Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal release collaborative hip hop album DOOMED!
The Verge reports that the new record pairs Eagle’s intimate lyrics with Segal’s most commanding beats since his 2023 release Maps.
Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal have released their first full-length collaborative album, DOOMED!, a project described as a hip hop breakup masterpiece. The record, which is now available on Bandcamp and major streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, marks the first complete joint release between the two artists despite their previous shared history in the industry.
The album centres on deeply personal lyrics from Eagle, paired with production from Segal that is characterised as more grounded and measured than his previous work. While retaining signature elements such as warbly piano samples, strings, detuned sax melodies, and psychedelic synths, the production offers a distinct shift in tone. The interlude “It Happens in Every Universe” serves as the record’s thesis, framing the project as an exploration of a well-trodden subject mined for artistic depth.
The opener, “Out to Lunch,” features fully on-the-grid hi-hats that tick robotically, setting a precise rhythmic foundation. This transitions into “Streets of Rage: Public Arguments Edition,” which utilises a loose clap, jazzy piano, and a confident bassline reminiscent of Madlib’s work. Over this lowkey funk, Eagle delivers an oblique narrative regarding conflict with a significant other, highlighting the synergy between his melodramatic lyricism and Segal’s forlorn beats.
Collaborative efforts on the album include the track “She Swear I’m Colorblind,” featuring Billy Woods. On this track, backing vocals are punctuated by bursts of windchimes, creating a soundscape that some listeners may find reminiscent of a panic attack. The album also features “Unfinished Concrete Initials,” which contains some of Eagle’s most vulnerable lines, including the admission that his memories are like landmines.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the record retains Eagle’s characteristic sense of humour and pop culture references, citing influences ranging from anime and Beanie Babies to The Proclaimers. The track “Schrödinger’s Green Room (There but Uninvited)” opens with Eagle awkwardly proclaiming intrusive thoughts over a simulated bad phone connection. The album is currently accessible across Bandcamp and major digital platforms.
