Minnesota is a great place for snow, big box store headquarters, men who embrace and wear purple, and hip-hop.
For those who are not in the know, Minnesota -- specifically the Twin Cities -- has been a hot bed for indie hip-hop for well over a decade through perennial small guy powerhouse Rhymesayers Entertainment, a label that was built on the backs of Atmosphere and carried forward by the likes of Brother Ali, P.O.S. and Eyedea & Abilities (to name a few).
The latter of those artists experienced a true tragedy late last year when Eyedea suddenly passed away, leaving a huge hole in not only the Minnesota hip-hop scene, but in the underground internationally.
Eyedea was a spirited veteran freestyler and was known around the world for his amazing battles in which he typically dominated every opponent faced. This love for competition is something that made him and his good friend DJ Abilities appear to be a great duo for those looking in from the outside.
Abilities was a battler himself, but where Eyedea was a microphone fiend, DJ Abilities was a master at wax manipulation. His desire to be the best led him to success and acclaim around the DJ world, and any hip-hop head that loves a good DJ battle has probably come across YouTube videos of his work.
As a duo, the two created records that were more about experimentation at times than they were about creating straightforward hip-hop and this was something that led to hip-hop fans either embracing them or preferring their previous efforts as independent battlers.
Abilities didn't just create music with Eyedea, however, as he was a part of the group Semi.Official with I Self Devine that released a record in 2003, but it truly is his work with Eyedea that sticks out.
With the tragic loss of his friend and musical partner, the road shifted for the DJ, but he has responded with the same amount of resolution he showed when he began his journey. He was going to move forward and do gigs and continue to do what he loves, which is create hip-hop and move crowds.
With a solo date in Milwaukee at Moct on Saturday, March 12 and a tour with Atmosphere coming up, I was able to grab a few words from the DJ.
OnMilwaukee.com: You have been DJing for over twelve years now and you saw, and were a part of, the rise of Rhymesayers Entertainment as an independent powerhouse in reputation -- which was confirmed by Urb's readers voting RSE as the "Best Record Label Of The Decade" for 2001-10 -- so when looking back on the last 10 to 12 years, what do you feel was the catalyst to the success of the Twin Cities?
DJ Abilities: Attention to detail, importance on originality through music and marketing and a good work ethic.
OMC: One of my favorite quotes that I've ever read from you is, "I don't just want to be a good Minnesota DJ, I want to be the best in the world, like the Miles Davis or the Jimi Hendrix of the turntable." That was from an interview given in 1999. Where are you on the path to achieving that status?
DJA: I'm off that path. I no longer have such a singular infatuation with scratching. I have really embraced production and traditional DJing. I'm enjoying my life more with the variety of expression.
OMC: Last year the hip-hop community lost several very important people, and one of them was your friend and associate, Michael "Eyedea" Larson. The sudden and tragic loss of a friend is indescribable, so I don't necessarily want to drag up anything you might be uncomfortable with, but as somebody that was so close to Eyedea how do you feel about the way the hip-hop communities around the country decided to pay tribute to him by hosting benefit shows and starting Facebook groups dedicated to him?
DJA: I thought it was good. Everything I saw and attended was heartfelt and appropriate.
OMC: When working on a DJ routine, what methods do you use to put your show together? Is there a lot of preparation for a show or are your shows really a free-form expression of how you feel at that moment?
DJA: A lot of trial and error. I have some sets that I know will work but if you get caught up in planning out too much you miss the overall point of DJing, which is to feel the crowd and move together with them. You can't do that when you're totally locked in, so a combination of both.
OMC: I asked you earlier about a quote from 1999 and I noticed that there was a show promoted at the bottom of the interview with Milwaukee's own Rusty Ps -- then Rusty Pelicans -- on the bill. Back in the old days before Myspace, Facebook and Twitter, working one's music around really was like hand-to-hand combat with constant challenges of having to show skill. Now music is all about button pushing, which has both helped and hindered hip-hop, but in your estimation how can an aspiring DJ or hip-hop artist make a legitimate name for themselves today?
DJA: If you make good music someone will like it. Then in today's day in age with downloading or whatnot it just puts more of a premium on the live show, which I feel is a good thing.
OMC: Not only are you a DJ but you are a producer. When you are working on constructing a beat or song, how do you approach it?
DJA: No particular way. I'll start with drums or melody. Just sit down and do whatever you feel.
OMC: Right now you are gigging around Minnesota in preparation for a larger tour around the country. What's your daily routine like when out on tour? Is there a routine that you follow on your days off that differ from the days when you have a gig?
DJA: Get up, sit in a car/van and watch some movies, sound check, do the show, eat in between. The road isn't that cool but there is always a lot of laughter and the high from performing is worth the constant travel.
OMC: What's next for you musically? Are there any projects in the works or being discussed?
DJA: Right now I'm just working on DJing, getting deep into the digital stuff. But really if it wasn't for programs like Serato and Traktor I don't think I'd do it. It really has bridged DJing and producing which is perfect for me. I do plan on a produced instrumental album though but it is still a ways off.
DJ Abilities is performing at Moct Bar on March 12 with Kid Millions and DJ Butta Tooth. Doors open at 9 p.m. and there is a cover charge of $5. The event is 21 and up.
Born in Milwaukee and raised in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, Concordia University Wisconsin alumnus Poppe has spent the majority of his life in or around the city and county of Milwaukee.
As an advocate of Milwaukee's hip-hop community Poppe began popular local music blog Milwaukee UP in March 2010. Check out the archived entries here.
Though heavy on the hip-hop, Poppe writes about other genres of music and occasionally about food, culture or sports, and is always ready to show his pride in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
