Words by Luke Wigren

---

When you see a song title like “Funky Blumpkin” you might not know what to expect. Yet the new Filthy Fingers release The FFUNK gets off to a grand start with Seattle MC Dex Amora delivering a breezy verse, setting the tone for the project as a whole. Together, the artists of FFUNK weave a rich sonic tapestry as eclectic as it is poignant. My personal favorite is the short sweet OK-produced track “NO LIMITATIONS.” Another by producer Able Fader, “With Respect to the Funk Fathers,” adds cohesion as he contemplates his place in funk history, geographically speaking. It’s a moment of pause for the project and a welcome point of beat-self-reflection at a time when producers are far too often faceless.

Filthy Fingers — a massive, widespread collective of producers, DJs, and beatmakers — whose bio reads more like a manifesto, not only promises an exciting future for its associated talents but it feels about time Seattle had something comparable to LA’s longtime musical incubator Low End Theory (which helped set the stage for Nosaj Thing, Flying Lotus, and The Gaslamp Killer) and the more recent LA-based label/podcast, Soulection (home to Seattle’s prodigal son Sango). Why, after Jake One, Ryan Lewis, Vitamin D and Sabzi, should town producers have to look outside the scene for recognition?

What’s truly amazing is that the 24-track FFUNK project, with artists hailing from as far as Florida and San Diego, is merely one monthly tape in a growing canon. (I’m already behind!) And, yes, if you were wondering, despite initial reservations, the song “Funky Blumpkin” is much better than it sounds.

Download this record. Put it on your phone and join the sonic kingdom of Filthy Fingers. Also, make sure you do your civic duty and like them on facebook to keep in the know, especially since a number of these guys are Seattlites and you can catch upcoming shows/dance parties.

PS. If you’re a beatmaker and you like what they’re giving, I’d strongly suggest getting on board. And if you’re a rapper, well, you know the drill…