Fresh Selects » Daru

FRESHclusive: Daru presents… Rusic Leaks

Kenny Fresh — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:32:36 +0000

Always one to keep his loyal following’s appetites well fed, Daru is back with yet another exclusive promo download. This time its a sampler he’s calling Rusic Leaks – made up of different odds & ends including unreleased remixes, collaborations & demos. Along with his different duo counterparts (Ab, Reggie B and Rena), the collection also features new works with Muhsinah, Joy Jones, Reign Star w/ Tony Ozier, Byron The Aquarius, and more.

Rusic Leaks serves as a preview of things to come, as Daru will be dropping the 2009 edition of his Spirit & Soul Sampler series later on this year. Its almost meant to hold fans over while Daru is on tour in Europe all summer – first with Idle Warship (Talib Kweli, Res & Graph Nobel) and then later with Black Milk. So be sure to check his page to see if he’ll be playing in your area.

You can preview three highlights before downloading the full set below. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Muhsinah “Gogh pt. 2 (Daru Remix)”

Daru & Reggie B. “Future Music pt. 2 (Daru Re-vision)”

Ab & Daru “Name pt. 2″ (feat. 13)

DOWNLOAD: Daru presents… Rusic Leaks

SUPPORT: Ab & Daru – A Work In Progress in stores now

STAY TUNED: Daru – Spirit & Soul Sampler ‘09 coming soon

FRESH VIDEO: Daru & Rena “iLuvYou” b/w Producers Luv Tribute EP

Kenny Fresh — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:50:34 +0000

Here’s a quick update with the latest from one of my favorite duos right now, Daru & Rena. The brother & sister producer/singer (respectively) duo have teamed up again for both a new video and a forthcoming EP.

Their new video, “iLuvYou,” is the lead single to the upcoming, Luv ‘09 EP, coming out on the INnatesounds label. The clip was shot at AdiosBabylon in Brooklyn by Chip Monk Films – made up of Eagle Nebula (of the ePistrophik Peach Sound crew) and Protius (who both established artists themselves).

As another lead-up to the new EP, Daru & Rena have released yet another free download project, this time paying tribute to some of their favorite producers. Included in the Producers Luv Tribute EP are 9 tracks, with nods to Dilla, Pete Rock, Nicolay, 9th Wonder, ?uestlove & The Roots, and DJ Premier.

Thanks to Daru and the INnatesounds blog for both of these.

DOWNLOAD: Daru & Rena – Producers Luv Tribute EP

SUPPORT: Daru & Rena – Turn It On 12″ out now

STAY TUNED: Daru & Rena – Luv 09EP coming soon on INnatesounds

WEEKEND BEATS: Daru – Spirit Drumz Pt. 1 & 2

Kenny Fresh — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:54:25 +0000

New section on the site starting this week, simply titled Weekend Beats. Pretty self-explanatory – just something to bump both when you’re goin out on Friday & Saturday night, or just hanging out around the house/recovering on Sunday afternoon. Not to say that I’ll have one of these for you guys every weekend, but I’ll do my best.

Starting it off right, we have both an album preview and a free album download from the one and only, Daru. If you’ve been sleeping, Daru is an innovative, up-and-coming producer/live drummer who uses minimal equipment but always manages to maintain maximum quality. He’s put out an abundance of both free releases and retail albums, most notably collaborations with his sister, Rena (free download of that here), and singer, Reggie B. He’s also backed up acts like Black Milk, Kweli’s Idle Warship, Slum Village and others as their live drummer. He’s currently working on a highly anticipated project with singer and fellow band-member, AB, on an upcoming album, A.W.I.P. (you can preview that album here).

But most recently, Daru has released the second in his instrumental series, Spirit Drumz, which finds him taking spiritual/Gospel samples and chopping them into beats universally acceptable by beatheads & music heads of all faiths, like only he can. The first chapter of Spirit Drumz was a free download on Daru’s MySpace page, but this second part has been officially distributed by Believe Digital and is currently on sale at all major MP3 sites – so be sure to support that.

Below I’ve provided previews of 2 tracks from Spirit Drumz Pt. 2, the smooth intro “For You” and the bugged-out outro, “Order My Steps” – as well as a free download of the inspirational “Lean On Me” off of the same album. I’ve also got a link to download the full Spirit Drumz Chapter 1 album for those of you who might’ve missed it when it first dropped.

Daru “For You”

Daru “Order My Steps”

SONG DOWNLOAD: Daru “Lean On Me” (Spirit Drumz Pt. 2)

ALBUM DOWNLOAD: Daru – Spirit Drumz Chapter 1

SUPPORT: Daru – Spirit Drumz Pt.2 out now on Believe Digital

ALBUM PREVIEW: AB & Daru – A Work In Progress feat. T3 (Slum Village), 14KT & Black Milk

Kenny Fresh — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:21:46 +0000

Two new previews from soul singer/keys player, AB & producer/drummer, Daru’s upcoming album together, A Work In Progress. After both working on successful solo & group projects separately, as well as playing in backing bands for both Slum Village and Black Milk together, AB & Daru will finally be releasing their album together later this year. They project has already been making waves with its first single, “On Deck” (featuring a guest verse from Black Milk) and the leaked video for “Soul Can U Feel Me.” Keeping the anticipating for the project growing, they’ve laced us with two new tracks from the project, “Soul Dirty” (featuring T3 of Slum Village) and a new remix of “Soul Can U Feel Me” courtesy of another Fresh Selects favorite, 14KT of the Lab Techs.

“Soul Dirty” finds T3 flowing like only he can over some of Daru’s patented stuttered & chopped clap-bounce, leading into Ab’s layered & varied vocals and accented keys. And on the “Soul Can U Feel Me” remix, 14KT adds a new, more laidback vibe than the original, while still maintaining the OG’s headnod factor. KT had this to say about the track, “This remix is a big deal to me because this was the 1st time I ever worked with AB. Its crazy cuz AB sent me the accapella for this joint to see what I could do with it. I listened to it about 2 times all the way thru. By the 3rd time, I had beatboxed the melody and record it. All the rest of history. I made this joint in like 45 mins, which is FAST to me..lolol..but it came out really dope. Much love to those brothas.”

You can stream “Soul Can U Feel Me (14KT Remix)” & then download “Soul Dirty” (as well as “On Deck,” for the sleepers) below.

AB & Daru “Soul Can U Feel Me” (14KT Mix)

DOWNLOAD: AB & Daru – Soul Dirty (feat. T3)

PREVIOUSLY POSTED: Daru 3-pack feat. AB & Daru’s “On Deck” feat. Black Milk

SUPPORT: AB & Daru’s A Work In Progress album coming soon!

Three for free from Daru with Muhsinah / AB & Black Milk / Joy Jones

Kenny Fresh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:34:54 +0000

If you don’t already know, Fresh Kept Secret vet, Daru has really been doing his thing lately. From both drumming for live acts such as Slum Village, Black Milk, and Kweli’s Idle Warship, as well as producing & remixing acts like Kissey Asplund, Tableek of Maspyke, Reggie B & others – Daru has been working like crazy these last couple of years. Today we’ve got free downloads of three of the latest products of that labor.

Starting it off, we have the newly leaked track from Daru’s collaboration album with soul singer, AB, entitled “On Deck” and features a guest verse from Black Milk. I first heard the track when Ab posted the YouTube link on my newest addiction, Twitter, and I had been planning on debuting the download on here ever since – but I gotta give credit to both Eighty81 and Rhymehouse for beating me to the punch. The track will appear on Ab & Daru’s upcoming album which should hopefully be dropping in ‘09. Also, stay tuned after the jump for a bonus video for “Soul Can U Feel Me,” which is another leaked song from the same album.

Following that up is Daru’s (as yet) unreleased, official remix of Muhsinah’s track, “Once Again.” On this one, Daru takes the semi-smoothed out vibe of the original track from her Oscillations: Sine album and adds his signature chopped-up groove to it, while also supplying it with a lil’ more bang than it originally had.

Closing the set out is another remix, this time for well-known broken beat singer, Joy Jones, from her latest 12″ single, “The Joy.” This is the only track of the three that’s already been released, so big up to Recordbreakin for allowing me to include it. I have to say… this remix is definitely one of Daru’s craziest works to date and it kind of took me by surprise at first. It has a dope broken/afro beat vibe to it that I really like, but leave a comment and let me know what you think of it.

You can preview & stream all three tracks before you download the free .zip containing all of them below.

AB & Daru “On Deck” (feat. Black Milk)

Muhsinah “Once Again (Daru’s Yet Again Remix)”

Joy Jones “The Joy (Daru’s Drop It Mix)”

DOWNLOAD: Daru 3-pack feat. Muhsinah / AB & Black Milk / Joy Jones

SUPPORT: Be sure to cop the latest releases from Daru, Ab, Muhsinah, & Joy Jones

BONUS VIDEO: Ab & Daru “Soul Can U Feel Me” video after the jump

FRESH KEPT SECRET: Daru & Rena – Feel The Love

Kenny Fresh — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:06:09 +0000

Fresh Kept Secrets will be an on-going series on here where I’ll present to you some of my favorite artists who are currently residing just under the average head’s radar, in an attempt to shine some much-needed light their way. This is in no way intended to reflect a lack of accomplishment or promotional efforts in their career thus far. As with all artists featured on Fresh Selects, if you like what you hear please spread the word (just give credit where its due)!

One of my favorite new artists of late has been producer & singer duo, Daru & Rena (respectively). Produced by beatmaker/drummer, Daru Jones, whose distinctive style is known for blurring the lines between sampled & live vocals, as well as breaking the boundaries of sample-based production by utilizing everything from traditional gospel hymns to classic & recent hip-hop joints for his beats. So with that said, it’s no surprise that when he links up with longtime collaborator, Rena, they continue to blur the lines by fusing hip-hop & soul with their shared gospel background, with the outcome being a refreshingly unique sound.

They’ve released one of their most recent albums together, Feel The Love, as a free download on their MySpace pages (linked above) along with a gang of other free projects from Daru & his whole Rusic crew. You can preview some of my favorites from the album below and then get the full download at the bottom of the post.

Daru & Rena “Take Your Hand”

Daru & Rena “Spirit pt 2″ (feat. Tone Trezure)

Daru & Rena “Turn It On”

DOWNLOAD: Daru & Rena – Feel The Love (NOW UPDATED w/ remastered 320 kbps MP3s)

SUPPORT: Since they were nice enough to give you this album for free, be sure to cop the “Turn It On” maxi-single, available now on iTunes.

Bonus Daru video after the jump

BONUS VIDEO: Tableek (of Maspyke) feat. Daru “Ruff”