New track released by Blu tonight, via his Twitter page.
The song, “Everything’sOK” features his current New World Culture tourmate,
Miss Jack Davey – one half of J*DaVeY,
& is produced by Flying Lotus.

This version is set to appear on Blu’s upcoming NoYork! album,
whose line-up already boasts the likes of Samiyam, Madlib, Exile,
Knxwledge, Edan, Shafiq Husayn, Daedelus & more -
not to mention guest appearances from Suzi Analogue, Quelle, Bilal & others.
& I also happen to know that Waajeed did an official remix for “Everything’sOK,”
which brings a completely different vibe to the song,
which should be appearing on our upcoming Waajeed vs. Fresh Selects album
dropping later this year.

Stay tuned for much more about both albums coming soon.

Photo courtesy of Blu’s NoYork! tumblr.

August 26th, 2010

Another special night in the legacy of Portland’s favorite DJ night, The Fix. After weeks of anticipation, one third of the night’s scheduled performers – the headliner, at that – had to cancel the night before the show, dropping the cover charge at the door from $10 to free overnight.

Everything was up in the air – as often the best laid plans can be. The original plan of sandwiching the masterfully eclectic energy that is the duo, J*DaVeY, in between two safer bets at appealing to The Fix’s Portland hip-hop base, to assure the best possible situation to introduce the group’s unique sound to the city (this way this first public performance here) – now had the duo headlining the night themselves to a mixed and somewhat unexpecting crowd who were disappointed at the cancellation, but had also just saved themselves 10 bucks, and hopefully were now more open-minded because of it.

So as always, The Fix resident DJ’s kick the night off, do what they do best – everyone’s getting drinks, nodding heads, dancefloor starts to form – all is good. Then around 11:30 or so – the first act, Brooklynati-based rap group, Tanya Morgan, hit the stage and knocked it out of the park, turning the DJ night dance/lounge crowd now into full concert attendee mode (no small feat, no often how often how many times the night makes the transition).

And now – a few minutes after midnight, the crowd’s into it, although still somewhat confused as to whats about to happen to them – no, WITH them. The Fix host, Ronin Roc, gets another round of applause for the Tanya Morgan boys and then announces the crowd’s leader for the next hour or so. And out walks two figures – one with flowingly long, curly hair and another wearing an old school leather pilot’s cap and glasses. To experience the beginning of the magic that happened next – see the video above.

Curated & Produced by KNNY FRSH for Fresh Selects
Filmed by Nik Tizekker
Additional Footage by Paulius Kontijevas & Ronin Roc
Edited by Paulius Kontijevas
Audio Mixed by Doc Adam
Hosted by Ronin Roc
Opening Act: Tanya Morgan

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

A quick mid-day update for you guys – a new leak from the upcoming L.A.U.S.D. project, entitled “iFeel,” featuring Miss Jack Davey & Blu. L.A.U.S.D. is an LA-based production duo made up of Jack’s twin brother(?), Polyester, and Lazy Lou. Their upcoming compilation, L.A.U.S.D. presents… Curly Tops & Nautica Jackets is a star-studded affair featuring some of L.A.’s finest rising talent.

“iFeel” is the latest track to be leaked from the project (you can find the rest of the leaks on 2DopeBoyz‘s page), and it features the long-awaited (and flirtatious as hell) collaboration between two of L.A.’s brightest stars right now, Blu & Jack Davey. Now I don’t know the full story between how this track came together – but I do know that after Blu spit the lines “Pipe dreams, I reach for daily/Stoned daisy, and daydream about bonin’ J*DaVeY” on the track “Say Say” (which you can only hear here), Ms. Davey re-posted the XXL video of the verse on her blog with the title, “I HEART u 2 blu.” And they definitely play into that sentiment on the track, so that might have something to do with it… or maybe I just spend way too much time on blogs. Probably the latter.

Either way, the track is dope – so get your free download below and look out for more from L.A.U.S.D. coming soon. Credit due to Miss Jack Davey herself for providing the track, as well as Deluge for the heads up.

If it isn’t already – the name Trackademicks is definitely one that you should get familiar with. Track is a Bay Area-based producer/MC whose recently been making a lot of noise with his unique sound – a certain 808-laden, slaphappy knock that blurs the line between hyphy and hipster without falling into the stereotypes of either. His white label remixes and work with his crew, the Honor Roll, plus work with local Bay Area pillars like Mistah FAB (Thizz Entertainment) and Lyrics Born (Quannum) have laid a strong foundation for his more recent, out-of-town placements. Highlights from those collaborations include innovators J*DaVeY, indie-rock favorites Editors, ’80s revisiters Zo! & Tigallo, my not-so-unbiased favorite, DJ Tap.10.

And like we always do about this time – stay tuned after the jump for some more background info & extra freshness. This time the focus is on the solo artist/rapper side of Trackademicks’ work, along with that of his fellow Honor Roll members, plus his latest remix video for his reworkings of Kenna and Janelle Monae.

New video for an old remix of J*DaVeY‘s debut single, “Mr. Mister,” originally found on their 2005 CD-R classic (yeah, I said the C word), The Beauty In Distortion. And in typical Fresh Selects fashion, I had to come with a little something extra – so I’ve also included a free download of the 2007 rock update of the track, “Mr. Mister (Cock Out Mix)” from the now out-of-print, self-released version of J*D’s Beauty In Distortion/Land Of The Lost EPisode CD set.

Also, if you’ve just caught on to J*DaVeY in recent years (or just want some nostalgia) – stick around after the jump for two throwbacks from ’05: the video for the original version of “Mr. Mister” and a stream of Brook d’Leau‘s iLLaV8r remix of the Snoop Dogg & Justin Timberlake hit, “Signs.”

Snoop Dogg feat. Justin Timberlake & Charlie Wilson “Signs (iLLaV8r Remix)”