Rapper Open Mike Eagle has a slow, conversational flow thats all about making itself comfortable. Many of the songs on his debut Unapologetic Art Rap question the pretensions and motives of underground hip-hop while offering up another slice of it in the process. Open Mike Eagles wry presence goes a long way, and the albums production is similarly laid back. Making for exciting contrast, Busdriver slots his frazzled flow into Original Butterscotch Confection, while Nocando spices up Unapologetic without hijacking it. Going a bit left-field in his influences, Open Mike Eagle samples a Stephen Malkmus live recording on Pissy Transmissions. Tucked into a record that plays by its own rules, its not even jarring. With Nocando, Dumbfounded, Intuition, DJ WD4D. DOUG WALLEN
Wed., April 28, 8 p.m., 2010
