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

A longtime member of the FRSH SLCTS family,
today singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist – I, CED
blesses us with an exclusive mix we like to call Besides My Mind -
to coincide w/ his debut solo album, All In My Mind,
in stores tomorrow on Record Breakin’ Music.

Included in the mix,
are a collection of B-sides (get it?), remixes, outtakes & collaborations –
none of which appear on the actual album,
but all of which feature Ced’s signature style of uniquely familiar melodies,
lush soundscapes & patient structuring.

Also included is an exclusive bonus track,
this time an outtake from the first EP by Hawthorne Headhunters,
(in which Ced was original member).
The song is the original, uncleared version of “Manifest Station,”
which features vocals from HH’s current members, Coultrain & Black Spade,
alongside Karma Stewart and TəLŭv,
which Ced later replayed w/o any samples for the official HVW8 release.

And in that same vein,
also included is the immaculate “Angel (She’s Like Magic),”
a non-album, hypnotic ode
which ATCQ heads & jazz aficionados alike should especially appreciate,
which was recently released thru the Record Breakin’ site.

You can check the Besides tracklisting &
download the mix and both bonus tracks – all below.
All In My Mind is in stores & online everywhere tomorrow.

I, CED – Besides My Mind: B-Sides & Remixes

1. I, CED’s Wake Down (skit)
2. N’Dambi – Nobody Jones (I, CED’s Cowbell Remix)
3. Jay Dee feat. Frank N Dank – Pause (I, CED Remix)
4. I, CED – Craziness
5. Erykah Badu – Honey (I, CED Remix)
6. I, CED feat. Coultrain – Love…Meaning
7. I, CED – The Pain
8. I, CED – The Finale (original instrumental – prod. Kenautis Smith)
9. I, CED feat. Stopha Vasquez & Tiffany Neal – The Finale (original version)
10. I, CED – Angel (She’s Like Magic) (I, CED Remix)
11. I, CED – Craziness Pt. 2
12. Stopha Vasquez – Damn
13. Jada Avenue – Heartbeat
14. John Legend – If You’re Out There (I, CED Sampleless Remix)

All songs produced/remixed by I, CED except where indicated
Selected & Mixed by I, CED
Cover Design & Layout by Noah Deeakili

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 the FRSHCLSV 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.

I know its been a minute but here it is – the highly anticipated mixtape from the new hybrid supergroup, Hawthorne Headhunters. For those of you who still don’t know, HH is a three-headed production/vocal beast consisting of Stoney Rock (better known as Black Spade), Ced No (or I, CED when he’s solo) and Proh Mic. The group’s debut project, a five-track EP, drops next week on both vinyl and iTunes as the first release on HVW8 Records.

To go along with the EP, we’ve put together this mixtape, mixed by STL cohort DJ Needles, featuring the best of the group’s unreleased works over the years – both solo and as a unit. Also highlighted in the mix are their solo productions for some of their up-and-coming collaborators, including Coultrain, Jada Avenue, JimiJames, Stopha Vasquez, and TeLuv – most of which appear on the EP.

And even with 18 exclusive tracks – this mixtape is just the beginning of a barrage of material coming from the Hawthorne Headhunters. So stay tuned to right here and HVW8.com for plenty more music coming soon. In the meantime, download the mixtape below and let us know what you think.

Coming back from the holiday weekend with a new exclusive from the Hawthorne Headhunters group for you guys. For those who don’t already know, HH are a trifecta squad made of established solo artists & producers – Black Spade and I, CED (or Ced No) from St. Louis, and Proh Mic from L.A. by way of Seattle.

The song I’ve go for you guys today is the motivating anthem, “Never Give Up,” which co-stars vocals from extended Hawthorne family member, Coultrain. The song is an unreleased outtake from the same 2007 sessions that the group’s forthcoming debut EP was pulled from. The EP will be the first release being put out by LA-based art collective, HVW8, on July 7th.

We’ll have plenty more exclusive outtakes, remixes and leaks from the project, and even an all-exclusive Fresh Selects mixtape from the Hunters before the EP drops, so be on the look out for much more coming soon. But in the meantime, download “Never Give Up” below and leave a comment letting me know what you think.

Today marks the debut of my new podcast, simply titled Fresh Selects Radio. Even though this is the first episode, it feels like the second in a way, because its more or less a follow-up to the Loose Joints mixtape I put together last fall. Just like that, its a collection showcasing both new and unreleased tracks from some of my favorite artists, some projects I’ll be working on in the near future, artists you should be on the lookout for, and more. I’ve also thrown in a few tracks that have been previously been posted on the site that you might’ve missed. But unlike the Loose Joints .zip, this podcast is one single track, which freed me up and allowed me to include some super-exclusives that I know I couldn’t post as individual downloads.

Originally, I was going to host the podcast like a radio show – but instead I decided to let the music speak for itself. If you feel like it sounds unfinished, I left the instrumental interludes I was going to talk over in the mix, so feel free to fill in the blanks yourself. However, if people get on some bullshit and rip some of the exclusives from the mix and re-post them as downloads on other sites, then next time out I’ll have to talk all over all the good shit – so just behave yourselves & act right and I’ll be able to keep bringing you the latest & greatest without any problems.

I might still write up some liner notes to go along with the tracks, but it might be a while. We’ll see what the feedback & response is like first (*cough*leaveacomment!*cough) and then take it from there. So yeah, lemme know what you think. In the meantime, the tracklisting with the artists’ MySpace links is listed here and then you can download or stream the mix below.


1. DaveNotti – FSR Intro (Thrilla Music Group)
2. Blu – Say Say (CD-R)
3. Finale feat. Invincible – The Waiting Game (prod. Khrysis) (iM/Universal)
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) (Thrilla Music Group)
8. G&D feat. MED & Rapper Big Pooh – Endure (prod. Georgia Anne Muldrow) (Mello Music Group)
9. MAGr (DistantStarr & Al Mighty) – Butterfly (prod. Hudson Mohawke) (TBA)
10. Ras_G & The Afrikan Space Program – Been A Min… (Brainfeeder)
11. Cubic Zirconia (Tiombe, Nick & Todd) – I Wanna Freebase You (TBA)
12. PPP feat. Coultrain & Karma Stewart – Rocket Science (prod. Waajeed) (Ubiquity)
13. Hawthorne Headhunters (Black Spade, I, CED & Proh Mic) feat. JimiJames & Coultrain – She Wanna (HVW8)
14. Exile feat. Muhsinah – Stay Tuned (Stay Here) (Vocal Remix) (Plug Research)
15. TaRaach vs. Tiombe Lockhart – Kalifornia (Instrumental) (Lovelution)
16. DJ Cadik feat. Invincible & Finale – Don’t Look Back (All Soundz)
17. Devon - Shoes (Thrilla Music Group)
18. SA-RA Creative Partners - High Moon Lust (Rawkus)
19. Luck-One – The Coolax (prod. Dekk) (Architect Ent.)
20. Johnson&Jonson feat. Miguel (Jontel) - Stadium (CD-R)

Artwork courtesy of Lyle Owerko.

I know — its been almost a week since my last post. But no worries, I’m back I’m packing heat. St. Louis heat to be exact – in the form of two new tracks from Coultrain. If you’re not already up on him, then I’ve really got some shit for you. With his naturally vintage-leaning vocals matched with his very modern approach and his forward-thinking lyricism – Coultrain is quickly gaining a loyal following among both modern music listeners & nostalgic soul heads alike. Building upon the buzz created with his self-released solo debut, The Adventures Of Seymour Liberty (the first in a three-part series of concept albums released earlier this year), Coultrain has recently been in the lab both writing and recording with co-conspirator, Waajeed, for a wide range of projects they have lined up together. Among the first of which to be released will Abundance, the highly anticipated second album from Waajeed & Saadiq‘s rotating super-group, PPP – in which Train played a leading role in not only leading the new cast but also writing the bulk of the songs on the album.

While working with the PPP/Bling47 crew in Brooklyn, Coultrain is also staying true to his St. Louis roots through numerous collaborations with artists from back home. One such artist is producer, I, Ced (aka Cedric Norah), who released a single with Coultrain earlier this year, and also produced Train’s latest solo offering, “The Wandering”. Picking up where the Seymour Liberty saga left off, “The Wandering” is meant to serve as somewhat of an epilogue to The Adventures Of…, but also a prologue to the series’ next chapter. Train broke the song down to me as only he could, “Its not a lost track its an inbetween track. Its a track 2 continue the story. Check it, The Adventures Of… ends w/ The Sabbatical, while on the sabbatical Seymour becomes a Wanderer, u dig?”

And on the PPP side of things, I’ve got an exclusive download of Waajeed’s recent remix of the Coultrain-featured track, “Angel.” This version finds Waajeed providing a more hip-hop oriented, bang-heavy backbeat to Coultrain’s anthem, instead of the stadium rock-funk feel of the album version. This remix is off the upcoming Abundance Mixtape, which features new Waajeed remixes of all your PPP favorites album, as well as some un-used gems from the Abundance & Triple P sessions. If you missed out on the first leak off the mixtape, “Shotgun (Waajeed’s Plinky Remix)” featuring Dilla, then here ya go.

PHOTO: Coultrain live w/ PPP in Madrid Oct. 08, courtesy of One Dragones.

Coultrain “The Wanderer” (prod. I, CED) (rough mix)