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The Sounds of VTech / Erykah Badu surprise performance live @ The Fix

On July 2nd, 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.

Thankfully, all of this was caught on tape and you can catch some of the highlights of this very special moment in Portland history in the video above. Stay tuned for the equally moving video from Georgia & Dudley’s set – as well as some of Badu’s thoughts on Ms. Anne Muldrow.

Following up on last month’s Keys N Krates performance, today we’re back with another video from VTech Phones & Fresh Selects’ concert series at Portland’s finest hip-hop party, The Fix. This time we have an exclusive video from Denmark soul artists, Quadron’s intimate Fix performance in June. The show came in the middle of one of their very first U.S. tours and not only was it their first time playing in Portland, but it was also among one of their first times playing anywhere in the States.

With Quadron signing to respected L.A. label, Plug Research, and already working on the follow-up album to their critically acclaimed debut – they’re sure to be a group that will be around and making their mark for years to come. So check the video below to see a future soul music mainstay in the making.

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The Sounds of VTech / Quadron "Slippin" Live @ The Fix - Portland, OR