Fortune Fam is at it again. The brother-brother duo of Hop and Reef drop of their first single in a while. I’ve been hooked on their sounds ever since hearing that high pitched sample in “Take Me Away.” Hop handles the production, in addition to the first verse. While Reef hops(ha) on to kill the second verse. I love the vocal samples these guys use, and I love their relaxed approach to rapping. Kollect the mp3 below courtesy of the brothers, and enjoy your weekend.

It’s always a good sign for a song when I find myself singing along by the end, on the first listen. AudioDax dropped this one, along with an official music video, today as a free treat for their fans. I’ve been following AudioDax since the early, early days of The Kollection, and they truly have grown leaps and bounds, both in terms of production and vocal quality. Love the sung hook on this, the hypnotizing beat, and of course, the verses that come in and out in such a subtle and elegant way. I’ve listened to this about 5 times already, and it keeps growing on me. Don’t miss this – peep the video below and download for free!

I can’t even explain how excited I am right now. I awoke Wednesday morning to the news that the duo of Cal and Rez had re-released my favorite song of theirs, Under the Sea. This was a Timeflies Tuesday track from about 6 months ago, and it has since reached over a million views. The video starts with Rez playing the Little Mermaid classic on a steel drum, and after some added electric piano, Cal comes on to destroy it. Peep the official video below, and download the mp3 courtesy of these two fine men.

Here we go, the sophomore release from the still-teenaged Cris Cab. His sound is so mature on this effort, while his heartfelt lyrics are wise but still youthful. Echo Boom features some big names, including his mentor Pharrell Williams (N.E.R.D.), Daytona, Mavado, and raspy O.A.R. frontman Marc Roberge. Making all the right connections and moves, Cab is breaking into the industry and making a crispy impression.

The title track of the album is not the most commercial of the bunch, but it’s simple descending chord progression and Pharrell’s genuine verse [which tells of how the pair artistically/professionally merged] make it a fitting album-opener. “What We Can’t Do” is a stand-up anthem for the ambitious youth, featuring a hiphop-inspired snare beat with Cab’s signature Reggae sound. “Going Home” has a more sentimental, contemplative sound courtesy of its subject matter. The contemporary production is excellent, and the guest appearance from one of my favorites (O.A.R.) finishes the track off perfectly. The last two key tracks are ones we’ve posted before, attached for convenience. This won’t be the last you hear from this supremely-talented artist.

This is PJ’s latest Simas Sunday track, featuring Dylan Owen who’s fresh off the release of his latest tape, Keep Your Friends Close. The instrumental is simple and clean, happy and carefree. PJ and Dylan do a great job with their respective verses, flowing effortlessly over the light beat. A track with this duo is always worth a listen – download for free as well!

Tarik just dropped the official video for Know Her Name, a noteworthy track off his latest tape, T.R.I.G.S.. Visuals from John Kilmer always kill it, and on top of this laid-back beat, Tarik shows a great performance. The song feels good, the lyrics tell a good story, and Tarik’s emotion is there in the video. Peep, download, listen, enjoy.

Here’s a new track from e-dubble, produced by Villain, Grey Skies. Darker, a bit mechanical and eerie, but with e-dubble’s awesome style that he brings to all of his music. His lyrics are dope, very thought-out, and his sound is perfect over this beautifully produced instrumental. I loved the changes in tempo, the low bass (gotta have a system for this), and the way the melody slowly ebbed and flowed through the whole track. Take a listen and hop on this one for free.

A new track from Eddy B & Tim Gunter, a duo I haven’t heard from in a while, just dropped – Young Superstars. This one is a bit ‘pop-ier’ with a bubbly melody and a low-sung hook. Eddy B goes in with style and flow, a great compliment to Tim’s production. This one grew on me as I listened through – there’s some great subtle instrumental features that really bring the whole track together.

At first you might feel skeptical about this track [I was, too], but after two full rotations of “Rihanna’s Gun”, I’m hooked on this edgier, heavy sound from Cris and his Reggae master-mentors. Cab’s specialty is still those silky smooth Reggae jams we have grown to adore, but this slightly dubbed-out track shows his musical versatility and ability to expand his range. The lyrics are darker, and Mavado’s verse is a necessary addition; a perfect placement over this hard genre-bending beat.

Echo Boom drops tomorrow, where you can find traditional Cris Cab tracks along with ones like this. Stay tuned!

I am very impressed with Mike Stud’s latest work. Happy Ending, one of the more emotional tracks from A Toast To Tommy is something that we wouldn’t normally categorize under “frat rap.” Yet, this beautiful video directed by music video master Jon Kilmer is a chilling compilation about three people’s accounts of traumatizing experiences in their lives. The soft female vocals and piano add a powerful, yet subtle touch to the song. Definitely give this one a listen and try to watch the entire video without shedding a tear. Or five.