The name “Cavanaugh” sounds like it might have come from an Irish pub that its members, Open Mike Eagle and Serengeti, liked to visit each night after they had finished working on their new music project, or possibly like it comes from the name of the main character from one of the hip hop duo’s favorite obscure novels. But that’s not the case at all. Instead, their new collaboration is named for the Cavanaugh housing development in Detroit, Florida, and the deep backstory surrounding that imaginary place is just one of the 10 things you should know about the new duo that’s dropping its debut full-length, Time and Materials, on November 20.

They First Met When They Went to the Same School

“Me and Dave, we went to college together,” Mike says. “We used to be in the student center, talking about rap, and we never thought we’d make a project together.” Serengeti feels the same kind of disbelief, but is glad that the project feels like it was meant to be: “He sort of did his thing, then I did my thing, and now it’s good that this came together naturally.”

They Had Collaborated a Few Times Before Cavanaugh, but Never Produced a Full Project

The two went to Southern Illinois University together, where they bonded over their shared love of MF DOOM. After having their careers split in two different directions, and collaborating with each other for a few individual songs here and there, their new album is their first full-length, official release together.

Serengeti was the First Rapper to Ever Put Down Rhymes Over One of Mike’s Beats

“It’s good to be on the first thing he produced,” Serengeti mentions. “He honestly gave me the confidence to do that,” Mike responds. “We were playing all of those other random beats, and then when I played mine, and he responded to it, it gave me the confidence that we could do something together.”

Mike, a Mostly Self-Taught Producer, Created All the Beats on 'Time and Materials'

Asking Mike about his background in making rap, he says, “I rapped with people who were better than me, and I did that all through high school. You always want to figure out how to rap better. I’ve always made beats, and in that sense, it’s all self-taught. Maybe someone could show you how to use a beat machine, but typically, it was just time spent learning the ins and outs of it.”

Their Backstory is Based in the Non-Existent City of Detroit, Florida

As their group bio says: “In a new urban development in Detroit, Florida, it's mandated by city council that a new housing structure be erected that has both luxury condominiums and affordable public housing in the same building. Mike and Dave have a combined 14 years of experience in Cavanaugh maintenance. They usually work drunk, spinning passive aggressive tales where they pretend to be angrier, stronger, and more expressive men.”

Serengeti Reminds Mike of the Very Best Personalities Pop Art has to Offer

Mike works with Serengeti for one very good reason: “Serengeti is my favorite rapper ever. He makes the quality of rap music that I want to hear all the time. He brings to mind Andy Kaufman, and MF DOOM, and Andy Warhol.”

The Duo Have an Upcoming Tour That Goes all Over Europe

Their upcoming tour will start in San Francisco on November 21st before eventually moving to London, Vienna, Geneva, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and Lyon, before finishing in Bristol.

They Think Performing at a Show is Like a Tricky High Wire Act

“I can’t say touring is ever pure excitement,” Mike relates in talking about Cavanaugh’s upcoming tour in support of their new album. “It’s like a high wire act. We’re gonna go do these songs that are new, that are personal to us, in front of a bunch of strangers. We trust it’ll go well, but there’s a lot of opportunity for me personally to get into my head about it too.”

They’ve Got Ties to the Mythical LA Rap Collective, Project Blowed

After putting down roots in the underground LA rap scene, it’s no surprise that part of this duo eventually gravitated toward the legendary rap crew Project Blowed, which boasts such luminary graduates as Aceyalone, NoCanDo, Dumbfoundead, Myka 9, as well as Open Mike Eagle himself. In fact, this new project features fellow PB associates, like Busdriver.

Their Music Videos Can be Just as Gripping as Their Actual Music

The very best music videos don’t make sense without the songs to go along with them, and Cavanugh’s visual work fits this idea perfectly. Gone are the straightforward storylines that go right from point A to point B, telling an obvious story with simple characters and a straightforward plot. Instead, their music videos, like “Screen Play,” add something to their songs that might not be there otherwise by sketching out the feel and atmosphere of a song.