FRESHCLUSIVE SNEAK PREVIEW:
Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts are… M64


This is a 2-for-1 FRESHclusive and Fresh Kept Secrets combo: The premier of the new collaboration from two of Portland, Oregon’s finest – one of my favorite singers right now, Ragen Fykes, and prominent Northwest producer/MC, Ohmega Watts. With their powers combined (Captain Planet style), they form M64 – a name inspired by the Black Eye Galaxy for how their planets combined on this collaborative effort. Before their collision, Ohmega had already released two solo albums on Ubiquity Records, as well as two albums as 1/3 of the group, Lightheaded (also including Braille & Othello). And besides his own releases, he’s also collaborated with everyone from multi-faceted producer Quantic, to live funk band Connie Price & The Keystones, to hip-hop peers Giant Panda and numerous others, and has also been holding down a DJ residency at Portland’s premier hip-hop night, The Fix. Ragen on the other hand, has been making a name for herself by performing around town with artists like Barry Hampton’s Triple Grip, Braille, Ohmega, for years now and has collaborated with a slew of artists, including Living Legends, Pigeon John, J. Boogie’s Dubtronic Science and most recently, Tanya Morgan.

Although their M64 project is still in its early recording stages, I’m so amped about what I’ve heard so far that I was able to twist some arms and convince them to let me post two of my favorites so far. First up we have a stream of the Brazilian-influenced, “last call at the dancehall” anthem “The Rhythm Of The Drum” – which was put up as a snippet on Ragen’s MySpace a few months ago and has been stirring up a buzz ever since (so you know I had to scoop up the exclusive full-length premiere! LOL). After that, I’ve also got a full-length stream of one of a song that I’m almost embaressed to admit how many times I’ve put this on repeat already – the spacey and soulful breath of fresh air, “Helium”. Both tracks are still just rough mixes, but leave a comment and give them some feedback about what they’ve got so far.

After the jump, be sure to check the bonus tracks for Ragen’s acappella cover of an NY hip-hop classic(!!!), plus two of her other collaborations with Ohmega.



M64 (Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts) “Helium” (rough mix)


M64 (Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts) “The Rhythm Of The Drum” (rough mix)
Stream taken down for now – check for the 7″ coming out on Recordbreakin soon


SUPPORT: For more on M64, stay tuned to Ragen Fykes’ MySpace page





Ragen Fykes “RaeBonics”


J.Boogie’s Dubtronic Science feat. Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts “1.4.U.”
from Soul Vibrations (Om, 2008)


Ohmega Watts feat. Ragen Fykes & Barry Hampton “Work For Wealth”
from Watts Happening (Ubiquity, 2007)
October 10, 2008 / , , , / 13 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Bincent Chase
    Posted October 10, 2008 at 1:28 pm / Permalink
    these songs are too good. ragen is a super hero. raebonics is the most gangster shit i’ve ever heard. HIT ‘em hit ‘em HIT ‘em! 1
  2. 6th Sense
    Posted October 11, 2008 at 2:14 pm / Permalink
    I dowloaded “Helium.” Awesome! What up Ragen! What up Ohmega!

    Just listened to RaeBonics. Awesome. HARLEM stand up! i need an mp3 of this.

    everything sounds great 2
  3. Chisa Nguyen
    Posted October 11, 2008 at 3:41 pm / Permalink
    I have been waitin’ to get my hands on this “Helium” track for too long! Rae you already know:) Thanks Kenny! 3
  4. Black Maybe
    Posted October 12, 2008 at 6:53 pm / Permalink
    I’m loving her already. Thanks. 4
  5. a.r'
    Posted October 14, 2008 at 5:46 pm / Permalink
    loverly. 5
  6. Leigh
    Posted October 14, 2008 at 10:20 pm / Permalink
    Thank goodness Trillaboos put up a link to the Freshness 6
  7. yomammie
    Posted April 15, 2009 at 7:28 pm / Permalink
    simply amazing… 8
  8. k n o w t z
    Posted April 15, 2009 at 8:55 pm / Permalink
    heard her before,
    shes dope! cant wait fo0r her to BLOW up…. 9

5 Trackbacks

  1. By Fresh Selects / FRESH SELECTS RADIO #1 on February 9, 2009 at 3:01 am
    [...] 4. Waajeed – Fat Bottom Girls (Bling47) 5. Konphlict – Socialize (prod. TaRaach) (Lovelution) 6. M64 (Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts) – Helium (prod. Ohmega Watts) (TBA) 7. Hi-Res – Yahhhhh (Pt. 2) [...]
  2. By Fresh Selects / WETF Radiovision Episodes #1 & 2: w/ special guests TaRaach & Ragen Fykes on June 3, 2009 at 12:48 pm
    [...] a special in-studio guest appearance from the lovely Ms. Ragen Fykes. For those of you who are still sleeping on her, Ragen is an up-and-coming singer who is one half of the duo M64 with producer, Ohmega [...]
  3. By Fresh Selects / FRESHclusive: Ragen Fykes - With Love (Unreleased & Unmixed) on June 24, 2009 at 6:24 pm
    [...] a song that was first exclusive to the site (”Rhythm Of The Drum” was posted back in September), being picked up and officially released by a label. A few other FRESHclusives have recently been [...]
  4. By Hype Monitor: Ragen Fykes, Hawthorne Headhunters, Megafaun on July 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm
    [...] inactivity for Erykah Badu to have that supplement to New AmErykah. Key Track: The M64 road “Helium,” where Watt’s humid depression creation serves as the amend furniture to Fykes’ [...]
  5. By Hype Monitor: Ragen Fykes, Hawthorne Headhunters, Megafaun - Concert News & Reviews @ CT2 on July 2, 2009 at 3:20 pm
    [...] of waiting for Erykah Badu to deliver that sequel to New AmErykah. Key Track: The M64 track “Helium,” where Watt’s humid funk production serves as the perfect counter to Fykes’ [...]

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