Music

Open Mike Eagle’s Absurd ‘Headass (Idiot Shinji)’ Video Explains How Black People Talk

With help from Jak Knight and Video Dave, Open Mike breaks down how overthinking makes headasses of us all. …

In the new video for “Headass (Idiot Shinji)” from his album Anime, Trauma, And Divorce, Open Mike Eagle recruits comedian Jak Knight (who’s crafted a niche lane for himself as rap’s go-to cameo comic) to break down the meaning behind the slang term in a segment titled “How Black People Talk.” After a fed-up Professor Jak reaches his limit of explaining the phrase — which doesn’t take long — he pops in a VHS (ah, nostalgia) of the actual music video and lets Mike and Video Dave do the talking.

Because Open Mike Eagle has such an absurdist streak, he naturally appears as a person with a literal gluteus maximus on his cranium to lead a “headass support group.” Lyrically, Mike and Dave recount some of their headass, over-analyzing moments from past relationships and their anxieties about their rap careers.

If I can be headass for a moment here, I feel like I need to explain where the “Idiot Shinji” portion of the song’s title comes from for those readers not well-versed in the first item from Mike’s album title. In the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is about (among other things) a lot of trauma and the ways people deal with it (or refuse to), the lead character, teenaged robot pilot Shinji Ikari, is nicknamed “Idiot Shinji” by his fellow teenaged robot pilot Asuka Langley due to his tendency to overthink pretty much every situation he finds himself in — including the life-or-death ones they frequently encounter as the pilots of giant robots.

So, it all ties together with the theme of anime and trauma and general headassery, which is something Open Mike Eagle is very good at doing on his new album Anime, Trauma, And Divorce. The album’s out now on Mike’s own Auto Reverse Records and you can listen to it here. You can also watch the classic anime Neon Genesis Evangelion on Netflix, but unless you too would like to be traumatized, I don’t recommend it.

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Artist Spotlight

MTS Management Group artists celebrates friendship with new release “A Song for My Friends”

MTS Management Group artists’ latest release, “A Song for My Friends,” is a happy, upbeat song that captures the magic of being together, celebrating, and remembering. The track has a contagious energy that is like the spirit of late-night jam sessions and sing-alongs that happen out of the blue. The production is clean and smooth, but also laid-back.

The tune of “A Song for My Friends” is a toast, and it’s clear what the band wants. A party for the people who have been there since the beginning, the fans who keep coming back, and the nights that artists will never forget that remind them why they fell in love with music in the first place.

“A Song for My Friends” stands out in a world full of overproduced singles because it has heart, energy, and honesty. It’s a moment we shared that I put in a bottle and sent to you with a chorus that you’ll be singing long after the music stops.

Connect with MTS Management Group artists on Instagram || Facebook || Twitter

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Artist Spotlight

Michael Soul hides from being open with new release “Hiding”

Michael Soul’s new single, “Hiding,” is a dark, hypnotic electronic track that takes listeners to a private place in their minds where they are alone, thinking, and feeling upset. “Hiding” was written when the author was very lonely. Michael Soul turns days of being alone, when silence seemed to last forever, and connection seemed impossible, into an immersive sound.

Andrea Mastroiacovo’s polished work makes the single even better, clarifying and deepening the song’s dark mood. The production carefully reflects that emotional weight with simple textures and dark electronic sounds that make you feel like you’re alone with your thoughts.

“Hiding” is a song about feeling alone, scared, and wanting to hide from being open. It asks questions that are quiet but sharp, like why do we hide what we feel? How does fear ruin love? And can we stop going in circles of misunderstanding and emotional distance? These echoes linger long after the track ends, prolonging the sound.

Connect with Michael Soul on Spotify || Instagram || Youtube ||Soundcloud