as raw and outrageous as the one I saw was
I'm loving the intensity of your lyrics and delivery. You guys are great!
+Mescaline Player He's dead a few years now unfortunately. Eyedea (the rapper) that is.
This was right at the end. Poor guy. What a talent this guy and abilities was .
this song and his song glass in HD ----->
so much emotion in them..
This is one of my favorite things ever on earth ❤️❤️❤️ we miss you
I miss him so much!! RIP Eyedea 🙏
"eyes wide shut, I promise not to fall awake"
Favorite line from any song ever.
Ughh, the old nod...
Why does this resonate? It’s a pretty basic play on words/imagery and probably wouldn’t make a “top 50 Eyedea Lines” list.
@@rc_matic that comment is 12 years old brother I’d like to ask myself the same thing
Eyedea and abilities are better live than 90% of artists are when they do 50 takes in the studio.
yah true
0:00 - the end.. pure eyedeaness.. all heart. this will always remain as one of my favourite live performances
goin to see em this thursday, cant wait for that
You lucky, lucky man.
Been 2 years. we still miss you. Hip Hop still needs you.
Eyedea is one of a kind. Wierd. Different. An outsider. A GENIUS AND A LEGEND!
His lyrics changed me when I was a teenager and influenced me as a young adult and is still pushing me to strive for my passions.
Eyedea is a lyrical God! RIP - First Born
I had to watch its been hard with him gone. Miss you bud
Forever
so glad these two came back together to put this out. how much they have created/experimented with together and apart over the last decade is impressive. wish the album was longer but am happy with the tracks they released. pioneers in music! look up the definition... they match it across the board. zoop!
One of the most inspirational emcee's ever!!! You will be for ever missed... R.I.P. Michael "Eyedea" Larsen
Simply incredible
Abilities was so fast his hand was blurring on my phone. Mind and eye candy unbelievable
I love you Mikey
Mind and Eye Candy....don't forget Face Candy too. :)
Tim Hale You know what? I never got into Face Candy believe it or not...give me a good song?...
the things i would do just to see this live, RIP
I was on the beach last night, alone and quite scared, and i was listening to music to calm down and then this came on my mp3, and I just broke down in the sand and it felt so relieving. I don't think a song has ever done anything like this to me before. Fucking magic.
words couldnt do justice! he was ahead of his time starting off around 14!! skills to pay tha bills
damm shame R.I.P. Eydea
Thank you a MILLION times for uploading this!
At Rocksteady Anniversary in '99, Eyedea destroyed another MC in a battle whilst simultaneously walking around him with the microphone until the guy was tied up and cocooned by the cord. I couldn't believe it. One of the greatest acts of improvisation I have ever seen.
My faith in this album has just been restored!
RIP Michael Larsen aka (eyedea).....hes one of the reasons why i got into hip hop....from watching his battles to bumpin his music he is a great lost to hip hop....
still dope
Amazing. I wish I could have seen him live R.I.P. Eyedea. You are missed
You guys are still un my top 3 favorite artists❤ 💯 I still want abilities to make me a beat one day.. I asked him, (but it was a few months after Eyedea passed :() terrible timing on my part at the time lol. Anyways Eyedea influenced me SO much coming up lyrically.. and I have lyrics already written for a tribute track. ( I know, the internet right lol) but for real. I pray that happens someday, fuck clout, it would be the shit to give something back to music that gave me so much❤
Currently my favorite song, and to see it performed live................. Amazing.
Wow i was smiling this whole video i was in amazement how real it is.
Eyedea is amazing
R.EYE.P.
I agree, You can feel Eyedea's emotions pouring through. Some really deep stuff.
Man i so agree. If all (or at least most) hip hop was like this and actually had substance and emotion, id listen to it and put as much thought into it as i do listening to them. I def dig this.
No one will ever top this man.
Eyedea was a genius. Across multiple genres. Be it Carbon Carousel, Face Candy, E&A, his solo Indie Lo-Fi record, his battles, and musicianship in general. Hip Hop lost a true innovator.
GO BUY THE ALBUM. IT'S INSANE>THE BOOKLET FOLDS OUT TO BE A POSTER OF THE COVER ART.
SUPPORT THESE GUYS!
Rhymesayers For The Win.
The last vid scared me, this is restoring my faith a little
“Balance barefoot on a needle, heaven’s just a jump away”. Classic Eyedea, delivering 4 different meanings in such a simple line. The simple meaning is that life can be fragile balancing act, and a small “jump” is all that’s needed for it to end. The next layer: the needle represents drugs (heroin) and “jumping” on the needle implies “shooting up”. The euphoria from the drug is “heavenly”, which is why it is only a “jump away”. The other side of this is risk of OD’ing-so shooting up is “heavenly” because of the feeling and because of the risk of the user being sent to heaven. The other imagery is that the addict is forced to “balance” their life against the addiction. The user feels a deep depression because they are hooked on the drug but can’t escape its grasp. So the thought “heaven is just a jump away” speaks to the helplessness of the situation-the only way out is suicide.
I usually don't get emotional but thisalmost has me in tears. god damn.
I would do anything to see this man again...great performer.
so raw, emotional, love him.
R.I.P May you be one one with universe Micheal Larsen.You are one of my greatest inspirations.The most intelligent mc that ever lived.
this album is great. reminds me of here for you by eyedea, like the whole album reminds me of that song. like the production is amazing and on point
RIP Eyedea, you had a lot of influence in my life.
Goddamn just cant believe it yet.
the way he makes love to the mic makes me wanna be that mic LMAO
simply the greatest~miss you man.
RIP DAD, it was good to see you live and to shake your hand.
So sick! RIP Eyedea
understanding and fully comprehending another's feelings
i hate seeing dislikes on eyedea i mean we all know hes the best
I always loved this performance. RIP
Impossible to quantify the emotion this song carries. Not sure if it's due to my feeling of loss at his death, or it's just an extremely emotional song. Likely the latter.
I met Michael at Scribble Jam 2002, and he was just another guy in the crowd. He suggested I check the RSE merch booth, which I did, and I met Brother Ali. Brother Ali told me to buy Mikey's album, and I said I was a big fan already, and owned all of them. Ali looked back at me with pink eyed soulfulness and... comment limit
All I was saying was that people are expecting way too much this early on. They are both obviously trying to patch some stuff up. At the end of the song you can tell the beat just goes on too long but he improvises with some more lyrics. I think it is a great performance for how new the material is. "No wonder why we lost the battle. The counter culture can't count". Amazing.
I used to think id never see u anymore, but here u are living with me again,ilove u now,i loved u then....ur still alive,.. till the end ...i love u Gabriel .....always
RIP Michael Larsen. one of my favorite lyricists of all time
love you man. legend.
This album is amazing. Eyedea is a real atrist. who the fuck cares what his hair looks like or if his shirt makes him look fat. If your gonna hate, please try some constructive criticism.
E&A Please Come to Toronto
I love you still an always will.
You watched me fall insane while your soul slept on the floor by my bed. We've been through more then people could ever know or will ever know.
R.I.P. baby
r.i.p eyedea... dude was a legend
This shit is seriously moving. Rest in peace.
we love you michael
This is most likely my favorite track on the new album.
We miss you Mikey....
It's so emotional. Just love it to death.
That Vestax Controller One is so cool, I want one
i wish there was more hip-hop like this.
Rest in peace micheal!
R.I.P. EYEDEA!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful
@qwertyuiopdan1 ummm thats Michael Gaughan... He was Eyedea's friend and did his album cover "By the throat" (Which he did an excellent job). hes not just sitting there looking bored. He was drawing and painting... before you make further assumptions to his personality know the facts.
I am on the verge of tears
my dying thought may very well be expressing regret for never having seen eyedea perform alive. g.o.a.t.
i feel like a creep basically all i've done since october 17 was work and come home and watch videos of eyedea. i'm so sad i never got to see him live it's depressing me.
i really want to find a video performance of "by the throat"
it happens faster than you can ever think, from always and forever to never again in less than a blink. rest in peace
It's all heart!!! I only yearn to hone in on my own skills. "I eat my words cause they taste like dirt...."
R.I.P.
I'm going to soundset tomorrow, it's sad knowing he won't be there :(
YES PLEASE AND HEADLINE!!!
God he's such a good peformer. 10 seconds in and i'm like damn this is the album version.. probably the same with other lyrical rappers but i would be fucking shocked if someone could give me an example that could even compare to eyedea
@NRP128 they have many albums so you have a lot of AMAZING music to discover yet from Eyedea and Abilities.
Michael Larsen was born to stand in front of us. He was one of the blessed few, whose thoughts transcended the barrier between what we think we know; and the eternal possibilities that surround each step we take. He shared a sacred bond with Saturn, as do others who share these traits. Humility is not given a thought because pride means something so different to them. To him. I'd like to think as I write these words, and comprehend his actions;I too am afflicted with this terrible responsibility
yeah he's amazing