Rapper Elan Eichler, who played Mighty Misc, committed suicide on April 7 in Cleveland, Ohio. On April 21, Eichler celebrated his life in Portland at The Hungry Hungry Hip-Hop Show, which he founded 13 years ago at the Atlantis Lounge at Mississippi Pizza Bar. An online obituary from the Eichler Family Organization lists his parents, Dan and Karen; his fiancée, Dakota Kennedy, and a wide range of friends and relatives as his survivors.
Eichler was born in San Francisco in 1989 and moved to Portland with his family in 1992. He performs solo and as part of the band State of Mind. Eichler, a nerdy rapper who often incorporates science fiction, superheroes and Jewish heritage into his lyrics, has also been open about his mental health struggles.
“The biggest struggle I’ve faced is my lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder, especially the depressive aspect of bipolar disorder,” Eichler told Ohio Voyage in January. “In Making music during depression was really hard and I was forced to take a break and focus on getting back to a good place where I could be creative. ”
Together with HHHH, Eichler founded the Morpheus Youth Project, a hip-hop program that has served Oregon’s incarcerated youth for more than a decade. He is also a supporter of Friends of Noise, a local nonprofit that supports music performances for all ages in Portland. Mighty Misc quickly established himself in Cleveland, playing local shows and releasing his final album, Boom Bap Derby, last December.
“Elan left this world too soon, and our hearts are broken for his loved ones and everyone who knew him,” Friends of Noise wrote in a statement to WW. “Elan embodied the spirit of hip-hop and his unwavering commitment to the arts, youth, and social justice. We hope each day brings more healing to Elan’s loved ones and will continue to support the creative youth in our community just like Elan did.”
Musicians mourned Eichler’s death on social media platforms. They remember Eichler’s love of life, sense of humor and knack for building community among musicians and music lovers. Many of the musicians’ posts encouraged their fans to pay attention to their loved ones and take their mental health seriously.
“He is an incredibly energetic and happy man, which just goes to show that these types of people are not always happy on the inside,” Portland rapper Jady wrote in an April 12 Facebook post . “A lot of times, people dealing with depression and bipolar disorder will put on a happy facade to cover up these things. Check in on those people sometimes because everything is not always what it seems.
“Heaven just got more fire sticks and smiled [its] Rank,” wrote Benjamin Mauro (aka Diction Uno). “We will miss you forever. Thank you for everything you did for me.
On April 26, rapper Milc and performer Televangel released a song “Just One More Time” in tribute to Eichler.
“Let me jam with Misc one more time,” Milk raps, “let me listen to one more self-deprecating rhyme/Listen to these songs and feel like I’m traveling back in time/Pour my beer again.”
The Eichler family is accepting donations in the name of Mighty Misc from Friends of Noise, Ethos Music Center, the Cleveland Jewish Collective and the Buckeye Flames.
Oregon’s suicide prevention website provides links to crisis phone hotlines, text lines and online help at county and state centers, including veterans centers. Culturally specific resources are also available.
