Open Mike Eagle Gets “Hella Personal” on 'Riffs'

Having first made waves in the hip-hop world as a member of the Project Blowed collective back in the late ‘90s, Open Mike Eagle boasts a career of constant experimentation. His latest album, Hella Personal Film Festival, finds him collaborating with Paul White, a UK producer known for his work with such artists as Danny Brown and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def). Open Mike Eagle is also host of the popular Secret Skin podcast, and he’s worked in the television world, appearing as a featured guest on Why? with Hannibal Buress, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, and The Eric Andre Show.

In this episode of Riffs, the Chicago native talks about the way people might perceive him, institutional racism, and his unique playing style, in between shots of an intimate performance of “Smiling (Quirky Race Doc),” a track off Hella Personal Film Festival.