Open Mike Eagle Impresses and Keeps It Moving on His New Single, “contraband (the plug has bags of me)”

Veteran of the underground rap scene, Open Mike Eagle, delivers his first single of 2025, “contraband (the plug has bags of me)”. Produced by long-time collaborator Kenny Segal, this is the lead single for his upcoming album Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, expected to release on July 11th.

With more than two decades of experience and a myriad of classic songs, verses, and albums, Open Mike Eagle will go down as a legend in rap’s history book. But since 2020, he has seemingly been taking a more homegrown approach to creating music. With his last three albums landing on his own record label, ‘Auto Reverse Records’, and countless collaborations including a collaborative album with longtime friends Video Dave and Still Rift, Open Mike Eagle has been living in his own isolated world making the art he wants to.

Open Mike Eagle has been quite the prolific feature artist this year, collaborating with lyrical peers, Aesop Rock, Rhys Langston, Queen Herawin, and Doseone. But it seems that going into the second half, he is just getting started. Now, with the single out for the fans and critics to digest before the album drops next month, it’s time to dive in and see exactly what Open Mike Eagle has cooked up for us.

The production is of an expected standard when produced by, Kenny Segal, and here, he delivers. A chopped jazz guitar is sampled throughout, serenading the left ear while a muddy and smooth-tempo bassline keeps the beat sounding fresh through each measure. There is a bridge right in the middle of the track with a beautifully placed saxophone solo, which adds a nice variation to a four-measure loop. The percussion is airy and features the signature swing that Kenny Segal employs in many of his beats. Here, it is perfect for the ‘muted’ sound and lo-fi style, leaving a pocket for Open Mike Eagle’s soft and candid cadence to take the reins.

Open Mike Eagle delivers one of his best performances to date. His signature melodic raps are in full effect, brought together by a soft-spoken yet earworm hook. As usual, his lyrics are revealing, insightful, and retrospective. In the first verse, he reflects on his childhood and the impact his first-grade teacher had on him personally and academically. He refers to her as God, which plays into the assumed central theme—‘neighborhood Gods’—of his upcoming album. The second verse is a bit more introspective than retrospective. Open Mike Eagle seems to compare himself and his ‘parts’ to plastic baggies being sold onto the streets as ‘contraband’. Beautifully metaphoric and fitting when considering just how naked and raw Open Mike Eagle’s music is and always has been.

With nine studio albums under his belt, Open Mike Eagle is stepping into his tenth album with effortless zeal. “contraband (the plug has bags of me),” is a shining testament to his longevity in rap, and his ability to make his sound ever-so unique and entertaining to hear upon each release. Even if he isn’t reinventing his wheel here, he is continuing to give the fans exactly what they want: unapologetic art rap.