What Happens When I Try to Relax

Nobody blends self-awareness and self-deprecation quite like Open Mike Eagle, so it should come as no surprise as to what, exactly, happens when the LA-via-Chicago rapper tries to relax: His mind goes a mile a minute. Hence, the first release on Mike’s own Auto Reverse label is dense and hyper-contemplative, balancing anxiety and world-weariness with dry humor. (“Who you gonna call? Probably not you,” he deadpans to the specter of an ex on “Single Ghosts.”) On “Relatable (peak OME),” he wryly unpacks his status as the approachable rapper next door—a meta-commentary that pits outside expectations against his own self-image.

Open Mike Eagle's first release on his new Auto Reverse label