Exclusive premiere of a new video from the Low Budget crew – courtesy of DJ RODDYROD’s Humble Monarch design/film company. Kev Brown, the king of self-explanatory titles (i.e. Random Joints, Exclusive Joints, etc.) continues his reign with a video entitled, Making A Track – which gives you a candid look at his beatmaking process, shot live from Slimkat78’s house.
To go along with the video, I’ve also re-posted an exclusive joint from FWMJ’s Rappers I Know. It’s the OG mix of yU’s track, “Marvelous,” which Kev produced on-the-spot for yU years ago for one of his older mixtapes, and then recently went back to and remixed for his latest release, Random Joints.
Kev’s self-released Random Joints EP is on sale now at all digital retailers and will also be seeing an extended CD release in the near future – so be on the lookout for that. Also, stay tuned to right here for more videos from Kev, RODDYROD, and the whole Low Budget coming soon.
New music from one of Ann Arbor’s finest, 14KT, off of his upcoming free download project, Nowalataz. The project is a batch of Donuts-inspired beats from 2006 that he will be dropping tomorrow.
As a last minute preview of the project, KT blessed us with the third leak from it, “Cherish.” Below is what he had to say about the track:
“Cherish. I remember I made this one for my bestfriend for her birthday. I was just thinking about how blessed I am to have people in my life that genuinely care about me, hence the title of the joint, Cherish. Craziest thing too is a little after I made this in April, I went to Shoes’ House (A Night @ Northern Lights club). It was packed. Classic night. DJ HouseShoes & Dez were playing Dilla records basically all night and I was on stage standing right behind them RIGHT next to Proof! I got to say whassup to him and tell him I really appreciated him and his music. A little after that, He passed away. Cherish. The next month me & Buff had a show in LA and Karriem Riggins came to it. I was geeked! I little after that show I sent him some beats. This beat was on the CD. A few months later, I was in LA and I got up with him and he gave me a REALLY rough copy of a song he did on it. WHAAT?? lol. He rhymed about how he found his love for jazz music. CRAZY. Maybe one day I can get the final copy and play it for ya’ll.”
And to go along with it, he also threw in the non-album exclusive “The Stylus,” which he said is from the same 2006 batch that the Nowalataz tracks were culled from. 14KT’s debut solo album, The Golden Hour, is out now on MP3 and CD – look out for the self-released vinyl version of the LP coming next month as well.
I’ve got the FRESHclusive debut of some brand (ironically) new heat from the Portland hometeam – The New Chill by MC, DaveNotti, and producer, Hi-Res. The project is a free EP that not only finds common ground between both solo artists’ seperate, signature sounds but also breaks some new ground as well to forge… well – a New Chill. The name of the project, as Notti explains it, “branches off from all of us, not just Hi-Res and myself, but [our whole crew]… just wanting to be able to chill and be cool without any of the drama. We decided on The New Chill not because of a “new crew”… but rather a “new atmosphere” – change, if you will. Our new music styles are a testament to this change as we sound nothing of our former selves.”
Dave also went on to explain that the concept behind the EP wasn’t too complex – “just smooth beats from Tim [Res] meets NY grittyness! All the while showing versatility with the few concepts shown in the project. We wanted to give listeners something short but sweet.”
Also included in the .zip file, alone with the EP, are full artwork, liner notes, and even a bonus video of Notti & Hi-Res new chilling. “The video is just an example of how this album was made – weed, video games, friends. That’s it. We just wanted to show how we get down.”
You can preview three of the 6 tracks before downloading the full EP below. Also, be sure to leave some feedback – both the 5th and 8th people to leave a comment on this post will get an exclusive bonus download of an unreleased DaveNotti remix.
This Thursday is the very first show in the Fresh Selects Presents… event concert series – and I’m proud to be launching series by bringing out one of my favorite artists, Invincible, for her official Portland debut. So if you’re in the Portland area, be sure to come out to The Fix tomorrow night! Doors open @ 9 PM and the cover is ONLY $3. Like I said – this is my first event and if all goes well it will be the first of many, so any & all support is much appreciated.
Invincible was actually able to come out to Portland thanks in part to her brand new travel agency, ETA (Emergence Travel Agency) which she just launched today. Check out the press release below for all the info on that and be sure to follow the link to find out how you be your own agent, as well as see some exclusive video demonstrations from the company.
For even more from Invincible, be sure to check out the latest episode of our live UStream show, WETF Radiovision. She was nice enough to stop by and kick it with us last night, share some of her insight on the industry & her career with us, as well as debut some brand new remixes from Astronote, and much more. You can check the archive video of some of the interview (excuse the abrupt start – some got cut off) after the jump.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Wesley Taylor EMAIL: press@EMERGENCEmusic.net
INVINCIBLE LAUNCHES EMERGENCE TRAVEL AGENCY (ETA), WORLD’S FIRST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP TRAVEL AGENCY ETA is Unlike Any Travel Agency You Have Experienced
Prepare for departure – the world’s first Hip-Hop travel agency, EMERGENCE Travel Agency (ETA), takes off this week. ETA plans to offer an inside glimpse into some of the world’s most overlooked and least understood destinations.
Founded by Detroit-based Hip-Hop artist Invincible, and her label EMERGENCE, ETA aims to make travel accessible to all people who choose to travel or move, as well as the right to stay where they already live.
For rates as low as a monthly Internet connection, ETA’s travel agents will provide Hip Hop and media-based resources for people to make informed choices about travel. ETA will provide opportunities for you to become an agent of travel.
In a recent press conference, Invincible spoke about the dying music industry and the need for artists to diversify their products. “Travel agency was a perfect fit since I was touring so often and hearing stories around the world that I felt should be shared more directly than any song could express.” Co-founder Wesley Taylor added “ETA’s unique approach will transform the realm of travel agency as we know it.”
After recently relocating from Portland to the new beat mecca, Los Angeles – Fresh Selects family member since day one, devonwho, is about to release his very first for-sale release. The project, entitled Funraiser Vol. 1: Thumbtracks, is the first in the series from the Klipmode collective – consisting of devon, Knxwl3dg3, Suzi Analogue and Mindesign. All of dev’s fellow Klipmodians appear on a track each on the album and will be releasing their own Funraiser volumes as well. Thumbtracks collects 17 of dev’s instrumental excursions and sorts them all into one concise album ripe for the head nodders and space cadets alike. Included below are full-length previews of three Thumbtracks – “interwho’d,” “wineflew” and the Suzi Analogue-assisted, “sageburnsredux.” I’ve also included an exclusive download of the non-album non-thumbtrack, “lovefunk duex” – one of my personal favorites from the set that somehow didn’t manage to make the final cut of the album. Funraiser Vol. 1: Thumbtracks will be available as a digital purchase this Tuesday through the Klipmode site and will be sold in limited quantities on CD as well. Also, if you’re in L.A. be sure to catch dev and the full Klipmode squad rocking live at the Breaking Atoms at the Grand Star Jazz Club on August 11th.
Quick preview of the upcoming free download compilation from Weekend Beats alumni and Animal Kingdom leader, J1. The Starship 27 compilation is a self-described “beat odyssey” featuring all new/exclusives tracks from the likes of Black Spade, Proh Mic, dam-funk, Computer Jay, devonwho, Ras_G, Dibia$e, Snowman Jack, House Shoes and more.
The compilation will be available for download starting this Tuesday – but in the meantime you can download two FRESHclusive leaks from devonwho and J. Bizness below. I’ve also included two of the mini-video trailers that they’ve put up so far, featuring dam-funk and Ras_G. You can check out the rest of the trailers at Culture King, who will also be hosting the download for the compilation this Tuesday.
dam-funk “I Just Wanna Ride”
Ras_G & The Afrikan Space Program “Sun Behind The Clouds”
Just a quick re-post from the HVW8 blog for you guys today – keeping everyone in the loop with the latest from the trifecta conglomerate of synthed-out soul & unquantized bump that are the Hawthorne Headhunters. As if the aligned stars of Black Spade, Ced No and Proh Mic that are the HH constellation weren’t enough – they’ve come together with the new/vintage funk shooting star that is dam-funk to form a single song galaxy, known as “PCH.” This is just the very first of HVW8’s leak campaign of unreleased tracks from the Hawth Heads, dam’s upcoming group Master Blazter (alongside J1 & Computer Jay), and others – so be sure to keep it locked to their site for those and much more.
And if you haven’t already, make sure you get FRESHclusive Hawthorne Headhunters Mixtape and also cop the EP out on iTunes now. There’s also limited quantities of vinyl available now at the HVW8 Gallery in LA – with a full vinyl release coming soon. And if you’re in the L.A. area this week – be sure to look out for Hawthorne Headhunters performing as a full band with J1 on the drums and added support from Coultrain & JimiJames on vocals. Full dates and info for those shows plus the free download of “PCH” can both be found below.
To go along with the official release date of fOnkanaut, Dudley Perkins‘ latest full-length mission, Holy Smokes, I’ve got a preview of three highlights out of the 26 tracks.
First up is a synth-infused duet with co-navigator Georgia Anne Muldrow, “Eyeluvu” – a new age power couple anthem for the masses. Then switching gears, we have a free download of the slow-but-surefire burner, “Summer Daze,” – a timely cautionary tale thats perfect for those pollution-fueled heatwaves.
And closing it out is the new west coast fOnk slapper, “Boogie,” which features Georgia and fellow Epistrophik squad member, Darryl Moore, joining in on background vocals.
Both Dudley’s Holy Smokes and Georgia Anne Muldrow’s Umsidno are in stores now – both on CD and digital. And as always, be on the lookout for much much more still to come from both talents as well as the rest of their crew. Full-length streams and a free download below.
Dudley Perkins “Eyeluvu” (feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)
Keeping in line with this last week’s theme, I’ve got even more DMV area hip-hop for you guys today – and this time its an exclusive first look into an emerging talent from the region. Charlie Ross is a producer/MC that holds true to hip-hop’s more raw and bare-boned boom bap days, while still pushing things forward for today. Charlie is originally from Midland, Pennsylvania but is currently based out of the DC area – however, the EP in question today, entitled The Charlie Ross Project, was actually recorded in 2007 when he was living out in Okinawa, Japan.
I was first put onto his music through a mutual friend, yU of Diamond District, who has been working on a project with Charlie as of late and also appears on the Project’s bonus track, “Nuthin Can.” Be on the look out for yU & Charlie Ross’ Done Deal EP as well as Charlie’s Crate Music beat tape – both of which are on their way in the coming months.
You can preview three tracks from The Charlie Ross Project before downloading the full EP below and hit me some with feedback by leaving a comment. Also, big ups to 00Genesis for providing the artwork.
Following up on the premiere of last week’s Budget Is Low Mixtape, today brings us yet another full-length free download from the Low Budget Crew – this time from rapper, Kenn Starr. Entitled It’s Still Real…, the unmixed non-tape is a discography update of sorts – collecting the guest appearances and collaborations Kenn has done his 2006 debut, Starr Status. Included are production & appearances by the likes of 9th Wonder, Kev Brown, Marco Polo, Oddisee, Raheem DeVaughn, Wale, and more.
The download also serves as a prelude to an upcoming mixtape of all new material with Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg. All of this is in preparation for the release of Kenn Starr’s upcoming album, Two Track Mind – a double EP produced by Black Milk, with remixes by Kev Brown, M-Phazes, Mr. Porter, DaveNotti and more. Two Track Mind is slated for release this fall through Mello Music Group – so look out for much more on that in the coming months.
Check the tracklisting here and get your download below. Be on the look out for yet another Low Budget-related free download coming here this weekend. Also, shout out to Heinz of HNZ Designs on the artwork.
Here’s the official debut of the brand new mixtape from the DMV’s finest – the Low Budget crew. If you’re really up on your Twitter game (twame?), you might’ve caught the leak of an early, rougher mix yesterday – but this is the official, tracked-out and finished version with artwork by LB’s own, DJ RODDYROD, who also mixed the “tape” along with fellow Low Budgeteer, DJ Marshall Law.
This first installment of the Budget Is Low mixtapes debuts a handful of new tracks from upcoming projects including the official release of Kev Brown’s Random Joints, as well as his concept-collabo with Kaimbr, The Al Green Project, RODDYROD’s Cuba After Market 1.5, Blunt Park Sessions re-release, and more. Also thrown in are some older tracks in case you missed em – plus some never-before-released rarities from the crew thrown in as well.
I’ve also included some footage from Low Budget’s 4th annual DC Loves Dilla fundraiser event this year. Included are performances from RODDYROD, Kev Brown, Grap Luva, Kaimbr, Kenn Starr and Alison Carney – all performing original songs over covers of classic Dilla beats by JLaine and his band. You can peep the tracklisting below, download the mix and then catch the live videos after the jump.
Keeping things moving, here’s an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated solo album from SA-RA Creative Partner, Shafiq Husayn. The album, entitled Shafiq En A Free Ka (“ka” meaning “mind” or “life force” in Egyptian), is the embodiment of just that – Shafiq in a free state of mind, exploring and defining through future-afrocentric sounds and fuzzy melodies. Along for the ride are a team of musicians, writers, arrangers and guest vocalists including Bilal, Om’mas Keith, Count Bass D, Sonny Coates, and many more – all with Shafiq still holding down the helm.
For a quick glimpse into A Free Ka, I’ve got the first two leaks for you today. First up is “Lil Girl,” which features Fresh Selects family member, Fatima, providing a melancholy lament over a nicely chopped vocal sample, familiar bassline and a shuffling beat. To go along with that, we have “Nirvana,” featuring another member of the FS fam, Noni Limar, alongside two of her sisters in arms, Nia Andrews and Rozzi Daime – all coming together over a layered, throbbing slab of latin-flavored bump.
Also included, after the jump, is an older video of Shafiq in the studio with Sonny Coates, working on what would become “He Say, She Say” from the latest SA-RA album.
You can download “Lil Girl” and hear a full-length stream of “Nirvana” below. Be on the look out for much more on and from the album, including a “Nirvana” remix from Mark de Clive-Lowe, before it drops this October, courtesy of Plug Research. Also, credit due to the RBMA for first debuting a stream of “Lil Girl.”
New music from one of Ann Arbor’s finest, 
