RIP Eyedea (E&A - Rhymesayers)

[TwinCities Dan]

Eyedea of Eyedea and Abilities has passed away today. Details are still unknown.

For those unaware of him, he was a rapper from the Rhymesayers crew (Atmosphere, Brother Ali, MF Doom, Blueprint, etc.). Wikipedia has a decent recap of his career here.

We have lost a legend today, Rest in Peace Michael.

 

[Sideonecincy]

I read this earlier today. E&A was awesome and this is a real shame, especially at such a young age. First Born was alright but E&A was a great album.

Someone related to him setup a fundraiser facebook page to try to help pay for his final expenses:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154904894545542

"Success aint only based on self esteem, it takes a sense to differentiate between what's yours and someone else's dreams"

 

[Savor]

I remember seeing him win the Blaze Battle on HBO back in the day.

His rap battles with Murs was legendary. Such a talent. RIP.

 

[MattSepeta]

nooooooo

No way! I just saw them not more than two months ago!

Any word on the cause?

 

[TwinCities Dan]

Remembering Micheal "eyedea" Larsen


On Saturday, October 16, 2010, we lost our beloved friend, family member and artist Micheal "eyedea" Larsen at the age of 28. Eyedea, who was most notably known for his music with Eyedea & Abilities, Oliver Hart, Face Candy and Carbon Carousel, was an artist in its truest form. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. In the days to come, we feel the focus should be on Micheal's life, music and legacy. Let's celebrate his life, remember his music and never forget what he has given us all.

We miss you. We love you. And, you will not be forgotten.

Micheal "eyedea" Larsen 11.09.81-10.16.10 R.I.P.

All donations can be directed to Micheal's Mom, Kathy Averill: Donate

Public Wake:
Micheal "eyedea" Larsen Memorial
Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Public: 7:30-10:00PM
Location: Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, Minnesota Grand Ballroom
Address: 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101

Sending Flowers: If you are interested in sending flowers for the memorial, all deliveries must be made to arrive on Thursday, October 28, 2010. Please make deliveries to arrive prior to 12:00PM CST.

Send to: Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, Minnesota Grand Ballroom, c/o Micheal Larsen Memorial, 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101.

A Celebration of the life of Micheal "eyedea" Larsen
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Location: First Avenue Mainroom, 701 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Doors: 5:00PM
Ages: All Ages
Donation: $20

Tickets will be on sale: Monday, October 25, 2010 at 5:00PM CST

Tickets will be available at Fifth Element, 2411 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405. For those of you that are not in the Twin Cities area; a limited amount of tickets will be available online at Etix.com.

There is no guest list. All donations will go to the family of Micheal "eyedea" Larsen.

RSE Radio Tribute:
Join us this Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 9:00PM-11:00PM CST on RSE Radio to remember our dear friend and brother Micheal "eyedea" Larsen. We'll be playing music and sharing memories with some of Mikey's peers. We would love to hear from all of you that loved and supported Mikey's art over the years as well. If you would like to share a special memory or experience you had please leave them at: www.twitter.com/rseradio , www.facebook.com/rseradio or radio@rhymesayers.com and we will be randomly selecting your comments to read on the air throughout the night.

You can tune into RSE Radio at 90.3FM in Minneapolis, 106.7FM in St. Paul or online at www.rhymesayers.com , www.facebook.com/rseradio or www.kfai.org

 

[Epsilon88]

Rip.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

CityPages article about Eyedea



Micheal Eyedea Larsen: A life remembered
By TD Mischke Wednesday, Dec 15 2010

Micheal Larsen, known to many as the hip-hop artist Eyedea, died two months ago, three weeks shy of his 29th birthday. He was found in bed, in his St. Paul apartment, the victim of an accidental drug overdose.

His death made national news: One of Rhymesayers Entertainment's most inspiring artists was suddenly silenced.

It has been said we each own four faces: the one we show strangers, the one we show friends, the one we reveal to family, and the one we keep to ourselves. To say we knew Mikey "Eyedea" Larsen would be to say we knew them all. No one but Mikey could know all four.

There is the tendency, when a performer dies, to focus most intently on the "artist" face. Mikey would've asked, "Was that really me?" And the answer is no, it was the intimate and intelligent face that he generously shared with friends and fans alike; no small thing, mind you, but it wasn't who he was, just what he gave.

One pauses awkwardly and painfully when witnessing death at such a young age, rather than at the completion of the grand arc of life. Mikey was still building his wild arc when he left us. He was high up there, heading toward some big curve in the sky, still this side of the summit. He could see a lot from his vantage point and he wrote about it often. Thousands embraced his words:

On this I stand
The oasis of limbo
Adjacent to my generation
Facing out the window
Waiting for some ventilation
Patient while the wind blows
Graceful in its demonstration
Overall innovation (an ovation)
On this I stand
A fountain of youth, sovereignty
A thousand syllables more than a pound of flesh
A deep breath of achievement, a dream and a wakeup call
Another hall of the quest
On this I stand

Some say there's danger in feeling this world too deeply, and that an exquisitely tuned sensitivity to the many layers of the moments of the day is perilous. Many who've learned the hard way don't wish it on their own kin. Yet there is also sparkling wonder available in those mysterious depths. So, others argue, if one can find a way, one ought to visit there, and visit often. Mikey had his own penthouse in that sublime world.

He responded to life's commotion with dizzying lines that swirled around a listener with ferocity. In concert he broke open his heart and swam in the very pool of emotion that created. It was exhilarating, and in that way he was a pure artist.

There are many different ways to turn when learning of an early death: Lamenting the loss is the most common; treasuring the time, however brief, is more soothing. Mikey's death calls for both, in equal measures, and they both come rolling in, like relentless waves, recklessly crashing against the silence he left us.

Reality is mine to play with and mold
The best thing I ever did was let go
So let go of the models.
Transcend the physical mind
And peacefully become part of the whole
The walls came tumbling down, but this time it was for keeps
I've been running around, looking for my feet
Now they're a part of the ground, and in the ground complete.