10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2016 (So Far)
2. Open Mike Eagle & Paul White - "Hella Personal Film Festival"
A humble and incredibly personable MC who revels in his own awkward nerdiness, Open Mike Eagle joins forces with producer Paul White for another quirky ride through Mike’s inner geekdom.
This isn’t your typical hip-hop album. Mike raps about everything from racial exclusion to doing his laundry on “Hella Personal Film Festival”, staying warm and affable throughout. There are no real “bangers” here. This is a 'headphones' record made for moments of quiet reflection, not clubs and parties.
There’s just so much to love in Mike’s tales of everyday neuroses, and White’s efforts don’t fall short either. From piano balladeering to classic funk, tribal chants to slippery jazz, the beats are as intricate as they are eclectic - the British producer has really outdone himself here.
Never afraid of writing from a place of emotional frailty and laying his insecurities bare, Open Mike Eagle has earned his place atop the abstract hip-hop pile.