He had appeared as a solo artist and as the emcee half of the duo Eyedea & Abilities (along with long-time friend and collaborator DJ Abilities). His non-battle rhymes were generally very philosophically or thematically based, and often tell a definite narrative. His song "Bottle Dreams" is a well known piece about a young sexually abused violin prodigy who commits suicide.
For much of his youth, Eyedea lived with his mother in downtown St. Paul, MN. He attended Highland Park High School, with interests including psychology, physics, and yoga. Favorite authors include James Joyce, and Finnegan's Wake is a favourite text of his.
First establishing himself as battle emcee, Eyedea toured the circuit between 1997 and 2001, notably winning top prizes at Scribble Jam ‘99, the Rock Steady Anniversary 2000, and Blaze Battle Chicago 2000. He also toured extensively as second emcee for Atmosphere, with DJ Abilities sometimes filling in for Mr. Dibbs as tour DJ.
In 2001, he released "First Born" with his partner DJ Abilities (collectively, they were initially called the Sixth Sense, but more recently were known as Eyedea and Abilities). In 2002, under his pen name "Oliver Hart," he released the self-produced The Many Faces of Oliver Hart. In 2004, he and Abilities reunited to release the self-titled E&A (released March 23, 2004). All of Eyedea's releases have been on the Rhymesayers record label.
In addition to touring independently and with Rhymesayers labelmates, Eyedea and Abilities participated in the Def Jux-sponsored Who Killed the Robots? tour.
In 2006, Eyedea temporarily abandoned hip-hop writing and battle rapping for a new rock music project entitled Carbon Carousel.
As well as performing with Carbon Carousel, Eyedea and others had started a group called Face Candy. They released an album full of freestyles over free jazz percussion entitled This Is Where We Were.
He was signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment, and frequently collaborated with Slug, Blueprint and Sage Francis.
Eyedea died in his sleep on October 16, 2010 in his St. Paul apartment.[17] He was found dead by his mother, according to a friend.[18] Cause of death was released November 18, 2010 and ruled an accident, from respiratory depression, caused by opiate derivatives, according to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office. The specific drugs found in Larsen's system have not been revealed to the public.[19]
Various hip-hop artists went on their Twitter accounts to pay their tribute to him, such as Immortal Technique, Mac Lethal, El-P and P.O.S, among others.[20][21][22][23][24]
On December 25, 2013, it was announced on Eyedea & Abilities' Facebook page[25] that a star was registered under the name Eyedea to commemorate Larsen on the web site Online Star Register.[26]
Fellow hip-hop artist and friend Murs paid homage to Eyedea on his track "I Miss Mikey" on his album Have a Nice Life. Also, the song "Flicker" from the album Southsiders by Atmosphere where Slug describes different sides of Eyedea and their relationship can be called a eulogy.[27][28] In 2013, The Uncluded, a collaboration between folk punk singer Kimya Dawson and hip hop artist Aesop Rock paid tribute to Eyedea in the song "Bats" from their album Hokey Fright.[29] Additionally, the songs "Michael" from the album Flowers for My Father, by Sadistik, "Toast to the dead" from the album The Martyr by Immortal Technique, and "Great Eyedeas Never Die", from the album King No Crown by Blueprint, are also tributes to Eyedea. [30]
Big Shot
Eyedea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She talks in riddles, and sort of tickles your soft spot
You see her in the club. She treats you like a scrub
She ain't trippin' off you, she got your whole crew in love
Your day dreamin' of getting her in the bedroom alone
Straight feedin', You's beg like a dog for the bone
And she's peepin', and the reason is she knows
Theres a demon in between your legs with a mind of its own
Y'all start speakin', she grabs the number to your phone
And next weekend you invite her to your home
You weren't even thinking. You got played by a pro
She's a big shot. Thick lips, nice legs, green eyes
Took advantage of a thousand. Only slept with three guys
Ain't a hoe or a groupie. Jane Doe or a Lucy
Her innocent looks are deceving, so I'm telling you to be wise
I know she's a cutie, but she goes for the luchie
Sure her words sounded sincere, she even made me cry!
Don't think im goofy but there's power in that coochie
Underneath those booty tight, cutoff, daisy-dooksy Levi's
(chorus)
She's a big shot. You know your dream girl
She knows how to use her looks to take advantage of the world
She's a big shot. You thought you could school her
She dissed you like you were neutered, and told you to go get a sexual tutor
She's a big shot. She wouldn't touch your ruler
She's so beutiful. A cute but cruel looter, user and abuser
She's a big shot. Your eyes are glued to her behind
You know her steeze, but you fall for it every time
Now, what about that popular school kid?
The always have been, always will be cool kid?
The class president valedictorian. "A plus", star quaterback
Cadillac convertible drivin', signin' cheerleaders autorgraphs
The letter on the jacket. Medal around the neck
Pin on his chest, and mind on his rep
He only dates models. Drinks his Summit from the bottle
When he walks he waddles, and he ain't never lost a squabble
He put you in the locker, and took your girlfriend to prom
He's in your life everyday, and you can't wait 'til he's gone
But daddy owns a business, so it won't be long
Before he inherits it, makes carats, and sings a rich man's song
He's got the most expensive clothes and jewerly to wear
While your looking for a job, he's looking in the mirror
He walks the halls surrounded by is fan club
Starts fads, ends trends, and hits the ceiling when he stands up
He's a preppy, fame hoggin', pig headed fool
When he has a party, everyone's invited except you
And your crew. And there really ain't nothin' y'all can do
He's in every state, city, and town, as long as they got a school
(chorus)
He's a big shot. Thick knot in his wallet
Parents got enough money to send your whole family to college
He's a big shot. Testosterone thirsty
Hallway fahter figure with his masculianity stained on his jersey
He's a big shot. I.B. class whiz-kid
Braggin' about a big dick, that chick and this chick
He's a big shot..
My favorites are rappers, the egoistical bastards
The people that never clap for your set, they think you're whacker
Than them 'cause they're the masters
I bet disaster is caused in their mind when you rhyme
and plaster their jaws shut with a fat verse
To him you're a hazard. Weak matter. A reason for laughter
He's preachin' he's live. But he's only that word backwards
After he dies, you can climb the ladder, start a chapter
Art you'll capture finally.
But while he breathes, m.c.'s don;t even flatter him
Add a tad if his acrobatical arrogance
To his genteically engineered emotional pattern of tearin' kids in battles
That'll explain why he mean mugs. He told ya' your team sucks
Said you dream of choking him with that mic cord
Instead, he blows your mind straight out your head
He says, "F**k You!" with clarity. You cry hysterically
As it makes a parody of your passion
You tell friends you think he's tight
but secretly, you hope his career won't be lasting
'Cause he's an asshole. But you know he's got nice sound
You know what else? Your looking at him right now
(chorus)
I'm a big shot. Don't front, you know you love me
Girls never wash their hands after they get a chance to touch me
I'm a big shot. Hey, you can say I'm a creep
But put me in a room with your idols and I'll make 'em look weak
I'm a big shot. Shit, can nobody fade me
The only way we can do a song is if somebody pays me
I'm a big shot. Big Shot. Big Props
The best thing to ever happen in the history of hip hop
The song “Big Shot” by Eyedea begins with a description of a girl who makes your jaw drop. She's attractive, talks in riddles, and doesn't fall for the advances of most men. She invites herself into the singer's life and he falls for her, but the song's narrator warns of the danger of this seemingly innocuous encounter. The second verse focuses on the popular school kid who is the class president, valedictorian, star quarterback, and has a rich father. The singer speaks about how this privileged individual is often looked up to by others, but is also a bully, mean-spirited, and focuses on himself. The last verse is about rappers and their inflated egos. They think they are better than everyone else and make it difficult for people just starting in the industry. They will even mock and belittle their peers on stage, further adding to their arrogance.
Overall, the song “Big Shot” is a cautionary tale about people who use their status, looks or wealth to take advantage of others. It warns listeners of the danger of getting caught up in superficial elements of society and to beware of those who seek to control or manipulate others.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the type of girl that walks in front of you and makes your jaw drop?
Do you recognize that kind of girl who captures your attention immediately?
She talks in riddles, and sort of tickles your soft spot
Her way of speaking is mysterious and appealing to your vulnerable side
You see her in the club. She treats you like a scrub
When you encounter her at the club, she disregards you and treats you poorly
She ain't trippin' off you, she got your whole crew in love
She doesn't care about you, she has captivated and charmed your entire group
Your day dreamin' of getting her in the bedroom alone
You fantasize about being intimate with her in a private setting
Straight feedin', You's beg like a dog for the bone
Desperately pleading and begging for her attention like a submissive animal
And she's peepin', and the reason is she knows
She is observing and paying attention to you because she is aware of your desires
Theres a demon in between your legs with a mind of its own
You are being controlled by your sexual desires and impulses
Now, you're a weakling, overwhelmed with hormones
You have become powerless and vulnerable due to your overwhelming hormones
Y'all start speakin', she grabs the number to your phone
Once you engage in conversation, she quickly takes your phone number for her own use
And next weekend you invite her to your home
You foolishly invite her to your house for the upcoming weekend
You weren't even thinking. You got played by a pro
You acted impulsively and fell victim to her manipulative skills
She's a big shot. Thick lips, nice legs, green eyes
She exudes confidence and attractiveness with her full lips, attractive legs, and captivating green eyes
Took advantage of a thousand. Only slept with three guys
Despite the attention she receives from many, she has only been sexually involved with a few
Ain't a hoe or a groupie. Jane Doe or a Lucy
She is not promiscuous or a fan-follower. She avoids being easily identifiable
Her innocent looks are deceiving, so I'm telling you to be wise
Her appearance may appear innocent, but it is deceiving, so I advise you to be cautious
I know she's a cutie, but she goes for the luchie
I understand she is attractive, but she pursues material gain
Sure her words sounded sincere, she even made me cry!
Although her words may have seemed genuine, they even provoked an emotional response from me
Don't think im goofy but there's power in that coochie
I don't want you to view me as foolish, but there is a certain power in her sexuality
Underneath those booty tight, cutoff, daisy-dukes Levi's
And that power is concealed beneath her revealing clothing
She's a big shot. You know your dream girl
She is a prominent figure, the type of girl you fantasize about
She knows how to use her looks to take advantage of the world
She is skilled at utilizing her appearance to exploit those around her
She's a big shot. You thought you could school her
You believed you could outsmart her and teach her a lesson
She dissed you like you were neutered, and told you to go get a sexual tutor
She completely disregarded and disrespected you, implying you lack sexual prowess and need assistance
She wouldn't touch your ruler
She has no interest in being intimate with you
She's so beautiful. A cute but cruel looter, user and abuser
Despite her beauty, she is manipulative and takes advantage of others
She's a big shot. Your eyes are glued to her behind
You are fixated on her physical attractiveness
You know her steeze, but you fall for it every time
You are aware of her tactics and style, yet you continue to be deceived by her
Now, what about that popular school kid?
Now, let's shift the focus to the popular student at school
The always have been, always will be cool kid?
The individual who has consistently been cool and will continue to be
The class president valedictorian. 'A plus', star quarterback
The student who excels academically, holds leadership positions, and is the star player in the football team
Cadillac convertible drivin', signin' cheerleaders autographs
They drive a luxurious Cadillac convertible and sign autographs for cheerleaders
The letter on the jacket. Medal around the neck
They proudly display their letterman jacket and wear a medal around their neck
Pin on his chest, and mind on his rep
They wear a pin on their chest to symbolize their achievements and prioritize their reputation
He only dates models. Drinks his Summit from the bottle
They exclusively date attractive individuals and confidently consume alcohol
When he walks he waddles, and he ain't never lost a squabble
They walk with a sense of arrogance and have never been defeated in an argument or fight
He put you in the locker, and took your girlfriend to prom
They humiliated you by locking you in a locker and went to prom with your girlfriend
He's in your life everyday, and you can't wait 'til he's gone
They are present in your life constantly, and you eagerly anticipate their absence
But daddy owns a business, so it won't be long
However, their father is a business owner, and their influence won't last forever
Before he inherits it, makes carats, and sings a rich man's song
They will eventually inherit the business, accumulate wealth, and live a luxurious lifestyle
He's got the most expensive clothes and jewelry to wear
They wear the most luxurious and costly clothing and accessories
While your looking for a job, he's looking in the mirror
While you struggle to find employment, they are preoccupied with their appearance
He walks the halls surrounded by his fan club
They are constantly accompanied by a group of admirers
Starts fads, ends trends, and hits the ceiling when he stands up
They initiate new trends, conclude them, and command attention whenever they enter a room
He's a preppy, fame-hoggin', pig-headed fool
They have a privileged upbringing, crave attention, and possess a stubborn and ignorant nature
When he has a party, everyone's invited except you
They host parties where everyone is welcome, except for you
And your crew. And there really ain't nothin' y'all can do
They exclude your entire group, and there is nothing you can do to change it
He's in every state, city, and town, as long as they got a school
They exist in every state, city, and town that has a school
Thick knot in his wallet
They carry a large sum of money in their wallet
Parents got enough money to send your whole family to college
Their parents have sufficient funds to finance the education of your entire family
Testosterone thirsty
They have an insatiable desire for testosterone-driven activities
Hallway father figure with his masculinity stained on his jersey
They embody the image of a fatherly figure in the school hallways, with their masculinity evident on their sports jersey
I.B. class whiz-kid
They excel academically, particularly in International Baccalaureate (I.B.) classes
Braggin' about a big dick, that chick and this chick
They boast about their sexual prowess and various sexual partners
My favorites are rappers, the egoistical bastards
My preference lies with egotistical rappers
The people that never clap for your set, they think you're whacker
Those individuals who never applaud for your performances, considering you less skilled
Than them 'cause they're the masters
They believe they are superior because they are highly skilled
I bet disaster is caused in their mind when you rhyme
I am certain they are disturbed when you deliver your rhymes
and plaster their jaws shut with a fat verse
Your impactful verse leaves them speechless
To him you're a hazard. Weak matter. A reason for laughter
In his eyes, you are a danger, insignificant, and a source of amusement
He's preachin' he's live. But he's only that word backwards
He claims to be authentic and impressive, but in reality, he is the opposite
After he dies, you can climb the ladder, start a chapter
Once he is no longer relevant, you can advance in your career and pursue your own legacy
Art you'll capture finally
You will excel in the art of rap
But while he breathes, m.c.'s don't even flatter him
As long as he is alive, other rappers won't even compliment him
Add a tad if his acrobatical arrogance
They possess a slight hint of acrobatic arrogance
To his genetically engineered emotional pattern of tearing kids in battles
Their emotionally destructive behavior, combined with their innate abilities, dominates battles
That'll explain why he mean mugs. He told ya' your team sucks
Their angry facial expressions and insults directed at you and your team can be explained by their mindset
Said you dream of choking him with that mic cord
They claimed that you fantasize about attacking them with a microphone cord
Instead, he blows your mind straight out your head
Rather than retaliating, they impress you with their skills and leave you in awe
He says, 'F**k You!' with clarity. You cry hysterically
They confidently express disdain towards you, causing you to cry and become emotional
As it makes a parody of your passion
Their response mocks and belittles your passion for rap
You tell friends you think he's tight
You tell your friends that you think he is talented
but secretly, you hope his career won't be lasting
However, deep down, you wish for his career to be short-lived
'Cause he's an asshole
Because of his unpleasant personality
But you know he's got nice sound
Nevertheless, you acknowledge that he possesses a pleasing musical style
You know what else? Your looking at him right now
And you know what? You are currently observing him
I'm a big shot. Don't front, you know you love me
I am also a prominent figure. Don't pretend you don't adore me
Girls never wash their hands after they get a chance to touch me
Girls never wash their hands after they have the opportunity to make physical contact with me
I'm a big shot. Hey, you can say I'm a creep
I am highly influential. Sure, you can label me as creepy
But put me in a room with your idols and I'll make 'em look weak
However, if I were to engage with your favorite artists, I would overshadow them and reveal their weaknesses
Shit, can nobody fade me
No one can diminish my significance
The only way we can do a song is if somebody pays me
I will only collaborate on a song if I receive payment
I'm a big shot. Big Shot. Big Props
I am a significant figure, deserving of recognition and praise
The best thing to ever happen in the history of hip hop
I consider myself the greatest occurrence in the history of hip hop
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.