Eyedea & Abilities: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Sage Francis
• Sleep
• Bleubird
• Brother Ali
• Eminem

• Black Moon
• Company Flow
• OutKast

• Oliver Hart
• Micranots
• Atmosphere

Genres:

Rap & Hip-Hop Music, Underground Rap Music

Decades Active:

2000's

Before Eyedea and Abilities were an MC/DJ pair, they were Mike Averill and Gregory "Max" Keltgen, two friends from Minneapolis. In 1997, however, still in high school, the duo began competing in the battle circuit, gaining recognition from high profile wins at 1999's Scribble Jam and the 2000 HBO televised BlazeBattle World Championships, among others. Despite rumors of possible deals with Puff Daddy or Eminem, Eyedea Abilities chose to sign with fellow Minnesotans Rhymesayers, and released their debut album, First Born, in 2001. A departure from the battle raps they had previously done, First Born, was an introspective concept album musing about the state of hiphop and life. Because both Eyedea and Abilities were involved in other projects (Oliver Hart and The Micranots, respectively) their second album, EA, didn't come out until 2004.

- Marisa Brown, All Music Guide