With the return of warm weather comes blooming flowers, chirping birds, day parties and, of course, summer playlists. In between the Sublime and Bob Marley, hip-hop is an essential part of any warm weather playlist. In honor of the arrival of spring, I'll be running through some of my summer music staples.
Notorious B.I.G.: No summer can be complete without a little Biggie. Whether it's grooving to 1997's "Hypnotize," bumping "Machine Gun Funk" (1994) on the beach, or "sipping on private stock" while everyone sings along to "Juicy" (1994), Biggie will set the mood for any outdoor event.
OutKast: Given the much hyped reunion of the legendary duo, this might as well be the summer of 'Kast. You can't go wrong with any of the OutKastcatalogue, but I suggest throwing it back to some of its older work to get some of that slower groove. Let the horns of 1998's "SpottieOttieDopalicious" carry through the warm winds, or the old school flows of "Skew it on the Bar-B" (1998) fittingly play in the background of your afternoon barbeque.
The Game: Nothing like some California tunes to capture the sunshine and happiness of the summer. "Hate it or Love It" (2005) is an instant head-nodder. The slow beat of "Ol' English" (2006) makes for the perfect smoke 'n' sip song, and 2005's "How We Do" is the essence of G-funk. Turn up the bass, put your foot on the gas, roll down the windows and pump "Let's Ride" (2006) through the speakers.
50 Cent: "I Get Money" (2007) is a classic summertime hit, and "Ayo Technology" (2007) is officially old enough to be a throwback jam. 2003's "P.I.M.P" will turn any casual gathering into an instant dance party, and if you're feeling really into the mid-'00s, go ahead and throw on 2005's "Candy Shop."
Jay-Z: Just play "Heart of the City" (2001). A lot. That's all I have to say on the subject.
Kendrick Lamar: You were starting to think I could go a whole column without mentioning someone from Top Dawg Entertainment. "B***h Don't Kill My Vibe" (2012) established itself last year as an all-time summer hit, but Lamar's catalogue has plenty of beach-ready music, especially in his earlier work. 2009's "P&P" with Ab-Soul and "My People" (2011) featuring Jay Rock are smooth cruising songs. "Section.80" (2011), his debut album, is also ripe for the picking, with "ADHD," "Hol' Up" and "Ronald Reagan Era" all capturing the summer essence.
Chance the Rapper: You undoubtedly heard plenty of his "Acid Rap" (2013) mixtape last summer. Nearly a year after its release, it is still getting plays on my iPod, and that will surely increase as the sun comes out. The "Good Ass Intro," "Cocoa Butter Kisses," "Juice" combo is unbeatable in its feel-good vibes.
Nelly: Anyone who was at Spring Fling last year already knows this. But to the freshmen who weren't so lucky, the ability to laugh at Nelly's music while still dancing your feet off and singing along to a song you didn't even know you remembered is a truly special combination.
Afroman: Speaking of laughably fun music, 2004's "Colt 45" and 2000's "Palmdale" are irresistibly great.
Throw it back: Summer is the perfect time to dig into hip-hop's older hits. Pete Rock and CL Smooth's "They Reminisce Over You" (1992) is the smoothest of smooth, and "Summertime" (1991) by the Fresh Prince (a.k.a. Will Smith) is a classic. You can't go wrong with The Fugees or anything else with Ms. Lauryn Hill. A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde and Clipse are all worth mentioning.
The key to crafting your perfect summer playlist is finding the right beat. So dig through your favorite music and find the most fun, chilled out beats that will be sure to lift you as high as the temperatures.
