Myself & my trusted resident DJ, Doc Adam,
have collaborated w/ Los Angeles-based clothing line, Twelve Bar
to bring you a special two-part Fresh Selects Retrospective mix.

This first installment of The Porch Sessions,
is meant to be a time capsule of sorts –
an audible freeze frame of the first 12 months of music posted on Fresh Selects.
I wanted to compile everything from the site’s first year
just to kind of sum it all up,
put a period at the end of the sentence,
& cement the foundation for us to build on for the next steps.
It can also serve as a starter kit
for anyone who found out about the site after the fact,
as well as a thank you to everyone that’s been down since day one.

I went through all of the posts from the site’s first year
& selected some of my personal favorite tracks,
plus all of the ones that garnered the most response.
Almost all of the songs included in the mix were exclusives
released or premiered thru the site
& they all played a part in shaping the sound & style that I had been going for.
To convey the full progression as it unfolded,
I wanted to put them all in one mix
(which actually ended up being two separate, hour-long mixes
because there was just too much music)
& let them play in chronological order.

Since mixing songs in order of release,
& not by BPM/tempo/mood, etc.
basically goes against all the most basic rules of making a mixtape -
I knew I had to get the very best to make it happen right.
Enter Doc Adam (no pause).
Plus his apartment has The Porch, so it was a no-brainer.

Included are some kind words from the even kinder people @ Twelve Bar,
who presented the mix & co-premiered it on their site today as well,
+ the tracklisting w/ links to all the original posts
so you can get the full versions & back stories on all of the songs.
I’m still in the process of updating some of the older posts
from the first version of the site,
so if you find any dead links just leave a comment & I’ll fix it.

Free download of the one-track, hour-long mix can be found below,
& be on the look out for Part 2 of The Porch Sessions RTRSPCTV coming soon.

There is a lot we could say about FRSH SLCTS – the Portland-based digital label and multimedia platform that has been providing you with the best in hip-hop, soul and cutting-edge music since 2008. All of it would be good. But the main thrust is right there in their name, albeit without the vowels as is their style. Seemingly everything they do is fresh. Freshly presented, freshly considered, freshly packaged, and freshly curated. And that is the second part right there. Because the “selects” element of the name is also key, as they hand-pick artists and songs with the educated touch of a musical magician, never failing to bring out the very best available. And so when the chance came to bring you the exclusive FRSH SLCTS Retrospective mix, an anthology of some of their favorite songs from their early years, we jumped at it.

1. devonwho – Dungeonraps (2088 Archives)
2. DaveNotti – Notti Break #5 (Notti Breaks 2008)
3. PPP feat. J Dilla – Shotgun (Waajeed’s Plinky Remix) (single)
4. TaRaach & Konphlict feat. Big Tone & Kawshus – Socialize (single)
5. TaRaach & Konphlict – 10 Feet High (Giraffe Pussy) (single)
6. Miguel – Overload (Mischief: The Mixtape)
7. Little Dragon – Twice (live) (FRSH KPT SCRT)
8. M64 – Rhythm Of The Drum (single)
9. M64 – Helium (single)
10. Invincible & Finale – Don’t Sleep (single)
11. PPP feat. Coultrain – Angel (Waajeed Remix) (single)
12. Coultrain – The Wanderer (single)
13. SA-RA feat. Bilal – Master Teacher (demo #1) (“Master Teacher” EP)
14. SA-RA feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow – Master Teacher (demo #2) (“Master Teacher” EP)
15. SA-RA – Master Teazer (KenBts.’ Revenge Edit) (“Master Teacher” EP)
16. Hi-Res – Thisworld (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
17. devonwho – Hold Up Zelda (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
18. Finale – Ice (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
19. Knxwledge – Relief. (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
20. Fatima – Wildchild (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
21. Noni Limar – Monogamy (FRSH SLCTS – Loose Joints)
22. Super Smoky Soul feat. Guilty Simpson – Knockout Kings (New Worlds PRVW)
23. Karma Stewart – Withdrawal (The Karma EP)
24. PPP feat. Coultrain & Jamila Raegan – Synchronicity (Abundance Mixtape)
25. PPP feat. Coultrain & Jamila Raegan – Can’t You Feel It (Abundance Mixtape)
26. Fatima – Do I Know You? (FRSH KPT SCRT)
27. Ab & Daru feat. T3 – Dirty Soul (A Work In Progress PRVW)
28. Blu – Say Say (FSR #1)
29. SA-RA Creative Partners – High Moon Lust (FSR #1)
30. Cubic Zirconia – I Wanna Freebase You (FSR #1)
31. Johnson&Jonson feat. Miguel – Stadium (FSR #1)
32. Suzi Analogue – SageBurns (World. Excerpts 1-9)

Selected by KNNY FRSH
Edited by Doc Adam
Presented by Twelve Bar
Artwork by Twelve Bar & Dennis de Groot
Hosted by ♎ & ♐ for Team 1984

August 12th, 2010

In what had been described as one of the city’s best rap shows of the year – Detroit producer/MC, Black Milk, made his live debut in Portland at The Fix party @ Someday Lounge – as a part of the “VTech Phones & Fresh Selects present…” concert series. Not one to take such a move lightly, Milk made his introduction to the city with a BANG – backed by a live band that included Ab on keys & backing vocals, Daru Jones on drums, Bill Sharp on the tables & a whole new arsenal of hits from his then-upcoming release, Album Of The Year.

This show being about a month previous to AOTY’s street date – the buzz for the project was at its all-time high. And not only that, but since the show was a special one-off date just for Portland, before their official tour even kicked off – we were one of the very first cities in the world to hear the new songs live, even before Black’s hometown of The D. And as you can see in the video above, the Portland crowd were more than grateful for it – and they rewarded for their love tenfold, with Black Milk & the boys doing a record number of FOUR encores!

The video above – once again shot by the man/the myth, Paulius Kontijevas – captures a song towards the beginning of their set, the first single from AOTY, “Welcome (Gotta Go).” The song had only been out for maybe two weeks before this show & the crowd already never every word. From this point on, you could already tell this was a night that wouldn’t soon be forgotten for anyone in attendance.

Curated & Produced by KNNY FRSH for Fresh Selects
Filmed & Edited by Paulius Kontijevas
Audio Mixed by Doc Adam
Hosted by Ronin Roc

The Fix DJ’s:
Rev Shines
& DJ Kez
& Dundiggy

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.

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.

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.

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 anticipation 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)”

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.

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.

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.