essay 3

                                                                                                            Edgar Gonzalez   

                                                                                                            Wed 6pm

                                                                                                           

                                 Michael Larsen (Nov, 9, 1981- Oct 16, 2010)

           

            Michael Larsen, Also known as Oliver hart and Eyedea is a very complex and intelligent poet.  His appearance is mostly a gloomy look with hair consuming half of his facial structure. His distinct style of poetry is what catches my attention. Michael Larsen died in his sleep, found by his mother and later more information was released regarding his death by the police, he overdosed on some sort of opiate due to lack of sleep.  As he said once “…see I don’t write for the future, I write about the future, for the present, i write with my past, about the future for the present. On this I stand...” or the other romance based quote “Miss the companionship I once took for granted, The way you helped me manage, the partnership that vanished, But I don’t expect you to stay chained by the ankle, 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 isn’t something someone else can give It’s all inside of me”.  Michael Larsen’s rhymes were generally philosophically or thematically based and continue to influence artists and enthusiasts alike from his inception to the present. Overall, Michael Larsen’s delivery, content, intent/message of and compose his distinct type of music and poetry. (Album First Born (2001) (with DJ Abilities, as Eyedea & Abilities)

           

Michael’s delivery was well executed with a clear tone of voice and perfectly in sync with the music instrumentation.  His vocals were distinct with middle to a high pitched rasp. It is more like an acquired taste for most, but once you surpass the unusual voice, the benefits are outstanding.  As said by a blogger “Eyedea's delivery style was compelling enough to listen to over and over again. His passion itself--that was the "hook" to his poetry. When he rapped, it was the verbal equivalent of 20 massive fists punching holes in the concrete wall between the conscious and the unconscious.”(Blogger Will Conley)

           

When speaking of content, we talk about lyrics, composition, arrangement; instrumentation etc. How well is Michael’s piece of work constructed? His poetry revolves around vast emotions a human being is capable of releasing and or conjuring up. His poetry includes a considerable amount of metaphors.  His music wasn’t only hip-hop, it also consists of blues rock and jazz inspiration. Overall, Michael Larsen’s sharp-tongued lyricism is what helped him advance and achieve his goal as a musician. Recently Michael’s style focused on fusing together elements of rock and rap.  The sound evolved into something more layered and massive than anything in the realm of contemporary hip-hop. Never the less, Michael’s content impacted the hip-hop culture in many ways further expanding its horizons.

           

When we speak of his intent or message; what he is trying to pass to the listener  is quite clear.. As an avid listener towards his music as well as poetry;    he always tries to imply that we as human beings are not truly alone, that we can surpass the mental disease called depression.  In one of his quotes he states “I see the beauty of it all, and it feels like a dream and at that time I appreciate the rivers course some call it god, reality, momentum, the force; I stare up at the naked moon and she stares down at me outside false boundaries and (ill look outward to see?) The universe is not something separate from yourself I know you feel alone, but that’s why I am here to help, I know you feel alone, but just look up at the stars and everything that’s out there is what you really are”. Clearly, he speaks of moving on “following the rivers course” and repeats to the listener not to feel alone as well as to cope and stay strong. As a teen, going through depression; he alone made it so that depression itself never worsened or changed my state of mind when I this disease.  (Album The Many Faces Of Oliver Hart (2001))

            Michael Larsen’s delivery, content and intent/message, are factors that make him an interesting individual as well as poet/rapper/musician. He alone helps others to cope with their vast emotions that are encapsulated in the human brain. In short, Eyedea’s style was ahead of the so called hip-hop scene. Oliver Hart’s support and guidance of conquering depression was upfront and comforting; but the man that spawned these aliases was the ultimate provider of philosophical and ideological thoughts; his name was Michael Larsen. 

           

             

CITATION

Blog: Conley,Will (2010, October 19) “man of manywords” http://manofmanywords.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-eyedea-meant-to-me.html

Music Recording:

Larsen, Michael (2001). Album The Many Faces Of Oliver Hart (2001))

Larsen, Michael (2001).  Album First Born (2001) (with DJ Abilities, as Eyedea & Abilities