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.
Music Music
Eyedea & Abilities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the emptiness I've bled has only helped me survive
Something melted inside when the tones hit my pulse
And stifled the idle eagerness to grow into my clothes
No one that I know is any longer good at actin'
Like they comprehend the motive uncoated to feed the corroded passion
Actually needs to stay eye level with the rest
That's the least I deserve for the love that I've shed
Dove soul first to bathe nude in its abyss
Paid dues and made music my religion
Now I listen, close my eyes, and forget I even exist
I sing a bastard's tune, inspired by the noise
The ship made before it sank and was finally destroyed
I flaunt the grin of a man made for disguising a boy
Who tried to avoid showing the cry in his voice
But there's something special about the notes that he hears
Those scales are redemption, unraveling repressed memories
And when he breathes, a new energy enters and consumes him
To heal his wounds and unseal his doom
If only I could make you understand
But words are just words so I can't
The universe's deepest art form keeps my heart warm with influence
I tell ya
Ain't nothing quite as beautiful as music
To be an angel, you gotta earn your wings
To control your own, you gotta burn your strings
To hit blackjack, you gotta turn a king
But to live forever, all you gotta do is learn to sing
I get a pleasure that's inevitably immeasurable
And I won't let it be rejected by no man
Why does it have to be so damn difficult
To live in the frame of a game that will slit your throat?
But I've dug in the mud in search of the drum
Dove soul first to bathe nude in its abyss
Stayed true to the music, now my favorite thing to do is
Close my eyes and forget that I even exist
I hold this fistful of degenerate ideas
For every genius that was murdered in the name of Jesus
Still deaf to the bells that claimed to free us
But I pay homage to my melody ‘cause she's the sweetest
The core of our spirit is naked
The form of its lyrics are sacred
Blanketed by the original sound of the inner vibrations
I'm floating on the soft clouds of positive creation
See, I can look at a painting and admire the colors
Or appreciate any type of art that I discover
But what I dig's invisible
It's my teacher and I'm its student
I tell ya
Ain't nothing quite as beautiful as music
In Eyedea & Abilities's song "Music Music," the lyrics explore the power of music to heal and transform the self. The singer expresses their dedication to the art of music, writing that they will continue to write and create music until they die. They have found that music has helped them to survive, to melt away the emptiness inside and to feel alive. The singer sees music as a way to connect with their deeper self, to access repressed memories and emotions, and to find redemption. They sing of the transformative power of notes and scales, which can heal wounds and unseal doom. The singer acknowledges the limitations of words in describing the power of music, but asserts that "ain't nothing quite as beautiful as music."
The song's lyrics also address the challenges of pursuing music as a vocation. The singer writes of the difficulty of trying to make a living in a game that "will slit your throat." They reference the sacrifices made by previous musical "geniuses" who were "murdered in the name of Jesus," but remain committed to the "original sound of the inner vibrations." They assert that music is their "teacher," and that they are its "student." Ultimately, they find joy and solace in music, describing it as "the universe's deepest art form" and a source of "positive creation."
Overall, the lyrics of "Music Music" celebrate the power and beauty of music, as well as its ability to heal, transform, and sustain the self.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be writing till I'm dead or maybe till I'm alive
I will continue to write because it has helped me survive and is a part of my identity.
All the emptiness I've bled has only helped me survive
The pain and emptiness I've experienced have only given me more fuel to create and continue living.
Something melted inside when the tones hit my pulse
The music I listen to has the ability to touch me on a deeper emotional level, almost like it's melting something inside me.
And stifled the idle eagerness to grow into my clothes
Music has helped me feel more comfortable in my own skin and stopped me from trying to fit into a mold that doesn't feel right for me.
No one that I know is any longer good at actin'
I can see through people's facades and they can no longer pretend to understand my passion for music.
Like they comprehend the motive uncoated to feed the corroded passion
People don't truly understand the raw passion and motivation behind my love for music.
Actually needs to stay eye level with the rest
I deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for the hard work and love I've put into creating music.
That's the least I deserve for the love that I've shed
I've put so much of myself and my soul into my music, so the least I deserve is to be seen and heard by others.
I've trudged through the sediment in search of the rhythm
I've gone through difficult times in my life in search of finding the right beat or rhythm for my music.
Dove soul first to bathe nude in its abyss
I've submerged myself completely into music and allowed it to wash over me and guide me.
Paid dues and made music my religion
I've worked hard and sacrificed a lot to make music the most important aspect of my life.
Now I listen, close my eyes, and forget I even exist
When I'm lost in the music, I forget about everything else and become one with the sound.
I sing a bastard's tune, inspired by the noise
My music comes from a place of pain and raw emotion, inspired by the chaos and noise of the world around me.
The ship made before it sank and was finally destroyed
My music is a reflection of the beauty in destruction and the moments leading up to one's demise.
I flaunt the grin of a man made for disguising a boy
Even though I'm an adult, music still makes me feel young and alive, and I unabashedly show my joy and enthusiasm for it.
Who tried to avoid showing the cry in his voice
I used to hide the vulnerability in my music because I was afraid of showing my emotions to others.
But there's something special about the notes that he hears
The music I hear has a special magic or quality to it that sets it apart from everything else.
Those scales are redemption, unraveling repressed memories
The musical notes I hear help me confront and work through buried memories and emotions that I've repressed.
And when he breathes, a new energy enters and consumes him
When I'm lost in the music and singing or playing an instrument, I feel a new energy and passion enter me, taking over completely.
To heal his wounds and unseal his doom
Music is my way of healing and dealing with my own personal pain and struggles, helping me move forward and overcome adversity.
If only I could make you understand
I wish I could convey the true power and beauty of music to others so they could understand its importance in my life.
But words are just words so I can't
As powerful as words can be, they can't truly capture and convey the full depth and meaning of music and its impact on me.
The universe's deepest art form keeps my heart warm with influence
Music is the most profound and impactful art form in the world, and it has a constant, warm influence on my heart and soul.
To be an angel, you gotta earn your wings
Achieving greatness and success in music (or in life) requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
To control your own, you gotta burn your strings
To truly own one's life and destiny, one must break free from the expectations and limitations set by others.
To hit blackjack, you gotta turn a king
To achieve great things, you must be willing to take risks and make bold moves, even if they may seem unconventional.
But to live forever, all you gotta do is learn to sing
Music has the power to transcend time and connect people across generations, making it a way to achieve immortality in some sense.
I get a pleasure that's inevitably immeasurable
The joy and pleasure I get from making and listening to music is indescribable and impossible to measure.
And I won't let it be rejected by no man
I won't let anyone dismiss or invalidate the importance of music and its impact on me.
Why does it have to be so damn difficult
Life can be challenging and difficult, especially when it comes to pursuing one's passion for music.
To live in the frame of a game that will slit your throat?
Why is it so hard to succeed in the competitive world of music, where one wrong move or decision can ruin a career?
But I've dug in the mud in search of the drum
Despite the challenges and obstacles, I've persevered and kept searching for the beat or rhythm that speaks to me.
Stayed true to the music, now my favorite thing to do is
I've remained loyal and committed to music despite the difficulties, and now it's my ultimate passion and favorite thing to do in life.
I hold this fistful of degenerate ideas
My music is unconventional and goes against the norms, and I hold onto these ideas tightly.
For every genius that was murdered in the name of Jesus
Throughout history, many geniuses, particularly in the world of art and music, were unappreciated or even persecuted due to their unconventional ideas.
Still deaf to the bells that claimed to free us
People are still swayed by popular trends and traditional values, even though they may not actually be liberating or empowering.
But I pay homage to my melody ‘cause she's the sweetest
Despite the challenges and resistance, I remain loyal to my music because it brings me the greatest joy and satisfaction.
The core of our spirit is naked
Music touches the most raw and genuine aspects of our souls and emotions.
The form of its lyrics are sacred
The words and lyrics of music are powerful and meaningful, often conveying deep messages and emotions.
Blanketed by the original sound of the inner vibrations
Music is a way to connect with our innermost selves, and the unique sound and feel of it can vary greatly from person to person.
I'm floating on the soft clouds of positive creation
Music has the power to lift us up and create a positive aura or atmosphere around us.
See, I can look at a painting and admire the colors
Visual art can be beautiful and impressive, but it doesn't have the same emotional and personal impact as music.
Or appreciate any type of art that I discover
I can find value and appreciate all forms of art, but music holds a unique and special place in my heart.
But what I dig's invisible
The beauty and magic of music is intangible and difficult to put into words or visualize.
It's my teacher and I'm its student
Music is a way for me to learn and grow as a person, constantly teaching me new things and inspiring me to be better.
Ain't nothing quite as beautiful as music
Music is the most beautiful and profound art form in the world, and nothing can quite compare to its power and impact.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind