Michael Larsen, widely recognized as Eyedea, carved out a prominent niche for himself in the hip-hop scene with his impressive freestyle battle rap abilities and his collaboration with DJ Abilities. Hailing from the Twin Cities, Eyedea gained a loyal following before his untimely passing in 2010 due to an accidental drug overdose at the young age of 28. Remarkably, he left behind an extensive collection of handwritten lyrics, some of which date back over 30 years.
His mother, Kathy Averill, reflects on his intelligence, remarking, "He was very smart, extremely smart. Very well read at an early age." Understanding that these tangible works may not endure indefinitely, she pondered how best to preserve her son’s artistic legacy.
To ensure Eyedea's art lives on, local rappers and even Averill herself began reading through old lyrics. These were then integrated with past recordings and processed using an AI program, resulting in the recent release of a new Eyedea album.
Willy Lose, a longtime friend who assembled the project, described the creative process as akin to assembling a puzzle, feeling as though Larsen's spirit accompanied him throughout. “It felt like he was there with me, and we were doing this together,” Lose shared.
The album's reception, however, has been varied. "Some fans feel a bit let down by its mechanical nature, while others are thrilled to hear more from him, especially those who knew him during his teenage years," Averill noted. "They're saying, 'This sounds just like him.'"
Lose also observed that many listeners are quick to debate the ethical implications of the project. He believes that Eyedea himself would have embraced this innovation, stating, “Personally? Mikey would have been all over this.”
With an abundance of unpublished lyrics still remaining, Averill remains optimistic about the possibility of future releases, hoping that more of her son's music will continue to emerge.
