Their commercially successful sophomore album E&A (released 2004) became a staple of the Twin Cities hip hop community, although following hectic touring the release of Eyedea & Abilities next album By The Throat would take several years, with Eyedea and DJ Abilities touring separately.
After a productive hiatus they returned with the critically acclaimed By The Throat (released 2009). Sonically divergent from their earlier work, By The Throat would showcase the their individual development along with the talents of Jeremy Ylvisaker, J.T. Bates & Graham O'Brien.
Eyedea (Born Micheal Larsen on November 9, 1981 – October 16, 2010) who also performed under the name Oliver Hart became widely known because of his battle and freestyle skills. The Many Faces of Oliver Hart prominently features the obliterating lyrical speed of a young Carnage the Executioner aka Terrell Woods along with Slug (of Atmosphere). Eyedea was best known for his victory at the Blaze Battle, which was aired on HBO, showing some of the best underground battlers in action. Eyedea largely toured with Slug aka Sean Daley during his early career, and would continue to collaborate with his mentor.
Numerous posthumous releases regularly appear since his passing, including Face Candy Waste-Age Teen Land and Eyenine Afraid to Dream on Crushkill Recordings, along with dedications from Kristoff Krane aka Christoffer Keller, Sadistik aka Cody Foster, No Bird Sing, Sage Francis, Brother Ali, Carnage XXXL, Murs among others. His mother Kathy Averill maintains an official dedication site www.micheallarsen.com.
DJ Abilities aka Maxx Keltgen is known for winning three DMC awards and for his work on his mixtapes and 1200 Hobos. He continues to tour, and is currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Glass
Eyedea & Abilities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Against the masquerade like I don't believe in the morning after
the chronicles contain a few hidden chapters
Which keep our mirrors dirty, in case vanity backfires
a cold grin curtains hunger pains and eagerness
in one throw you could expose up my weaknesses
I'm putty in your hands kept my ways buried'in sand
until you learn to look through a window no one else can
oh charity, clarity, honesty excitement
the one with class, falsely accused, misconstrued
anger, sorrow, pact, machinary, decisions
collisions, instant gratification
thinking about you programed to destruct obstacles
What don't kill me, will just me crazier
I'm so filthy, sorry I had to see me like this
I sold you a lie that showed through my eyes
It told you to cry a stained glass suicide
They slowly chiseled down the walls we all hide behind
It's only time before your secrets become weakened headlines
But I'll be fine, suffocating on my own mask
I just wish I could forget how to read between the cracks
perceptive, unethical, digested tunnel vision
methadone, real diamond cut tested
resurrected perfected by well respected professionals
head doctor, head hunter, scratched the surface
lost somewhere, accepted own ability transparent open, curves...?
[repeat 2X]
I'm living in a world made of windows and mirrors
This is safeguard covered crystallized tears
giving out different images, same fears
One day it's all gonna shatter, and I hope you're right here...
see through my anxieties and insecurities rip out my insides
put 'em on display, encaged, enraged and break the bottle
that I've become, I run I jump I grow completely shattered fractured, captured
glad I had the chance to be so helpless
see through my 4 corner widow pane so plain and simple
brain is crippled walking through a maze
when did I decide to be an object to reflecet cruicified for my imperfections
I answered every question peeling the tint off of my confession
close your eyes if we can
death to pride, lets begin
I'm glass and its a dream
and I don't miss a thing
broken mirrors don't bring back nothing
cherish image, how do I look any given day
you can't kill me if you rebuild me
you won't she won't he won't
I gotta do it all alone again goodbye
fled, no one ever said it was anythin in my head
I'm dead everyone lies and lays on top of the point
wipe my slate clean..?
The lyrics of Eyedea & Abilities’s song “Glass” reflect on the idea that we all live in a world of mirrors and windows. The singer speaks of how he runs from the voice of reason until it turns to laughter, indicating a fear of reality. He references the masquerade, suggesting a sense of disbelief in the morning after - a possible result of his fear of facing the consequences of his choices. The song’s protagonist describes how hidden chapters in his life keep his mirrors dirty, indicating a sense of guilt and shame that cannot be washed away.
The singer’s anxieties, insecurities, and imperfections are exposed and encaged, and he feels helpless, shattered, and fractured. The singer wishes someone could see through him, rip out his insides, and capture his shattered essence, implying a desire for relief and authenticity. The song concludes on a hopeful note, suggesting that broken mirrors don't bring back anything, and asserting that rebuilding oneself can only be done alone.
Overall, the song "Glass" seems to tackle the theme of breaking out from the masks and facades we build around ourselves, to live with authenticity and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna run from the voice of reason 'till it turns to laughter
I will avoid logic until it becomes humorous
Against the masquerade like I don't believe in the morning after
I oppose pretending like there are no consequences
the chronicles contain a few hidden chapters
My life story has some undisclosed parts
Which keep our mirrors dirty, in case vanity backfires
Those parts ensure I can't be too proud
a cold grin curtains hunger pains and eagerness
A fake smile masks my desires and eagerness
in one throw you could expose up my weaknesses
A single action could unveil my flaws
I'm putty in your hands kept my ways buried'in sand
You have complete control over me
until you learn to look through a window no one else can
You have to understand me on a deep level
oh charity, clarity, honesty excitement
Positive emotions and values
the one with class, falsely accused, misconstrued
Someone blamed and misunderstood, despite being respectable
anger, sorrow, pact, machinary, decisions
Negative emotions, commitments, and plans
collisions, instant gratification
Crashes and desire for immediate reward
thinking about you programed to destruct obstacles
Devoting energy to overcome problems for you
What don't kill me, will just me crazier
Surviving will only make me more insane
I'm so filthy, sorry I had to see me like this
I am ashamed at how I appear
I sold you a lie that showed through my eyes
I deceived you, and it was evident
It told you to cry a stained glass suicide
It encouraged you to mourn a beautiful disaster
They slowly chiseled down the walls we all hide behind
The society gradually dismantles people's defenses
It's only time before your secrets become weakened headlines
Eventually, everyone's secrets get exposed
But I'll be fine, suffocating on my own mask
I will keep pretending and suffer silently
I just wish I could forget how to read between the cracks
I want to unlearn how to sense subtle cues
perceptive, unethical, digested tunnel vision
Insightful, immoral, and narrow-minded
methadone, real diamond cut tested
Substitute addiction treatment, genuine quality assurance
resurrected perfected by well respected professionals
Revived and improved by reputable experts
head doctor, head hunter, scratched the surface
Head physician, headhunter, merely made initial progress
lost somewhere, accepted own ability transparent open, curves...?
Confused, recognized vulnerabilities, and unknown potential
I'm living in a world made of windows and mirrors
I exist in a reality of reflections and self-reflections
This is safeguard covered crystallized tears
It is a shield disguised as a beautiful sadness
giving out different images, same fears
Showing various appearances but having identical anxieties
One day it's all gonna shatter, and I hope you're right here...
Eventually, everything will fall apart, and I want you beside me
see through my anxieties and insecurities rip out my insides
Discern my fears and weaknesses, and expose them
put 'em on display, encaged, enraged and break the bottle
Show them to others, fury trapped like a caged animal, and shatter what holds me together
that I've become, I run I jump I grow completely shattered fractured, captured
I am damaged, running, leaping, evolving, completely broken and in someone's possession
glad I had the chance to be so helpless
I accept my vulnerability
see through my 4 corner widow pane so plain and simple
Understand me plainly and transparently
brain is crippled walking through a maze
My mind is handicapped navigating through confusion
when did I decide to be an object to reflecet cruicified for my imperfections
When did I choose to be a target for criticism of my flaws?
I answered every question peeling the tint off of my confession
I was honest and removed the filter from my admission
close your eyes if we can
Let's shut our eyes
death to pride, lets begin
Let's abandon arrogance and start fresh
I'm glass and its a dream
I am fragile, and this seems unreal
and I don't miss a thing
I am fully aware
broken mirrors don't bring back nothing
Breaking something only creates more destruction
cherish image, how do I look any given day
Treasure my appearance, but question how I appear every day
you can't kill me if you rebuild me
You can revive me but never defeat me
you won't she won't he won't
None of you will do it
I gotta do it all alone again goodbye
I must face it alone, farewell
fled, no one ever said it was anythin in my head
Escaped, and no one confirmed it was my imagination
I'm dead everyone lies and lays on top of the point
I am dead, and everyone is dishonest and missed the point
wipe my slate clean..?
Can I start over?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tchock
"See through my anxieties and insecurities rip out my insides
Put 'em on display, encaged, enraged and break the bottle
That I've become, I run I jump I grow completely shattered fractured, captured
Glad I had the chance to be so helpless
See through my 4 corner window pane - plain and simple
Brain is crippled walking through a maze
When did I decide to be an object of reflection, crucified for all my imperfections
I answered every question peeling the tint off of my confession"
--
Jesus, this entire fucking verse.
Vampire Village
I come back to eyedeas music all these years later and I am still only picking up on the genius in these lyrics. He dipped his pen in the infinite.
Vampire Village
@EyeDea 84 crazy
EyeDea 84
Stained glass suicide. Holy shit.
ForSauuce
You'll plollly not see this but I too come back all the time to his music. I live in stpaul mn and work at a smoke shop and his father always comes in such a great man
Alicia Boyke
@lisa karson just so you know f**** apparently I got the go-ahead leggings
5Peacepoet
Im not sure that it is bad luck. that would make sense because the old famous idiom is ' broken mirrors bring seven years of bad luck'
tchock
"See through my anxieties and insecurities rip out my insides
Put 'em on display, encaged, enraged and break the bottle
That I've become, I run I jump I grow completely shattered fractured, captured
Glad I had the chance to be so helpless
See through my 4 corner window pane - plain and simple
Brain is crippled walking through a maze
When did I decide to be an object of reflection, crucified for all my imperfections
I answered every question peeling the tint off of my confession"
--
Jesus, this entire fucking verse.
lisa karson
tchock the Red Cross I came right across your comment that that you posted while I was listening to that it's very very complex
Evan Bryant
Dont compare eyedea to anyone.. there is no other person that ventured as deep as he did.. He was a straight talent that we wont see again.. bright, talented and driven.. he did him.. that's it.. that's all of it.
Ace Huxley
@Uncle.saMC47 Cap STEEZ for sure. Also, i think a lot about another rapper from Venezuela named Canserbero that I think was on par with Mikey... check out his song called Es Epico or Jeremias 17:5