DJ Abilities

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = DJ Abilities

| image = File:Djabilities.png

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption = DJ Abilities performing in 2009

| birth_name = Gregory Joseph Keltgen{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/889895683 |title=BIG SHOTS |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=May 3, 2023}}

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|10|22}}

| birth_place =

| origin = Albuquerque, New Mexico United States

| genre = Alternative hip hop

| occupation = Producer, DJ

| instrument = Turntables MPC, Synths

| years_active = 1997–present

| label = Rhymesayers Entertainment

| past_member_of = Eyedea & Abilities

| website = {{URL|djabilities.com}}

}}

Gregory Joseph Keltgen, better known by his stage name DJ Abilities, is an American underground hip hop producer and DJ signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment who is based in Minneapolis.{{cite web |first=Peter S. |last=Scholtes |url=http://www.citypages.com/2001-09-12/music/what-s-the-big-eyedea/ |title=What's the Big Eyedea? |work=City Pages |date=September 12, 2001 |accessdate=December 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023061304/http://www.citypages.com/2001-09-12/music/what-s-the-big-eyedea/ |archivedate=October 23, 2010 }}{{cite book|editor-first=Mickey|editor-last=Hess|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/hiphopamericareg00hess|url-access=limited|first=Justin|last=Schell|chapter=From St. Paul to Minneapolis, All the Hands Clap for This: Hip Hop in the Twin Cities|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2010|pages=[https://archive.org/details/hiphopamericareg00hess/page/n460 378]–379}} He is a founding member of Eyedea & Abilities alongside Eyedea, and Semi.Official alongside I Self Devine.{{cite web|first=Peter S.|last=Scholtes|url=https://www.avclub.com/abilities-talks-turntablisms-bright-future-1798217602|title=Abilities talks turntablism's bright future|work=The A.V. Club|date=September 7, 2009}}{{cite web|author=Crusah|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.362/title.semiofficial-the-anti-album|title=Semi.Official - The Anti Album |work=HipHopDX|date=January 1, 2004}} DJ Abilities is a member of 1200 Hobos and was also a member of Atmosphere at one point. He has won two regional DJ championships for the Midwest region.

Career

DJ Abilities released First Born, a debut album with the rapper Eyedea as Eyedea & Abilities, in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/eyedea-and-abilities-ea|title=Eyedea and Abilities - E&A|work=Tiny Mix Tapes|author=Wolfman|date=December 14, 2006}} He handled the turntable work on El-P's 2002 solo debut album Fantastic Damage.{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/28714/El-P-Fantastic-Damage/|title=Review: El-P - Fantastic Damage|work=Sputnikmusic|first=Sobhi|last=Youssef|date=January 12, 2009}} Two more collaborative albums with Eyedea, E&A (2004) and By the Throat (2009), were both released on Rhymesayers Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/eyedea-abilities/ea.htm|title=Eyedea & Abilities - E&A|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Dan|last=Kricke|date=January 11, 2005|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111814/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/eyedea-abilities/ea.htm|archivedate=March 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5206|title=Eyedea & Abilities - By the Throat|work=Dusted Magazine|first=Emerson|last=Dameron|date=August 27, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sfstation.com/2012/08/08/dj-qa-dj-abilities/|title=DJ Q&A: DJ Abilities|work=SF Station|first=Christina|last=Li|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=February 24, 2017}}

File:Eyedea & Abilities - First Avenue Star.jpgEyedea & Abilities has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author= |date= |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |publisher= |access-date=2020-05-10 |archive-date=2020-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }} recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=2019-05-03 |accessdate=2020-05-10 }} Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=2019-05-13 |accessdate=2020-05-10 }}

DJ Abilities won the Midwest regionals in the 1999 and 2001 DMC World DJ Championships. City Pages noted that he and Eyedea for their ability to interact in live on stage performances, as well as on record.{{cite news |last=Matos |first=Michaelangelo |date=January 6, 2009 |title=Ready, Willing, and Able: Ego trippin' with the hardest-working hip-hop DJ in town |work=City Pages |url=http://www.citypages.com/1999-01-06/music/ready-willing-and-able/ |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 8, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605234532/http://www.citypages.com/1999-01-06/music/ready-willing-and-able/ |archivedate=June 5, 2011}}

Discography

{{See also|Eyedea & Abilities#Discography|l1=Eyedea & Abilities discography|Semi.Official#Discography|l2=Semi.Official discography}}

=DJ mixes=

Finally (1997, Rhymesayers Entertainment)
...For Persons with DJ Abilities (2000, Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Now! That's What I Call Fuck Off (2012, self-released)
The Blends (2014, self-released)

=Productions=

Deep Puddle Dynamics - "Deep Puddle Theme Song", "Thought vs. Action" and "Where the Wild Things Are" from The Taste of Rain... Why Kneel? (1999) All E&A albums.

=Guest appearances=

Rusty Ps - "All I Have" from Out of Many (2001)
Unknown Prophets - "The Wrong Route" from World Premier (2001)
El-P - Fantastic Damage (2002)
Mr. Lif - "Return of the B-Boy" from I Phantom (2002)
One Be Lo - L.A.B.O.R. (2011)
Killer Mike - "Go!" from R.A.P. Music (2012)
Seez Mics - "Post Pathic Profiteers" from Cruel Fuel (2014)
One Be Lo - Baby (Being a black youth) (2020)

References

External links

{{Official website|djabilities.com}}
[http://rhymesayers.com/abilities DJ Abilities] on Rhymesayers Entertainment
{{Soundcloud|dj-abilities}}
{{Discogs artist|DJ Abilities}}

Category:American hip-hop DJs

Category:Rhymesayers Entertainment artists

Category:Living people

Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:1979 births