In 2010, producer/rapper & FRSH SLCTS family member since day one, DaveNotti,
started the Neck Brace Producers Showcase here in Portland, OR
to both bring together & showcase some of the city’s beatmakers –
both established & rising talents alike.

After two successful showcases at Someday Lounge on his own,
FRSH SLCTS joined forces w/ Notti for the third installment on June 16th, 2010.
& w. the help of VTech Phones, were able to bring out Neck Brace’s first national guest -
the one & only, Exile – who not only performed one of his patented live MPC sets,
but also did a quick Q&A w/ Notti for the local producers & audience.

Ex was joined that night by our 4 resident producers, this time including:
DaiN – a New Orleans transplant recently signed to Wandering Worx,
Xperiment – a Humble Beast signee who had just recently moved from Denver,
DJ FlipFlop – the official tour DJ for CunninLynguists, now living outside of L.A.,
& Theory Hazit – a rapping vet originally from Cincinatti, also signed to Humble Beast.

Ex was nice enough to come through & not only give one of his world-reknowned live MPC sets,
but also do a quick Q&A w/ Notti and build with both the local producers & general audience.

Following up on the previously released videos from each of those five segments,
we know have a corresponding free instrumental EP,
including a track from each of our residents,
an exclusive live-in-the-studio version of an Exile Radio favorite,
& even a bonus joint from our gracious & most humble host, DaveNotti.

You can stream three of the five tracks before downloading the EP below,
& catching up on the five videos at the bottom.

1. DaiN – DaiNtendo (instr.)
2. Xperiment – Hard To Fathom
3. DJ FlipFlop – June 4th
4. Theory Hazit – Kray-Z
5. Exile – In Love (exclusive live version)
6. DaveNotti – Best To Do It (instr.)

All tracks Produced & Mixed by their respective artists
Curated by DaveNotti for Neck Brace & KNNY FRSH for FRSH SLCTS
Compilation Mastered by Doc Adam
Artwork by Dan Kinto
Special thanks to Tom Bacon, Someday Lounge & Paulius Kontijevas

In case you haven’t figured it out by now – FRSH SLCTS is based in Portland, Oregon.
Apparently, we’re “not known for [our] hip-hop” –
so myself & the esteemed gentlemen at Ante Up PDX
have put together a full length compilation of why we should be.

What started out as a DJ mix for Ante Up (one of PRTLND’s livest dance parties),
put together by 2/3′s of the crew, Ronin Roc & Doc Adam,
for the party’s first year anniversary -
is now presented in full, tracked-out form
w/ all types of new exclusive tracks selected by yours truly.
The final outcome is an (overly-)full 24 track, 80 minute compilation,
w/ no host & no DJ, & all tracks being up to CD quality,
so each song is free to be spread around through radio, podcast, DJ sets, mixtapes, etc.

With the title, This Is PRTLND, sure to get us in some trouble already,
we did our best to include a little bit of (what we saw as) the best of everything –
the now (Illmaculate, TxE, Luck-One),
the O.G.’s (Lifesavas, Cool Nutz, Bosko),
the future (Vinnie DeWayne, Mat Randol, Young X),
the beats (devonwho, DaveNotti, Hi-Res)
& even some out of town guests (Freeway, Mayer Hawthorne, !llmind).
There’s still much that we left out – so we look forward to doing further installments in the near future.

Below (in respective order) you can see the full tracklisting, four previews from the comp, free download & full liner notes.
Dig in!

1. Stewart Villain – Pac Man’s Demise
2. TxE – The Intro (prod. TROX)
3. iLLAJ – AIRplane (DaveNotti Remix)
4. Al-One feat. Freeway & DJ Wicked – Can’t Stop (prod. Chase Moore)
5. Vinnie DeWayne – St. John’s Bridge (prod. PaperChase)
6. Hi-Res – Waffle Fries
7. Tope feat. Cool Nutz & Illmaculate – Yours
8. Mat Randol feat. Jon Belz – Cloudy (prod. Kid-A)
9. DaveNotti – Fire Mountain (instrumental)
10. N.VS x Calvin Valentine feat. BE.Water & Sam Trump – Who Run It (prod. G_Force)
11. Illmaculate feat. OnlyOne & J-Rome – Last Warning (prod. Illmind)
12. Al-One feat. KP & Bosko – May Be The One (prod. TROX)
13. M64 x Grillade – In The Pocket (Remix)
14. AM: Neja (Theory Hazit & Othello) – 1,000 Paper Cranes (prod. Mayer Hawthorne)
15. Hi-Res – Default Grooves (Wireframe)
16. Braille – Up (prod. Xperiment)
17. DaiN – DaiNtendo
18. Young X feat. Epp – Take Note (prod. Stewart Villain)
19. Theory Hazit – We Are The Ones (devonwho Remix)
20. Living Proof – Independent (prod. Tope)
21. Luck-One – Listen To The Rain (prod. Tony Ozier)
22. Lawz Spoken x Epp – Send Me An Angel
23. Lifesavas – And The Soul Goes On (prod. Rev Shines)
24. Natasha Kmeto – A Way To Love Me (devonwho Remix)

Selected by KNNY FRSH for Fresh Selects and Ronin Roc & Doc Adam for Ante Up
Artwork by Ronin Roc
Shout out to DJ Nature

1. Stewart Villain “Pac Man’s Demise”
Produced by Stewart Villain
Stewart (formerly known as Stewie Vuiton) is a beast! This kid is definitely one of my favorites doing it in the city right now – especially for the younger crowd. Usually the first song I’ll like by a younger Portland rapper will be because Stewie was on the beat. I’m willing to bet thats not a coincidence.

2. TxE “The Intro”
Produced by TROX
Scratches by DJ FlipFlop
from Rain In Cali Tour EP
This is the intro joint from TxE’s debut EP – one of my favorite releases of last year. I’m currently working with them on a re-release of this EP w/ exclusive bonus tracks as we speak, so stay tuned!

3. iLLA “AIRplane (Notti Remix)”
Remixed by DaveNotti
Original version produced by Stewart Villain
available on iTunes
If ever there was a reason to bring the term jiggy back – its iLLA. Formerly iLLAJ (not to be confused w/ Illa J from Detroit), iLLA is like… Portland’s Diddy. If you were out at a club or a party & DIDN’T see iLL there w/ a bottle, jumping on some furniture with some sunglasses on – then you were probably weren’t at the right party that night.
Notti killed this remix too!! One of my favorite beats from him to date. He stepped outta his comfort zone a little bit & matched iLLA’s vibe perfectly, & then iLLA re-spit his verses to the new beat which I thought was dope – kinda like how The Pharcyde used to do their remixes back in the day.

4. Al-One “Can’t Stop” featuring Freeway
Produced by Chase Moore
Scratches by DJ Wicked
This a joint Al-One (from Sandpeople, you might remember him from the Green Tape joint, “Cold Numbness”) leaked last year. It features the one and only, Philly Freezer, who Al met backstage when I booked Jake One & Freeway at my concert series @ The Fix last March. Thankfully, Free delivers much more than a typical token/phoned-in famous-rap-guy-cameo kinda verse – he kinda went OFF on this one actually! I think the banger-ass beat from North Cali’s Chase Moore, & Al’s verse had a lot to do with that. There’s no reason this song shouldn’t have blown up outside of the city.

5. V DeWayne “St. John’s Bridge”
Produced by PaperChase
from the Solitary mixtape
St. John’s is a neighborhood in North Portland, and for those who know – the St. John’s Bridge is one of the best views in the city. I first heard about Vinnie DeWayne from another St. John’s resident, Illmaculate – other than that, he just seemed to kind of come out nowhere. But I’m glad he did, he showed a lot of potential on his first mixtape, which he released himself through DatPiff & seemed to do pretty well with. He also shot a video to this joint which shows you some of PRTLND, including the Bridge.

6. Hi-Res “Waffle Fries”
Produced by Hi-Res
Hi-Res’ 1080 Beats is still one of my favorite projects that I’ve put out. Glad to have him back w/ two contributions here, plus an all new instrumental project dropping in a few weeks.

7. Tope “Yours” featuring Cool Nutz & Illmaculate
Produced by Tope
from the Soul Music album
This track is kind of a big deal. To have Tope from TxE/Living Proof, Cool Nutz the O.G. and Illmaculate all one track is crazy. I’ve always thought as Cool Nutz being to Portland what Proof is/was to Detroit – the great unifier who connects all the dots of the different crews within the city together. All three of them bring it on this track, and this is might be one of my favorite Tope beats as well.

8. Mat Randol “Cloudy” featuring Jon Belz
Produced by Kid-A
Backing vocals by Nikoyia & Voice
from the From Now Til Then mixtape
& also included on the SIVC Tape Vol. IV: Affiliated Artists mixtape
Mat Randol has been making a name for himself for a minute. Both under his own title of Choze & as a member of Neu Beginin. I think he’s definitely gonna be a name to watch so look out for more from him in the near future.
I hadn’t heard of Jon Belz until this, but he swagged his verse the fuck out! Definitely checking for him from now as well. Also, anyone who’s been here & gets down like that – knows that Portland has some of the country’s finest tree – so I figured it’s only right to have at least one song about smoking on here.

9. DaveNotti “Fire Mountain”
Produced by DaveNotti
Notti back at it w/ what he does best. Killing it with the NBA Jam “ON FIRE!” sample. Look out for Notti’s Get Live! coming here as soon as we finish it!

10. N.VS x Calvin Valentine “Who Run It” featuring BE.Water & Sam Trump
Produced by G_Force aka Calvin Valentine
Trumpet by Sam Trump
from the Trophy Cases EP
All the artists on this one make up 4 out of the 7 man group, Fang Tshida – an Oregon x Chicago hybrid group. N.VS and Calvin just started working another project, alongside DaiN and fellow members of the Fang, called Purple Haze Politics – so look out for more on that coming soon.

11. Illmaculate “Last Warning” featuring OnlyOne & J-Rome
Produced by !llmind
from the B.L.A.P. – Portland Edition mixtape
This track is another banger – something completely different from when we last heard Illmaculate. This one came together as part of Illmind‘s B.L.A.P. traveling showcase when it came to Portland last year. He provided this beat and asked for local MC’s to record a track over it & the winners would be featured on the mixtape. Well, he never dropped his compilation, so I’m putting it on mine. Joining the Ill’s on the track are OnlyOne from Sandpeople & Green Tape crooner, J-Rome.
And if you still haven’t heard The Green Tape yet – we’ve got a problem. Go fix that. Nowishly.

12. Al-One “May Be The One” featuring KP of Good Biz & Bosko
Produced by TROX
Talkbox by Bosko
Released as a single on iTunes
& also appears on Bosko – Talkbox King: Electrospit Vol. 1
A big part of the more traditional Portland sound is the influence of classic West Coast rap, i.e. G-Funk and The Bay. This track is the perfect example of that hybrid done right. With a lowrider-friendly beat from the man TROX, with two Portland O.G.’s along for the ride – KP (originally from Proz And Conz) and the reigning Talkbox King himself, Bosko (as heard on Big Boi’s “Shutterbugg,” Kanye’s “The New Workout Plan,” T.I.’s “Let Me Tell You Something,” etc.) making the song super-official – this is definitely one to ride out to.

13. M64 x Grillade “In The Pocket (Remix)”
Remixed by Keelay & The Park
Original produced by Ohmega Watts
Released as a single
M64 (made up of Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts) were the first group to make it directly from this site onto vinyl, thanks to Record Breakin. And with this, it all comes full circle as Ragen’s new group, Grillade (alongside the Bay Area’s Keelay & The Park) do a full-on redux of that 7″ single’s b-side, “In The Pocket” w/ reworked lyrics from Ragen & ‘Mega as well.

14. AM:Neja “1,000 Paper Cranes”
Produced by Mayer Hawthorne aka DJ Haircut
from the AM: Neja EP
This is a highlight from Othello & Theory Hazit‘s six track EP they put out earlier this year. Theory’s verse on this one is almost too real. I always thought DJ Haircut (better known as Mayer Hawthorne) & the rest of the Lab Techs were underrated as producers – and this one even further solidifies that.

15. Hi-Res “Default Grooves (Wireframe)”
Produced by Hi-Res
Maaan! This dude Hi-Res won’t let me NOT like one his beats. Just as I was getting a little tired of this one, it changes into one of his best yet! Res is criminally slept on right now – but we’re working on changing that.

16. Braille “Up”
Produced by Xperiment
from Weapon Aid
With this track rounding it out, all three members that make up one of Portland’s best groups – Lightheaded (Braille, Othello & Ohmega Watts) are accounted for on this compilation – just as it should be. One of my favorite things that Braille does for the city is recruit! Thanks to him – we’ve drafted Theory Hazit from Cincinatti, Othello from Seattle, and plenty of others. One of the latest recruits is the homie Xperiment from Denver, Colorado – best known for being a finalist in last year’s Red Bull Big Tune beat battle. The two collaborated on “Up” from what I think is one of Braille’s hardest performances to date.

17. DaiN “DaiNtendo”
Produced by DaiN
Released as a single on iTunes
DaiN – originally from New Orleans – is also one of Portland’s best kept secrets. After releasing his under-promoted debut album in 2009, DaiN signed to new upstart label Wandering Worx after they saw an impromptu performance of his at The Fix. From what I’ve heard so far, the new album should definitely let the secret be known soon enough.

18. Young X “Take Note” featuring Epp
Produced by Stewart Villain
from the forthcoming Back 2 Plan X mixtape
& also included on the SIVC Tape Vol. IV: Affiliated Artists mixtape
Young X is another young spitter from the town. I had been hearing about him for a minute but it wasn’t until I had heard this song and another upcoming one with TxE that I really paid attention to him. Epp is quickly becoming the Portland Cameo King and his verse is another perfect example as to why. Plus I don’t think Biggie vocal samples on songs will ever get old.

19. Theory Hazit “We Are The Ones (devonwho Remix)”
Remixed by devonwho
Original produced by Toni Shift
Original appears on Modern Marvels
Picking up right where they left off from on their previous collaboration, “The Hiemlich” from devonwho’s WaVES EP, devon & Theory are it again. This time devon delivers a whomix of a track from Theory Hazit’s Modern Marvels album with producer Toni Shift.

20. Living Proof “Independent”
Produced by Tope
from Full Speed
Living Proof is made up of Tope from TxE and Prem – this is one of my favorite tracks off of their second album, Full Speed. “Mall security is a mark-ass bitch” might be one of my favorite hooks ever. That’s some real Portland shit!

21. Luck-One “Listen To The Rain” featuring Tony Ozier
Produced by Tony Ozier
Guitar by Donnell Kennedy
from True Theory
Luck is one of the most serious MC’s in the city, and he brings that seriousness with him to this song – a collaboration with Tony Ozier. Tony is a Michigan transplant who has since set up a funk dynasty of sorts here in Portland, the almighty Doo-Doo Funk Allstars.

22. Lawz Spoken x Epp “Send Me An Angel”
Produced by Lawz Spoken
from the upcoming album, Ferrari Rap Vol. 2
This is the first single for an album I’ll be putting out through the site – the second in Lawz Spoken‘s Ferrari Rap series – this time a full-length collaboration with Epp from TxE. This beat is so simple and such an obvious sample – but yet, Lawz still made that shit work like only he can. Shout out to Doc Adam for the mix on this one as well.

23. Lifesavas “And The Soul Goes On”
Produced by Rev Shines
from Google’s Best Ever Mixtape: Portland
It would be blasphemy to have a compilation covering Portland hip-hop and not include these guys. Vursatyl, Jumbo & Rev Shines are one of Portland’s best success stories – having signed to Quannum in the early 2000′s, released two albums (so far) & toured the world. This is their first new song in a few years & by the sound of it, you’d think they’d never left.

24. Natasha Kmeto “A Way To Love Me (devonwho Remix)”
Remixed by devonwho
Original produced by Natasha Kmeto
Original appears on Expressor
I thought it’d be nice to end this on a note that sounded completely different from all the previous tracks. Portland’s production/beat/dubstep scene is worthy of a whole ‘nother post/mixtape in itself – but one of my favorites out of that group would have to be singer/producer, Natasha Kmeto. Here you can hear her singing some heartwrenching vocals over a non-album devonwho remix from her latest release, Expressor.

Well – here it is.
The official rebirth of FRSH SLCTS,
& the release of the longawaited Green Tape.

It’s been a year or two in the making – but none of that matters anymore.
We’re here now.
The site’s still in its beta stage so please excuse any glitches you may come across.

But this isn’t about a website (& it never was).
It’s about the music, so let’s get back to that…

Today, Illmaculate & G_Force bring us The Green Tape -
their collaborate reworking of soul legend Al Green‘s 2008 release, Lay It Down.
For what was originally meant to be an instrumental release,
G_Force had sampled & flipped the entire ?uestlove & James Poyser-produced LP,
song-by-song & piece by piece – all in one day.
& then later on – Illmaculate, who just happened to be in G_’s studio that day,
took it upon himself to write to the beat CD & voila! – The Green Tape was born.

Although the project together as naturally it did,
it still found both artists challenging themselves in new ways -
G_ limiting himself to just one sample source,
& much less live instrumentation that he’s known for,
matched with Ill stepping out of his typecast comfort zone of battle raps
& continuing to push his subject matter into more personal & universal places.
Both of which combine to make this a unique project in either artist’s catalog,
as well as in any fan’s music library.

Among other things, The Green Tape is also a 100% Portland project.
With Ill being, for some time now, one of the city’s most talented & far-reaching voices,
& G_ already having a large impact on the local scene in his only first year living here -
the fact that Portland would be well-represented already went without saying.
But on top of that – all of the guest appearances are from Portland peers
(including Ill’s hometeam, Sandpeople & G’s partner in TxE, Epp),
plus the complete album was written, produced & recorded within the city limits -
& even the album’s artwork & now its release were all handled by the city’s own.
With a rich history already behind us,
2011 is the year that we really let the rest of the world know about it.

You can download The Green Tape for free below,
after joining Illmaculate’s I Rap Better mailing list.
Also – be on the look out for much more from the Tape still to come,
including music videos, tour diaries & more.

Tracklisting:
1. Lay It Down
2. Just 4 Me (feat. J-Rome)
3. Oh-Luv
4. No One Like Me
5. What More? (feat. Epp & Theory Hazit)
6. Take Your Time (feat. J-Rome)
7. 2 Much (feat. OnlyOne)
8. (K)New You
9. All Day (feat. Braille)
10. Cold Numbness (feat. Sandpeople)
11. Workin’ Man

Produced by G_Force (aka Calvin Valentine) for Gravity Hits Productions
Mixed & Mastered by DJ FlipFlop
Artwork by Dan Kinto
Selected by KNNY FRSH for FRSH SLCTS

Illmaculate appears courtesy of Wapikiya Records & Executive Branch Management

June 16th, 2010

Finishing up with the fourth & final installment of the Resident Producers from DaveNotti’s Neck Brace III showcase, we have maybe one of the most prolific producers out of the panel – the one & only, Theory Hazit. A MC/producer from Cincinnati, Ohio who now resides in the city of Portland – Theory is constantly evolving & putting out refreshingly new projects, both solo & collaborative. This past year alone, he’s released full-length projects with rappers LMNO, Sareem Poems, and Othello – plus dozens of collaborations & guest productions along the way as well.

Captured in the video above – once again handled by the man, Paulius Kontijevas – we have one of the most daring beats played that night. As you’ll see, Theory takes a seemingly untouchable sample that should probably never be flipped – and does just that. And the end product is one that only Theo himself could deliver.

Similar to Resident Producer #3, Xperiment – Theory is also signed to the new upstart label, Humble Beast, and should be coming out with even more solo material through them, as well as some more FRSH SLCTS exclusives, in the near future.

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

The Neck Brace III – Resident Producers:
DaiN
& Xperiment
& DJ Flip Flop
& Theory Hazit

Featured Producer:
Exile

For the second installment of my new Weekend Beats series, I’ve got the latest from the homie (and possibly the #1 FS commenter), devonwho. This latest offering, the WaVES EP, mainly consists of some recent highlights from his ever-changing MySpace player, but he also threw in some all new exclusives as well. Included in the EP are five instrumentals, a track each with both singer/Fresh Kept Secret gradute, Suzi Analogue (who also did the artwork), and also one of the nicest MC’s currently residing in Portland, Theory Hazit, and also a white label remix of Frank N Dank‘s “Shut It Down.”

So thats about it – let the WaVES be your weekend soundtrack and lemme know what you think. Also, be on the lookout for much more from devonwho coming soon to both right here and elsewhere. You can check out three streams from the project before you get the free download below.

1. Withstands Pt. 1
2. About You Redux (LODBmix) (feat. Suzi Analogue)
3. Peppa Jack
4. Somethingelseagain
5. FrankNDank Shutitdown RMX
6. Whiteplastic()
7. The Finder
8. The Heimlich (feat. Theory Hazit)

Produced & Mixed by devonwho
Artwork by Suzi Analogue