Michael W. Eagle II, born November 14, 1980, records as Open Mike Eagle. He grew up in Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes, lived with his grandparents until 13, attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and studied psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. After a year of graduate school he moved to Los Angeles, worked for AmeriCorps and at a halfway house, and found the Project Blowed collective, forming the trio Thirsty Fish. His solo run began with Unapologetic Art Rap in 2010 and includes Dark Comedy, Brick Body Kids Still Daydream, a concept album about the demolished Chicago housing project he grew up in, and Anime, Trauma and Divorce. He coined the term art rap for what he does, hosts podcasts, created the Comedy Central series The New Negroes, and made DOOMED! with Kenny Segal in 2026.