Declaime

California-based rapper and singer/songwriter Dudley Perkins switches between abstract hip-hop and funky, spiritual neo-soul, working under his given name as well as Declaime. Originally affiliated with the Likwit Crew, Perkins debuted on tha Alkaholiks’ second album, Coast II Coast, and also appeared on Lootpack’s Soundpieces before releasing his own solo work. His first solo release as Declaime, Ill Mind Muzik, was an EP produced by Madlib and released by Goodvibe in 1999. His debut full-length, Andsoitissaid, then followed in 2001, again produced by Madlib and featuring West Coast hip-hop MCs such as Rasco and Lootpack. During the same year, he started releasing more soul-influenced music under his birth name, in addition to hip-hop as Declaime. In 2004, Conversations with Dudley, an album that bridged his two musical identities, came out on Up Above Records. It's the Dank & Jammy Show, a collaboration with J. Rawls, was released in 2005, initially only available in Japan. Much of Perkins’ music over the next few years, including work with his partner, Georgia Anne Muldrow, appeared under his given name, but Declaime’s single “Children of the Sun” (featuring vocals by Muldrow) was released by the French Apollo Jazz Production label in 2007. Declaime’s full-length Astormsacomin was issued by the Japanese label Octave in 2008. Declaime collaborated with Flying Lotus on the 2009 EP Whole Wide World; the Madlib-produced single “State of Emergency” and full-length Muzikillmind also appeared that year. Muldrow and Declaime’s SomeOthaShip was released by Mello Music Group in 2010. The duo also started a label called SomeOthaShip Connect, which issued Declaime’s G-funk-inspired Fonk, produced by Quazadelic. Declaime’s CD/DVD Self Study followed in 2011. Following a Dudley Perkins album on Mello Music Group (Dr. Stokley) and a Muldrow/Perkins album on SomeOthaShip (Lighthouse), both of which arrived in 2013, Perkins resumed the Declaime handle for his 2015 full-length, Southside Story. This was followed by 2017′s Young Spirit, which featured guest appearances from Blu, Saul Williams, Aloe Blacc, and, of course, Muldrow. ~ Jason Birchmeier & Paul Simpson