Phat Kat’s ‘Rededication To The Suckers’ Available Now. Detroit Free Press Premieres Full Album Stream With “Free Spin”
Phat Kat (born Ronnie Watts) is perhaps best known for being a favorite collaborator of the late great J Dilla (AKA Jay Dee). Phat Kat’s career began in the mid-90’s as a part of the group known as 1st Down; which consisted of Phat Kat as vocalist and J Dilla on production. A chance encounter in a Detroit record store with Gang Starr turned into an exchange of heaping praise onto one another; DJ Premier and Guru then put 1st Down in touch with their then label (Pay Day Records) where they signed a deal and released the classic “A Day With The Homiez.” 1st Down may have been short-lived, but the two continued to collaborate on many occasions afterwards, starting with a celebrated appearance on “Fat Cat Song” and its eventual remix which appeared on Slum Village’s Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1 (and it was later remixed by Flying Lotus), Dabrye’s “Game Over” f/ J Dilla, and into Dilla’s solo-career, including appearances on Welcome 2 Detroit and appearances on three subsequent Slum Village albums. Phat Kat also guested on Black Milk’s solo album Popular Demand.
Phat Kat’s debut album The Undeniable LP was released in 2004 on Barak Records and featured appearances from Slum Village, Dwele, Obie Trice, MC Breed and Black Milk. Shortly thereafter, he released the J Dilla produced single, “Cold Steel,” and followed it up with his sophomore album Carte Blanche, his most universally acknowledged project to date, which featured Elzhi, Black Milk, T3, House Shoes & Guilty Simpson and production from Young RJ, Black Milk (4 tracks) and J Dilla (5 tracks).
Rededication To The Suckers is Phat Kat’s long-awaited return from hiatus and you can hear it now via the Detroit Free Press “Free Spin” premiere. Kat’s first full-length album in a decade features appearances from Elzhi, Guilty Simpson & DJ Dez and is produced in its entirety by the London-based producer Agor. It will be available on 12’ LP alongside a full-set of Euro exclusive remixes and as a deluxe double edition in digital format.
Phat Kat’s Rededication is now available on vinyl and digital and he will also be headed out for an extensive European Tour this winter that starts in November alongside Guilty Simpson (tour dates to follow).
