Name: Phonograph Phoenix
Brand: DJ Abilities

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

RSE332LPC1

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Colour

Purple

Colour details

Translucent Purple Cloudy 

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Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: Yes

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Housed in Gatefold Sleeve.

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Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2021-10-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

826257033215

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / purple

RSE332CD

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Download code: No

826257033222

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

DJ Abilities

Genre GB

Hip Hop

Label GB

Rhymesayers Entertainment

Rhymesayers Entertainment is an underground hip-hop label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded by Sean "Slug" Daley of Atmosphere and Brent "Siddiq" Sayers, the label has been a driving force in the hip-hop scene since its inception. With a focus on showcasing talented artists and pushing boundaries, Rhymesayers has become synonymous with quality music.
Known for their unique sound and thought-provoking lyrics, Rhymesayers artists have gained a loyal following worldwide. The label's releases are highly regarded within the industry and have received critical acclaim from both fans and critics alike.
With an impressive roster of artists including Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock, and many more, Rhymesayers continues to be at the forefront of independent hip-hop. Their dedication to authenticity and artistic integrity sets them apart from other labels in the industry.

Gregory Keltgen (aka DJ Abilities) gravitated toward the turntables at a young age, becoming a DJ at only 17, before going on to compete in the legendary DMC DJ competitions only 2 years later in 1999. He won the regional title and advanced to the U.S. finals that year, before doing it again in 2001. Soon after, Abilities was also garnering attention for performing all the scratches on indie classic, Fantastic Damage, the debut album by El-P of Run The Jewels’ fame, as well as contributing his turntable talents and production skills to other Hip-Hop cult favorites like The Anti-Album by Semi.Official, and The Taste of Rain... Why Kneel? by Deep Puddle Dynamics. But above all, his name would become most celebrated throughout the 2000’s as one-half of the dynamic Hip-Hop duo Eyedea and Abilities.

DJ Abilities had first met Micheal “Eyedea” Larsen in the mid-90’s, and the two soon began a working relationship that would eventually play a prominent role in the burgeoning Indie-Rap movement of the time. Together, the pair developed a near symbiotic creative union that produced three albums - First Born; E&amp;A; and By The Throat—a catalog animated by the burning fusion of Eyedea’s introspective and technically adept rhymes with Abilities’ precise scratches and versatile production. Tragically, his partner Eyedea passed away in 2010 leaving Abilities to soldier on by himself, but the influence of their partnership continues to shape DJ Abilities’ music to this day.

His latest project, Phonograph Phoenix, finds the DJ/Producer returning to the forefront and embracing an entirely new approach to making music. A departure from previous work that was primarily sample-based, Phonograph Phoenix finds Abilities opting to build the album’s compositions from the ground up, creating his own sound through Ableton Live and various soft synths, with razor sharp cuts and select vocal chops providing a voice where his fallen partner may have once stood.

Abilities’ new production techniques breathe an awakening essence into Phonograph Phoenix, whether that’s in the deep, cavernous bass and funky drum loops of “Worldwide”, the gorgeous atmospheric synths he conjures on “Waves”, or the sinister head-nodding groove of “The Badman” with its vulnerable-but-not-self-pitying vocal samples. Throughout its creation, Abilities sought to remain as truthful as possible, ensuring that each song held qualifying meaning and that the album on a whole made a definitive statement. The process inspired Abilities to dig deep and pull up some heavy, heartfelt beats and, speaking with his hands as all great turntablists do, he used this space to address grief, loss, and his own personal shortcomings, all while making room for hope and optimism.