“Anybody can go to college,” says eleven year-old MC, Khalil Jackson, matter-of-factly, who, along with fellow schoolmates Jorden Plaines and Dallas Ifill, make up Brooklyn’s freshest new rap group, the 3 Titans.  And if you happen to doubt the young Jackson’s words, simply slide the dynamic triumvirate’s auspicious 7” debut platter from its colorful picture-sleeve onto your turntable, and soon body and mind will believe. The aptly titled songs, “College” b/w “The Life of a Scholar,” from Dunham Records, are backed by heavy beats and soulful arrangements that echo a time when hip-hop sought to uplift, which is exactly what the Bed-Stuy trio’s perfect blend of inspirational lyrics and rhymes aspire to do.

The story of the 3 Titans begins in the 4th grade when one of their teachers, Sean Solomon, became aware of the boys’ rhyming skills during an afterschool “History of Hip-Hop” class he was leading. Solomon, himself a gifted musician and the guitarist in the cult-favorite instrumental funk band, the Mighty Imperials, later took his class on a field trip to a local recording studio, which further piqued the students’ music interests. The soon-to-be named 3 Titans—who already played violin and drums in their school band—when asked if they would like to record some songs of their own, jumped at the opportunity. “It was chance of a lifetime,” remembers Khalil. “’Cause I always wanted to be a rapper.”

Fast forward to Summer 2009. The 3 Titans (now 5th graders) are introduced to Solomon’s friends at Dunham Records, and the studio heads are quickly impressed. “What impressed me most was their rhythmical sensibility,” says label co-founder/producer/musician Tom Brenneck. “All three are complete naturals. The first thing they did when they walked into the studio was run to the drum set and start playing together. Their enthusiasm and talent shined even more when they started rhyming.” That day the two generations began working on what would become the A-side nugget, “College,” a song inspired by the school’s motto. “Every kid at our school will tell you where they’re going to college,” Solomon says. From the get go, the backing music–written, arranged and performed by the label’s resident house musicians, the Menahan Street Band, as well as folks behind such acclaimed acts as Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Antibalas and Amy Winehouse—clicked as quickly for the adults as the message and rhymes did for the kids. “In terms of instrumentation and production, the beats were influenced by early ‘90s hip-hop–Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, classic Pete Rock, that sort of style,” says Solomon. “But mixed also with that late ‘60s soul feel.” Happy with the initial results, the B-side, “The Life of a Scholar” was born soon after.

The new 45 marks a first on many fronts for the burgeoning Dunham family. Having outgrown the original converted bedroom/recording studio in Brenneck’s Bushwick, Brooklyn apartment, the record label moved last year to more spacious Williamsburg quarters where Brenneck and label co-founder/drummer/producer Homer Steinweiss were able to capitalize on their former success by building their own recording studio from scratch. The precocious efforts of the 3 Titans are the first recordings from the newly minted studio to be made available for the listening public’s pleasure. And certainly not the last. “We plan on doing an educational, curriculum-based full-length album with other kids from the school,” says Solomon, clearly inspired by the 3 Titans. “Auditions will be held in the school auditorium in February.”