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

The second leak from Declaime‘s forthcoming Self Study album,
a raw & to-the-point song entitled, “East Meets West” -
matches Dudley with DMV area & Low Budget Crew representative, Kev Brown
over a spacey, hard-hitting creeper of a beat
from Ms.One herself – Georgia Anne Muldrow.
Succinct & poignant – the track features two verses, no hook -
with both of the MC’s two distinct styles adding the perfect balance to each other.

Packaged along with this new Self Study album,
will be Interplanetary Peace Talks 2012 A.U. -
a full-length documentary on the life of Dudley Perkins -
which features candid footage of Declaime in his earliest stages as an MC,
in the studio w/ Madlib, Lootpack, Oh No, Kan Kick & more,
plus footage of him at home w/ his children
& performing on the road w/ Georgia.
More than ever before, do you get a real glimpse into the man behind the music.

The movie will be available as a DVD accompanying the CD,
but be on the look out for an exclusive online premiere of the documentary
coming on the album’s release date, August 16th.

You can download “East Meets West” below,
as well as catch up on Dudley’s first video from Self Study,
for its first single “Quartz” – which he also co-directed with Georgia.

Never ones to stay quiet or stagnant for long – the royal galactic-fOnk duo Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins return to Earth, & this time they’ve brought some friends & family along with them on the Ship.

To coincide with the launch of their new site, SomeOthaShip.com, which features exclusive music downloads/previews, lyrics, Georgia paintings/sketchings & more, G&D present us with a 21-track SomeOthaShip Connect 2011 sampler. The album showcases whats in store for their SomeOthaShip label this year & beyond and features something both for and from everyone as they include the entire OS roster & family.

Some names to look out for include Riff Raff McGriff – an up-and-coming MC/producer and heir to the throne of the Oxnard, CA dynasty who I think will be making a lot of noise in the coming months; Kadence – a Michigan lyricist best known for his work with Dabrye; the debut of The Blackhouse – Georgia’s upcoming electro/house music project, as well as the contiuation of her one-woman jazz band alias, Jyoti, whose debut Gilles Peterson hailed & awarded as the Jazz Album Of The Year. Non-label guests include Madlib, Aloe Blacc, Miki Vale, and Prince Po of Organized Konfusion, & with even Dudley’s daughters & Georgia’s siblings providing tracks – SomeOthaShip Connect 2011 is by all means a family affair.

You can preview four of my favorite tracks from the compilation underneath the tracklisting before downloading the full album, along with two recent G&D leaks (“Power” & “Majesty” from their upcoming album, The Lighthouse), all below.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Stephan Muldrow – Ceilings
2. Miki Vale feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow – Bending
3. Riff Raff McGriff – Tell Em (prod. Mortis One)
4. Kadence – Hypocrisy
5. DJ G – Mr. President
6. Ms. Dezy – HipHopFoRealTalk
7. MP Is Free feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow – Loudbites
8. Declaime feat. Illicit Child & Prince Po – Illicit fOnk
9. X Riley Fresh – Fresh
10. Stan Sly (Quazedelic) – 2 Be A Star (prod. Josef Leimberg)
11. Shana Jenson Muldrow – Just For You
12. Declaime feat. Aloe Blacc – Apocalyptic Music (prod. Madlib)
13. The Blackhouse – G.R.O.O.V.E. Me
14. Darryl Moore – Where I’m At
15. Quazedelic – Pray
16. Georgia Anne Muldrow – Mystic Dancer
17. Oji Ascension Team – Goddess Hear
18. Sopretti – Ezzie Jean (RIP MJ)
19. G&D – Popstopper
20. Declaime feat. Ogechi Chieke – Quartz
21. Georgia Anne Muldrow as Jyoti – Deanderah

All songs produced by Georgia Anne Muldrow for ePistrophik Peach Sound,
except tracks 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17 – produced by their respective artists unless otherwise noted

July 2nd, 2010

In the summer of 2010, VTech & Fresh Selects came together to throw its biggest collaborative show yet – a surprise afterparty performance from the one and only Erykah Badu at Portland’s most respected hip-hop party, The Fix. Not only was this Ms. Badu’s first show within Portland city limits in years – but it was held at Someday Lounge, an intimate 300-capacity club, which in itself is a rare element to catch the larger-than-life singer in.

Opening up for Erykah was a joint performance from Georgia Anne Muldrow (who has written & produced on her last two albums) & Dudley Perkins, who quickly won over the beyond sold-out crowd and set the pace and energy for the rest of the night, along with DJ sets from The Fix residents, Rev Shines, DJ Kez and Dundiggy.

With the last minuteness of the announcement of Badu’s appearance (the news was only officially announced 3 hours before the venue doors opened to lines around the block at 9 PM) – the buzz and rumors about the show had run rampant around the city. Some questioned whether the show was a hoax or if she would merely show up but not perform at all, etc. So just as all the talk, tension and excitement was reaching its peak, they cut the music a little bit after midnight and Rev Shines got on the mic to announce Ms. Badu as she graced the stage – and the room went ballistic like never before.

Backed by her DJ, legendary producer Rashad “Tumblin Dice” Smith, Erykah ran her set & commanded the eager crowd like a lovingly militant drill instructor – a whistle attached to a custom-made ring and all. She performed 6 or 7 crowd favorites from her last couple of albums and then brought it all to a head with an accapella performance of the very powerful, “Soldier” – and the crowd was right there along with her for every word and adlib. She then exited the stage just as quickly and even mystically as she had arrived, and the party continued well into the night.

Curated & Produced by KNNY FRSH for Fresh Selects
Filmed & Edited by Paulius Kontijevas
Additional Footage from Ronin Roc
Audio Mixed by Doc Adam
Hosted by Rev Shines
Opening Act: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins

The Fix DJ’s:
Rev Shines
& DJ Kez
& Dundiggy
& your host Ronin Roc

July 2nd, 2010

At a very special night in the “VTech Phones @ Fresh Selects present…” concert series at Portland’s The Fix @ Someday Lounge – opening acts, Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins, set the pace for what would become a moment that would go down in live Portland music history. The pair commanded a beyond sold-out crowd through both singles and beloved album cuts alike, working the eager crowd’s scattered energy into a focused beam, commanding their attention like the true funk revolutionaries they are.

In the video we see Georgia, who has written & produced on a song on each of Badu’s last two albums, accompany her partner in the fOnk, Dudley on “Run It Down,” a song from his 2009 album, Holy Smokes (which Georgia also produced). Also included is a clip of the Mama’s Gun holder herself – Erykah Badu – giving Georgia her due respect and making sure the crowd knew exactly what they had just witnessed & figuratively passing the torch onto the next bearer for afrocentric soul music, proclaiming “Mama Afrika is back – & alive!!!”. And ending on as positive a note as they began, Dudley does a give & take chant with the crowd before making way for the rest of the night’s magic to unfold.

Curated & Produced by KNNY FRSH for Fresh Selects
Filmed & Edited by Paulius Kontijevas
Audio Mixed by Doc Adam
Hosted by & Additional Footage from Ronin Roc
Headlining Act: Erykah Badu

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

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.

Back from hibernation with the brand new single from the grand fOnkateer, Dudley Perkins, featuring production from his co-pilot, Georgia Anne Muldrow. Their latest offering, aptly entitled “fOnky Soul,” finds Dudley’s “fOnk in habit form” buttered over a particularly whip-friendly slice of Georgia’s unique brand of west coast bump.

The song serves as the first official single from Pastor Perkins’ new simmering sermon, Holy Smokes, coming out on his new label venture, SomeOthaShip, through E1 Entertainment (formerly Koch). This is just a small sampling of the full agenda Dudley & Georgia have in store for us this summer – with Holy Smokes and Georgia’s solo album, Umsindo, both dropping on July 28th – and numerous other projects lined up closely behind them.

For another toke of the Holy Smokes inhalation, I’ve also included the home-made stream video for Dudley’s Salvia-inspired double entendre, “Sally,” available after the jump. Check both tracks out, let me know what you think, and look out for much more from G&D and the SomeOthaShip gang coming soon.

Got another world debut for you guys today – this time its yet another from the multi-talented, Georgia Anne Muldrow, with an exclusive sneak peak into her upcoming solo album, Umsindo. The album is a dedication to the African ancestors (Umsindo means “sound” in Zulu) and the song I have for you today, entitled “E.S.P.,” is a heartfelt tribute to her partner Dudley Perkins’ daughter, and the ancestors that live on within her. Musically, Umsindo is a return-to-form of sorts, for those of us who were lucky enough to hear Georgia’s pre-Worthnothings demo/sampler – this is her closest work to that since then, but with all the added growth and upped production skills to boot.

This, of course, is coming hot off the heels of “Roses,” Georgia’s recent noteworthy contribution to Mos Def‘s new album, The Ecstatic. For those who aren’t up – “Roses” was a solo song that Georgia had completed for Umsindo and that I had first debuted here back in March. Mos later heard the song and loved it so much that he added his adlibs and a verse to it and after getting Georgia & Dudley’s permission, insisted on including on his new album. For more on how the song came to be, be sure to check out a first hand account from the forever on-point, Frolab – both tracks have been included below so you can compare & contrast. “E.S.P.” and the solo version of “Roses” will both appear on Umsindo when it hits stores everywhere on July 14th, through Georgia & Dudley’s new label deal, SomeOthaShip, with E1 (formerly known as Koch).

In other Georgia news – along with just releasing the Ms.One compilation (which featured her producing for a slew of artists, mainly those in her Epistrophik Peach Sound crew), she has also recently produced a new album for her mother, Rickie Byars Beckwith, entitled The LOVE Project. An industry veteran, Mrs. Beckwith is currently the leader of the the Agape International Choir, and has worked with everyone from Pharoah Sanders to John Legend. Rickie & Georgia’s LOVE Project drops later on this years, but I’ve included the video for “Allie-Alleluia,” a song off their first album together, Supreme Inspiration for your viewing pleasure after the jump.