Open Mike Eagle’s tenth studio album, Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, continues the rap legacy that he started in the late 2000s when he cofounded the trio Thirsty Fish. From there, he made a bigger name for himself as a solo artist, starting with his 2010 debut, Unapologetic Art Rap. Along the way, he even appeared in the cartoon Adventure Time as a rapping gingerbread cookie.

On top of his music career, Open Mike Eagle has also started multiple multimedia endeavors, like the artist collective Hellfyre Club and an alt-comedy TV series called The New Negroes (both of which have since ended). These days, he’s running his own podcast network, Stony Island Audio.

KEXP’s Martin Douglas spoke with Open Mike Eagle about the years leading up to his newest album, which included a divorce and various collaborations with other rappers. Neighborhood Gods Unlimited draws heavily on Black surrealism, similar to movies like Sorry to Bother You and Get Out.“

I felt challenged and inspired by these pieces of media,” Open Mike Eagle says in the interview. “I want to tell an absurd story in a rap album. I want people to feel the depths where it might be trying to go emotionally and the questions it might be trying to ask — but I don't want to say all the answers.” He continues, “At every step of that process, I have to deal with self-doubt. I want to make art that is able to contend with that.”

Photo credit: Robert Adam Mayer

Support the show: kexp.org/deeper 

Open Mike Eagle&rsquo;s tenth studio album,&nbsp;Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, continues the rap legacy that he started in the late 2000s when he cofounded the trio Thirsty Fish. From there, he made a bigger name for himself as a solo artist, starting with his 2010 debut,&nbsp;Unapologetic Art Rap. Along the way, he even appeared in the cartoon&nbsp;Adventure Time&nbsp;as a rapping gingerbread cookie.
On top of his music career, Open Mike Eagle has also started multiple multimedia endeavors, like the artist collective Hellfyre Club and an alt-comedy TV series called The New Negroes&nbsp;(both of which have since ended). These days, he&rsquo;s running his own podcast network, Stony Island Audio.
KEXP&rsquo;s Martin Douglas spoke with Open Mike Eagle about the years leading up to his newest album, which included a divorce and various collaborations with other rappers. Neighborhood Gods Unlimited&nbsp;draws heavily on Black surrealism, similar to movies like&nbsp;Sorry to Bother You&nbsp;and&nbsp;Get Out.&ldquo;
I felt challenged and inspired by these pieces of media,&rdquo; Open Mike Eagle says in the interview. &ldquo;I want to tell an absurd story in a rap album. I want people to feel the depths where it might be trying to go emotionally and the questions it might be trying to ask &mdash; but I don't want to say all the answers.&rdquo; He continues, &ldquo;At every step of that process, I have to deal with self-doubt. I want to make art that is able to contend with that.&rdquo;
Photo credit: Robert Adam Mayer
Support the show:&nbsp;<a href="http://kexp.org/deeper" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">kexp.org/deeper</a>&nbsp;

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.