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2. Lakim - "Need Want"
3. Sango and Waldo ft. SPZRKT - "Crossroads"
“Crossroads” is a track off Sango & Waldo’s collaborative EP Until Then. Waldo’s lyrics touch upon everything from the effects of success to misogyny and familial relationships, while SPZRKT delivers a passionate rendition of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's hook from “The Crossroads,” tying the whole song together.
4. Esta ft. JBird - "WhateverUNeed"
Esta flips a Jodeci sample for this groovy yet lavish track. “WhateverUNeed” is one of the last songs off his 2013 album Paradise, which we highly recommend. Submerge yourself in his mysterious world below.
5. Atu ft. Asante - "Lately"
Atu's "Lately" is a soulful ballad featuring vocals from the very talented Asante. It's almost like a smooth Alicia Keys or John Legend song, but with more dynamic percussion. For a free download, just hit up his Facebook page and give him a like.
6. Ta-ku - "CaseyBanks"
This wavey instrumental was released as a part of Soulection’s compilation album with Stussy. The rambunctious percussion jumps over the gloopy synth melody, helping bring the song to life. Ta-ku is one of our favorite producers, and it's no surprise to see him working with kindred creative sprits like Soulection.
7. Doja Cat - "So High" (Prod. Evil Needle)
Doja Cat gets the Soulection treatment from producer Evil Needle. The beat features guitar chords, a funky bass line, piano melodies, and smooth sounds that all blend perfectly with her vocals. The video is pretty dope too—check it out below.
8. IAMNOBODI - "Brothers"
All the way from Germany, IAMNOBODI’s “Brothers” is a thumping, percussive track. The drums have a hard bite to them, but the synths are soft and glossy, making for a track with depth and endless replay value.
9. Tinashe - "Cold Sweat" (Prod. Boi1Da, Sango, & SykSense)
Rising R&B star and ”2 On” singer Tinashe recruited a super crew of producers for her single “Cold Sweat” off the new album Aquarius. Even alongside Boi1da and SykSense, Sango’s trademark synths and drums steal the show at moments like 4.40 in. This was a big look for Sango, and by extension Soulection, and we wouldn't be surprised to see more of this underground/overground crossover happening in the coming months and years.
10. Abjo - "TMRW"
Abjo (short for Abraham Joseph) cooks up a refreshing groove on “TMRW,” the final track of his 3 song EP BNG . With some smooth vocal chops and punchy drums, it’s tough to hear this track without bobbing your head to it.
11. GoldLink - "Fuck Being Polite" (Prod. Lakim)
DMV rapper/singer GoldLink has a fantastic ear for beats and a knack for riding Soulection’s unique rhythms with ease. If you dig this, his most recent LP The God Complex is filled with fu bouncy flows just like it.
Related: 25 Rappers You Should Get to Know Before They Blow Up
12. Jay Prince - "All You"
London rapper/singer Jay Prince drops some deft flows and thoughtful lyrics on “All You,” another track off the compilation album with Stussy. Download it here (for free, obviously).
13. Esta ft. JBird - "Moet"
Esta enlists the help of JBird for this funky, '90s style jam. Kind of reminds me of the heavy synths on songs like Ginuwine’s “Ride My Pony." For an update of golden age baby-making music, check out “Moet” below.
14. PYRMDPLAZA - "Navi's Dance"
PYRMDPLAZA is a mysterious new artist from the UK that recently released a free four-song EP as entry 11 in Soulection's White Label series. This funky, glittering track is definitely one of its highlights—another great artist unearthed by the Soulection crew.
15. Insightful - "Liberate Your Luv"
“Liberate Your Luv” is the second track off of Insightful’s album Elsewhere. This track is reminiscent of James Blake in a number of ways, from the chopped up vocals to the rich bass, and that should be reason enough to give it a listen.
16. Jessie Ware - "Tough Love (Sango Remix)"
Jessie Ware gets the Sango treatment. He flips her soulful hit “Tough Love” into a slow-moving subwoofer monster.
17. Lakim - "Contemplating"
“Contemplating” is one of those songs that just has an irresistible groove. It’s not one of Lakim’s most complex works melody-wise, but the drums are bursting with life. Make sure you check out his EP Paradise for more.
18. Mincha - "I Think"
Mincha is a French producer and a Soulection affiliate. His EP Lost is short, but might just be one of the best instrumental tapes of the year. He’s great at fusing standard hip-hop drums with interesting percussive sounds like water drops and finger snaps, as you can hear in "I Think."
19. Evil Needle - "So Fly"
Right when this track opens up, you know it’s going to be smooth. The little bass vibratos every couple bars are sweet as syrup, and the synths that layer in for the second section are also fantastic. It’s not your typical Soulection groove, but it’s certainly a refreshing change of pace.
20. Sam Smith - "Leave Your Lover (Esta Edit)"
Esta puts a spin on Sam Smith’s “Leave Your Lover” for a danceable remix. It sounds like the type of song that you would hear at a futuristic night club filled with glass tables, rich people sipping martinis, and waitresses rolling around on skates. If that makes no sense, just listen for yourself.
21. Young Dro - "FDB (LAKIM Remix)"
The dirty south meets the west coast on Lakim’s remix of Young Dro’s classic “FDB.” Though it’s difficult to imagine a version of this song that is better than the original, this one definitely comes close.
22. Savon ft. Sango - "Tokyo Pt. 2"
Savon and Sango join forces for this vibed out track. Everything from the drums to the synths and the subtle background vocals sit comfortably together in the mix. With so much in-your-face electronic music dominating the airwaves, "Tokyo Pt. 2" stands out as something a little more subtle—this is music that'll have you zoning.
23. Mr. Carmack - "throw your chains off"
Mr. Carmack’s “throw your chains off” has a classic Soulection vibe to it. It’s fast paced, yet peaceful. In many ways, Soulection’s entire vibe is a bit of an oxymoron. It’s exciting, yet relaxing. Choppy, yet smooth. Mr. Carmack definitely captures the best of both worlds with this track.
24. Drake ft. Jhene Aiko - "From Time (Atu & Sango Edit)"
This silky smooth rendition of Drake and Jhene Aiko's "From Time" adds to the expressiveness of the original while staying true to its chords and melodies. When it comes to remixes, Atu and Sango know how to achieve the perfect balance between changing too much and not changing enough.
25. Tajan & fwdslxsh - "Beautiful"
One of the most played songs on the Soulection Soundcloud, Tajan & fwdslxsh's lush and engrossing track revolves around a sample of Justin Timberlake's vocals from "My Love." The track is as beautiful and subtly shifting as the liquid in its artwork (above), and is a perfect example of why so many people love Soulection. Plus, it's a free download. Winning all round.
26. Jaden Smith - "Fast (Gravez Remix)"
Last but not least, Gravez’ remix of “Fast” by Jaden Smith. No matter how you feel about the celebrity-son turned hip hop artist, you will love how his voice sounds over Gravez’ smooth orchestrations. But don’t take my word for it, check it out below.