Best Free Downloads of the Week

Brooklyn's Flatbush Zombies returned this week with "Glorious Thugs" and a release date (March 11) for their debut album, 3001: A Laced Odyssey. As the title suggests, "Glorious Thugs" draws on Biggie's "Notorious Thugs" for inspiration, but the three rappers bring a whole new energy to the updated proceedings.

Soulection's own Dpat is probably best known for co-producing Wiz Khalifa and The Weeknd's 2012 collaboration "Remember You." The Houston native's SoundCloud's page is stacked with gems from before and after that major moment, and this week he returns with a new track.

Dpat flips The Weeknd's 2011 track "What You Need" and reimagines it from a new perspective. The track opens up with slowed down vocals over tranquil production before a subtle bounce comes in around the chorus to give the flip a little boost of energy.

Ithaca, New York's Aviatrix mixes disparate elements into a poignant potpourri of folky vocals and abrasive electronics. "Gears" is a standout, but you can download all of the five track self-titled EP here.

When someone labels their music as "Existential Funk," it's hard to not feel at least a little bit curious. 21-year-old singer/producer Goldwash has laid claim to this new genre, and after listening to his latest single "But U Won't," the label seems fitting. This bubbly single is a feel-good jam, a soulful piano ballad and funky dance track fused into one.

Download the track here.

LuckyMe's Advent Calendar series got another banger this week when Lunice dropped "Look Like," a punishing freebie with truly earth-shaking drums. It's always a treat to hear new material from the Canadian producer, and "Look Like" is no exception.

For his latest track "Still Young," Plane Jaymes flips a sample of K.P. and Envyi's 1998 single "Swing My Way." Jaymes takes this smooth rhythm as the opportunity to reflect on lessons learned during this pivotal time in his life. Both Jaymes and Dazzy admit they've got room for improvement, but the level of self-awareness in "Still Young" shows they're both on the right path to maturity.

This Jack Ü remix is going on calm, going on restrained... Then you get just past the one minute mark. Wow.

Gundam a legend for this.

Download this remix and three others here.

Thanks to the internet, it's so much easier for artists who might not ever cross paths to connect. As a result, we continue to get completely unexpected collaborations. The latest surprise comes from Steve Aoki. He reworked Rich The Kid and ILoveMakonnen's track "No Ma'am 2," giving it the new title "How Else." For the new mix, Aoki delivers an infectious beat to match Makonnen's catchy hook.

Download the track here.

This week Star Slinger released his new EP, simply titled Sketchy.  It includes a rare appearance by Star Slinger's vocals on "Sketchy Boys in the Back of the Bus." The title alone is enough to spark curiosity, but the beat is what will hook listeners—as a whole, the minimal track feel just as menacing as it is enticing.

Download the full EP here.

Nashville native Andrew Goodwin, better known as Gunkst, delivered his first offering of the year this week with “Jorts.” The song sounds like it was beamed in from another planet, and the message isn't friendly. Razor-sharp synths cut through the speakers with a vicious intensity, and once the sub-bass joins in, the slaughter is on. "Jorts" is reckless, merciless music, perfect for a quick shot of adrenaline before heading out into the night.

It's tough to remix a near-perfect song, but Sad Money did just that in taking a crack at Kill J's "You're Good But I'm Better." The remix does the right thing in not messing with the vocals too much, but the real win comes with the smooth, muffled instrumentation. There's just enough that's different about this remix to make it totally irresistible.