A few weeks ago, I attended my friend @harvee.bird’s first hip-hop show in a long while. The show was part of Hungry Hungry Hip Hop, a tribute to Elan Eichler (a.k.a. @mighty_misc ), an event Elan co-created that still runs today. Sadly, just two weeks prior, Elan took his own life.
I never met Elan, but I listened as his friends took the stage and spoke about his life and the impact he had on them and the independent rap community in Portland. The more I learned about Elan, the more I admired him.
He was a self-proclaimed nerd. The lyrics of his songs often referenced superheroes and video games. He even had a song dedicated to Mortal Kombat (accompanying this post). Elan used hip-hop to express his frustrations with his battle against bipolar disorder and depression. He graduated from PSU with a degree in psychology and then earned his master’s in social work from Simmons University in Boston. He worked with foster kids, served as an academic advisor at Harvard, and last year, he moved to Cleveland with his fiancée and dog, Hachi, where he continued his social work and worked as a journalist.
Elan left a significant impact and fostered a vibrant community around him. Though his story was tragically cut short, the impact he had during his time is immense. My condolences to his friends and family.
#hiphop #tribute #musicismedicine #mentalhealthawareness
https://www.wweek.com/music/2024/04/29/portland-hip-hop-community-remembers-mighty-misc/
