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Songs We Love: Sunny & Gabe, 'Downtown'

The state's tourism slogan is "Virginia is for lovers," but if you're a fan of the Neptunes, Timbaland, or Missy Elliot you know that the VA should be known for its musical innovators, too. Hoping to join the ranks of the aforementioned Virginia legends is singer-producer duo Sunny & Gabe.

If you didn't hear the eclectic pair's genre-blurring 2013 free mixtape #FREEECANDY, you may have seen the video for "I Luv It" featuring the Beyonce-endorsed rapper D.R.A.M. ("I Luv It" also appears on D.R.A.M.'s #1Epic EP.) And while "I Luv It" gave us a glimpse of what nightlife is like for their diverse crew of friends and collaborators, Sunny & Gabe's new video for "Downtown" is a day in the life, full of day parties by the pool, dancing, and an Elvis impersonator.

On the song itself, Sunny interpolates "Down Down Baby" to great effect (Nelly would be proud) and Gabe's complements her vocals with chopped-up horn stabs and frenetic drum programming that get smoothed out with soulful breakdowns (which is perfect for the expressive lip-synching on display). Will Sunny & Gabe make it to VA's musical pantheon? Only time will tell. One thing's for sure though — they're having fun while trying.

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