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From the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro to the spirited parades of Barranquilla, Colombia, Carnival is a testament to the power of music, dance and extravagant costumes, and comes together in a dazzling display of creativity and celebration.
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This year, Billboard Español presents a curated playlist that bridges the past with the present, featuring a dynamic mix of artists who capture the spirit of Carnival, from the legendary sounds of Celia Cruz with her timeless “La Vida es un Carnaval” to the invigorating rhythms of Brazilian powerhouse Anitta alongside DENNIS and Pedro Sampaio in “Joga Pra Lua,” and the energetic MPB rhythms of Ludmilla and Ivete Sangalo’s “Macetando.”
Adding to the mix, Colombian superstar Maluma’s aptly titled “Carnaval” and Cuban Latin Collection’s “Salsa Soca,” this collection of 22 songs pays homage to the artists who have helped shape the festival’s soundscape.
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Originating from ancient traditions that predate the arrival of Europeans to the Americas, Carnival has evolved over the centuries, blending European, African and indigenous cultures into a vibrant celebration that traditionally precedes Lent, a time of indulgence before the fasting period in the Christian calendar.
In Brazil, Carnival is synonymous with its samba schools’ parades, showcasing an array of dance, music, and elaborate costumes. Meanwhile, the Caribbean offers its own unique flavor, from Trinidad and Tobago’s calypso and soca festivities to Cuba’s vibrant comparsas, with Colombia’s Barranquilla adding its own electrifying twist.
More than just a party, Carnival stands as a beacon of cultural resistance, identity, and community spirit, inviting everyone to partake in its joyous revelry.
So turn up the volume and let the rhythms transport you to the lively streets of Latin America and the Caribbean, with the rhythms of Anitta, Ludmilla, Carlos Vives, Celia Cruz, Bomba Estéreo and many more to soundtrack your way.
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What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with the first CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh playlist of 2024! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
For a change of pace, I want to speak in my voice and explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I’m putting the list together, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. – D.L. Chandler
Welcome back to longtime supporters of the CRT FRSH playlist, and welcome to the new folks on board.
As explained above, our bi-weekly (which is the hope) playlist features 50 songs in total. The first half is typically bigger acts that most should already know about, while the second half is reserved for the vast, always improving underground scene. Since we didn’t do a top list of Hip-Hop projects list for 2023, this CRT FRSH update is dedicated to our favorite songs of last year.
Let’s get to it.
The playlist opens with Killer Mike’s “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” and while the highlight of the song for most is the André 3000 verse, the artist born Michael Render also delivered on the track from his latest studio album, MICHAEL. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne reconnected for the Welcome 2 Hollygrove project and while it was packed with standout moments, “Bars” stood out for us in 2023.
Drake is as polarizing an artist as any these days and there were mixed reviews for his latest album, For All The Dogs. With the six-pack Scary Hours 3 tacked on the deluxe version of the album, Drizzy got back into his elite rapping bag and traded verses with J. Cole on “Evil Ways” to pleasing results.
Speaking of polarizing, Doja Cat has her fair share of fans and detractors but she certainly had some tracks from her Scarlet project that stood out, notably “Paint The Town Red” among them. And Gunna, who dropped a strong AOTY contender in a Gift & a Curse, his “fukumean” single didn’t leave our rotation. We’re not in street business, we’re just checking out the music, thanks.
Benny The Butcher is now in the major leagues with Def Jam and was everywhere in 2023 with his dealings with the Black Soprano Family, features, and more. The track “Big Dog” with Lil Wayne finds the pair rocking over an amazing beat from The Alchemist.
The ladies got it in, and big up Nicki Minaj for coming back to reclaim her throne as the Queen from Queens. She dropped off Pink Friday 2, and “Everybody” with Lil Uzi Vert seemed to be a favorite of many who rocked the project.
Lay Banks and her viral “Ick” hit was everywhere, and “Put It On The Floor Again” saw an epic pairing of Latto and Cardi B in another song that fans on social media couldn’t get enough of. Megan Thee Stallion also came back with the triumphant “Cobra” track, signaling that she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Veeze dropped one of the most entertaining albums of 2023 in Ganger and the opening track “Not A Drill” set the tone for the Detroit spitter. In the deep trenches of the underground, the talented klwn cat showed off his impressive production chops on PRELUDE, linking with past collaborators Matt Draugos and unruly. Apollo Brown and Planet Asia once again locked in for the sequel to their stellar Anchovies album with Sardines and the track “Broad Dayin’” was the one of us.
Westside Gunn dropped what he says will be his final full-length studio in And Then You Pray For Me, an album we personally loved while longtime Griselda fans didn’t appreciate the trap-leaning tracks. That said, “Kostas,” produced by Tay Keith, features the aforementioned Benny The Butcher and a scene-stealing verse from Conway The Machine.
Speaking of Conway, La Maquina has his own situation with Drumwork Music Group, and his artist, 7xvethegenius (Love The Genius) is a star in the making. On the track “Flame” produced by Conductor Williams, 7xvethegenius and Conway trade bars in expert fashion. Washington, D.C. artist Sideshow is one of our favorite rappers to emerge in years, and his track “S.H.O.W. Ent” from his excellent 2MM DON’T JUST STAND THERE! album stayed on repeat.
MIKE, one of the young leaders of the underground Hip-Hop youth movement, delivered a masterpiece in his latest album, Burning Desire. With an emphasis on his production as dj blackpower, Big MIKE had several standout moments but our favorite was “Mussel Beach” featuring D.C.’s El Cousteau and Florida’s Niontay.
Larry June and The Alchemist teamed up for The Great Escape album and while the whole thing rides, “Orange Village” featuring Slum Village was our standout.
Salute to all the folks who helped provide the soundtrack for our daily grind such as Blaq Chidori, Rome Streetz, Stik Figa, Oddisee, Kipp Stone, Noname, Aesop Rock, Blockhead, Earl Sweatshirt, blank thought, Dave, Central Cee, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Nas, Lil Tecca, Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar among others. Thank you for your art.
We’ll be updating the CRT FRSH playlist in two weeks with 50 new tracks!
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Photo: blackCAT / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
For a change of pace, I want to speak in my own voice and explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I’m putting the list together, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. – D.L. Chandler
We want to apologize to the Hip-Hop Wired nation for the lack of updates to the playlist and we’re working hard behind the scenes to keep up the place you all have come to expect. Now, let’s get on with the show.
The playlist opens with Megan Thee Stallion’s latest single “Cobra,” a track that had the streets discussing the finer points of her former relationship with Pardison Fontaine. Wale, now signed with Def Jam, returns to the masses after laying low with “Max Julien,” proving just how potent a lyricist he truly is.
It seems hard to believe but J. Cole just earned his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts as a feature on Drake’s “First Person Shooter” track from the For All The Dogs album which we’ve also featured.
We’ve got Lil Wayne showing up on two tracks in this playlist update, “Tity Boi” from Weezy F. Baby’s The Fix Before The VI project, and the New Orleans shows up as a feature on Benny The Butcher’s “Big Dog” single with production from The Alchemist.
For many, the combination of the core Griselda members rapping over Tay Keith doesn’t make sense on paper but “Kostas” from Westside Gunn’s excellent And Then You Pray For Me album proves that it works. Gunn’s cousin Benny The Butcher and brother Conway The Machine add their respective perspectives to great effect.
New York rapper and producer MIKE dropped his latest album Burning Desire, easily one of the best projects to release this year. The track “Mussel Beach,” features Washington, D.C. rapper El Cousteau and Central Florida’s Niontay, both of whom add exceptional verses over MIKE’s (as dj blackpower) production.
Rapsody, a sorely missed presence in the scene, is prepping her next full-length project and makes a hell of a statement with her new single “Asteroids” with production from Hit-Boy. If this is what listeners can come to expect from the North Carolina mastermind, the game isn’t ready.
If you’ve yet to hear of klwn cat, a prodigy on the boards not even old enough to buy a beer, please get hip. The Southern California producer’s latest single “FATE IS COMING” features another leader of the underground youth movement in Unruly and Chicago’s Willyynova.
Salute to all the artists who created the art that we curated for this CRT FRSH update such as Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Lady London, Jeremih, Veeze, Flo Milli, Young Scooter, Doja Cat, Sideshow, Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Kingpen Slim, Symba, Lil Darius, Ken Carson, and more.
Check out the playlist below.
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Photo: Unaihuiziphotography / Getty
Charly García turns 72 years old on Monday (Oct. 23).
The storied Argentine legend has constantly challenged the status quo as an unflinching and unpredictable risk taker in both music and in his personal life (he once casually jumped from the ninth floor of a building to a swimming pool).
With a wild and unapologetic spirit, the Buenos Aires native has left an enduring legacy that dates back since the late ‘60s on Spanish-language rock, penning some of the most enduring classics of our time. From his early days with Sui Generis to his groundbreaking work with supergroup Serú Girán, Charly has consistently defied musical norms.
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The “No Voy en Tren” singer’s distinctive voice and piano virtuosity, coupled with his fearless approach to composition and the fusion of rock, pop, and progressive elements, has made him an emblematic figure in Latin music. Whether he’s singing about love, madness, or existential introspection, Charly García’s impact is undeniable.
“Charly García is freedom! Happy birthday king of kings! I love you so much I don’t have the words to explain it! In the end that’s what getting here was all about. Not having words. Thank you for guiding me in the dark and laughing so much during all these years!” tweeted fellow Argentine maverick, Fito Paez.
In 2013, Billboard debuted its first Spanish-language edition with Billboard Argentina with the iconic Charly García on its cover.
And on Monday night, more than 20 artists and bands will come together to honor the music of the Argentine legend in virtual fashion, in Vos No Sos Lindo Fest (or You Are Not Cute Fest).
In honor of this musical maestro’s birthday, Billboard has put together a playlist that pays tribute to Charly’s greatest hits and some lesser-known gems showcasing his boundless creativity. From the anthemic “Rasguña las Piedras” to the hauntingly beautiful “Los Dinosaurios,” these tracks represent the essence of his musical genius.
Listen to the playlist below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
It’s been a minute since we’ve updated CRT FRSH due to Hip-Hop @ 50 taking the lion’s share of our creative time but we’re back to resuming our regular bi-weekly schedule as best we can. This time around, we’re including 25 artists you should know and 25 artists you need to know, keeping in mind that our mission is purely educational at root and aimed at promoting all sides of Hip-Hop at its best.
For a change of pace, I want to speak in my own voice and explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I’m putting the list together, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. – D.L. Chandler
We open up this week’s playlist with Nas, who celebrated his 50th birthday by releasing the potent Magic 3 alongside Hit-Boy and the track “Never Die” featuring a blistering cameo from Lil Wayne (we really need to acknowledge the feature run Tunechi has been on for the past five years). Next up is “Another One Of Me” from Diddy’s newest drop, The Love Album: Off The Grid featuring The Weeknd, French Montana, and noted R&B fan, 21 Savage.
We just informed the HHW nation about Offset’s new joint “Fan” coming from his upcoming album, SET IT OFF. Killer Mike gave his already stellar album MICHEAL the deluxe treatment and the track “YES!” adds to the quality drop.
Drake’s For All The Dogs was slated to come out this Friday but has been delayed yet again. Hopefully, “Slime You Out” featuring SZA will satiate fans of The Boy until October 6. Cardi B connects with Megan Thee Stallion again for the entertaining “Bongos” joint, and the super slept-on EarthGang returns with “Swing” from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 original soundtrack.
The hardworking independent king Russ dropped another dope project in SANTIAGO and we include “Enough” from the joint. Navy Blue, one of Hip-Hop’s most thoughtful writers, gives us a gem in “Dolla.”
Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist connect on the track “The Caliphate” featuring a sorely missed Vince Staples. Speaking of Alchemist, he and Roc Marciano decided to drop a deluxe version of their already solid album, The Elephant Man’s Bones and we added the “Turkey Wings” track.
Anytime we get a chance to add a track to our playlist from Smoke DZA, we do so. The Kushed God connected with Flying Lotus for a potent EP, Flying Objects, and we have “Drug Trade” with the Harlem spitter rocking with Philadelphia bar god, Black Thought.
Salute to all the acts on our playlist which include the likes of Busta Rhymes, Coi Leray, Sexxy Red, REASON, Ray Vaughn (shout out TDE), Yo Gotti, DJ Drama, Rich Homie Quan (we missed the homie), Cordae, Gunna, Doja Cat (on her rap sh*t), Tyga, YG, That Mexican OT, Paul Wall, DRODi, MIKE, Rome Streetz, Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh, Lukah, Kipp Stone, Mick Jenkins, Benny The Butcher, and more.
Check it out below.
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Photo: Getty
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Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
It’s been a minute since we’ve updated CRT FRSH due to Hip-Hop @ 50 taking the lion’s share of our creative time but we’re back to resuming our regular bi-weekly schedule as best we can. This time around, we’re including 25 artists you should know and 25 artists you need to know, keeping in mind that our mission is purely educational at root and aimed at promoting all sides of Hip-Hop at its best.
We began this week’s playlist with Travis Scott and the opening track “HYAENA” from the Texas superstar’s UTOPIA album. We follow with DDG’s “Tryna Link” and FendiDa Rappa’s “Point Me 2” joint with Cardi B on the assist.
Lil Tjay is back on his upward swing with “Hole In My Heart” from his 222 project with Jadakiss lending his perspective with the bars. The first half of the playlist is rounded out with A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, the late King Von, Lil Durk, Blxst, Remble, Bas and J. Cole, Nas, Drake, Central Cee, BIA, Nas, Russ, and more.
For the second half, we highlight the talented Backwood Sweetie, and the Earth delivers the blistering “Couldn’t Cee” with Skip The Kid on the production, coming from her latest EP, Ancestral Aspect. The always formidable Planet Asia connects with Apollo Brown once more to follow up their 2017 Anchovies project with Sardines, and the track “Peas & Onions” is more of their usual magic.
Dame Lillard, better known in the Hip-Hop world as Dame D.O.L.L.A., continues to create music at an extremely high level and the track “Da One” from his album Don D.O.L.L.A. features a standout feature from Lil Wayne. Here at HHW, we’re big Smoke DZA fans and the Kushed God adds to his active 2023 run with the single “Harlem World” featuring Estelle with Flying Lotus on the track.
The playlist concludes with contributions from Mick Jenkins, Stik Figa, Lupe Fiasco, 38 Spesh, Conway The Machine, Lloyd Banks, DJ Muggs, Ghostface Killah, Westside Gunn, Nickelus F, WhatupVERN, Five Steez, Son Raw, Patty Honcho, and more.
Check out the playlist below. We want you to live with these songs a bit so we’ll be updating in two weeks. Stay tuned.
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Photo: Getty
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Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
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Hip-Hop celebrates 50 years of existence on August 11, and the genre continues to expand far beyond its origins in the Bronx into what is now a global phenomenon. To honor the evolution and existence of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Wired compiled a 50-song playlist that we hope captures the best the music and culture has to offer.
Photo: Getty
We’ve been creating playlists for a while now but nothing was as difficult as this one. For starters, we agonized over how to group together 50 songs from over the decades and were frustrated with the fact we had to omit songs from the 1970s. The reason is, the music truly took hold of the world in the early 1980s, as we open up our playlist with one of the greatest songs created in any genre, “The Message” released in 1982.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty
Most historians point to The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” as Hip-Hop’s first music single, while others would say The Fatback Band’s “King Tim III (Personality Jock)” gets the nod. Both tracks were released within months of each other in 1979, laying down the foundation for the MCs that emerged in the following decade.
All throughout the playlist, there will be glaring omissions, regions that didn’t get love, and other points of contention. Trust us, we’re just as upset but we wanted to include 10 songs that we feel captured each decade from the ’80s until now. If we had more time, we probably could have included 50 songs per era but who is willing to sit through that?
Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty
To all of those acts who feel like we missed them, accept our apology and understand this was difficult to compile. We are also at the mercy of the DSP we used to host the playlist as some artists and their catalogs are not available in the digital realm
That said, we’re always honoring the veterans on our site and we pledge to return with a sequel to this playlist later in the month to get to those tracks we surely missed.
Photo: maksim kulikov / Getty
For now, check out our Hip-Hop @ 50 selection of tracks below. If you’re enjoying what you hear, sound off in the comments or via our social media channels.
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Photo: Source: Al Pereira / Getty
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Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
Barack Obama unveiled his annual summer playlist on Thursday afternoon (July 20), sharing his eclectic mix of music recommendations. Upon seeing that Boygenius’ “Not Strong Enough” made the list, the group’s guitarist Lucy Dacus was not thrilled. She took to Twitter to retweet the playlist, writing, “war criminal :(.” While its not entirely clear what incident Dacus […]
HipHopWired Featured Video
What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the time of the listener. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
Yes, we know CRT FRSH is supposed to be a bi-weekly endeavor but sometimes, life gets in the way. That said, we have 50 new, sort of new, and new to you joints for you to enjoy. Check it out.
We open the playlist with Scar Lip’s “This is New York,” one of the hardest songs to emerge in years in any region. We follow that up with “Mr. Gaulden” from YoungBoy Never Broke Again from his latest full-length, Don’t Try This At Home. Teen titan Luh Tyler checks in with his track, “First Show.”
Rising Philly rapper Armani White dropped his new album Road to CASABLANCO., and the remix to his hit song “Billie Eilish” features the talents of Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, and N.O.R.E.
Conway The Machine returns with another stellar full-length in WON’T HE DO IT and among the excellent selection of tracks, we went with “Stab Out” featuring the sharp stylings of Ransom on the helpout. Los Angeles-based rapper YUNGMORPHEUS has dropped some consistently great projects over the past four years and his latest set, From Whence It Came, is possibly his strongest work to date. We feature “Where It Goes” featuring the angelic vocals of Jimetta Rose.
Salute to iann dior, Moneybagg Yo, Sideshow (salute to DC), Kay Anthony, Stik Figa, Planet Asia, billy woods, Kenny Segal, Coi Leray, NLE Choppa, Jae Skeese, Skip The Kid (look out for this producer!), Lupe Fiasco, klwn cat, Backwood Sweetie, and more.
Check out the CRT FRSH playlist below.
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Photo: iantfoto / Getty
Your final year of school is nothing if not an emotional rollercoaster. Excitement, nervousness and at least a hint of sadness are just a few of many emotions that senior students feel as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
Even those who are not part of the class of 2023 can remember all the “lasts”: your last first day, last homecoming game, last spring break, last exam, and finally, the highly-anticipated last day of school. It’s a lot to take in — on top of prom and college decisions for high schoolers and job-hunting for higher ed students. And before even getting a chance to catch your breath, it’s time to bust out the caps and gowns for pomp and circumstance, snatch that diploma you’ve worked so hard to get, say your farewells and, of course, celebrate.
To get the party started, Billboard has rounded up 22 tracks that make great additions to any graduation playlist. From songs written for the purpose of this very moment like Vitamin C’s 2000s era earworm “Graduation (Friends Forever),” to classics like Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” to melancholy yet optimistic numbers like Billie Eilish’s quarantine-era “my future,” to rocking tunes written for those who are wholeheartedly anti-school like Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out,” there’s something on this list that everyone is sure to enjoy. If you don’t have a graduate to celebrate but you wanna take a musical trip down memory lane, these tracks are sure to have you all up in your nostalgic feelings.
Check out these odes to growing up and making new memories below.
Vitamin C, “Graduation (Friends Forever)”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “’Cause we’re moving on and we can’t slow down/ These memories are playing like a film without sound”
Vitamin C’s 2000s era hit is a graduation playlist essential — but be prepared to have the chorus (featuring a sample from Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”) stuck in your head for the next few days. Listen here.
Green Day, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”
Standout lyric: “So take the photographs and still frames in your mind/ Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time”
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong reminds us that everything happens for a reason in his guitar-driven track he originally wrote as a break-up song. But hey — it works great as a toast to great memories, growing up and moving on, too. Listen here.
Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now”
Standout lyric: “I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger/ Defying the laws of gravity”
Nothing is going to stop Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the band’s high-energy hit. Layered with the group’s trademark harmonies and a steady percussive beat, it’s a track that’ll surely make you “wanna have a good time,” too. Listen here.
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Standout lyric: “Turn up the music, turn down the lights/ I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright”
Whether you know the TikTok dance or not, Lizzo’s 2023 Grammy winner for record of the year (and Billboard Hot 100 topper) will have you on your feet and partying all graduation night long. Listen here.
OneRepublic, “Good Life”
Standout lyric: “Hopelessly, I’m taking a mental picture of you now/ ‘Cause hopelessly, the hope is we have/ So much to feel good about”
OneRepublic share a simple but important piece of advice for all recent grads: you do you! Haters come and go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still live your best life. Listen here.
Macklemore feat. Kesha, “Good Old Days”
Standout lyric: “’Cause someday soon, your whole life’s gonna change/ You’ll miss the magic of the good old days”
Graduation is definitely one of life’s biggest events — and Macklemore and Kesha reflect on life’s most precious moments in their mellow yet inspiring pop song. Listen here.
Katy Perry, “Firework”
Standout lyric: “Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed/ So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road”
If you’re not feeling the love despite such a huge accomplishment, Katy Perry’s light-hearterd anthem has got your back. Listen here.
Kid Cudi, “Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)”
Standout lyric: “People told me slow my roll, I’m screaming out “F—k that”/ I’ma do just what I want, looking ahead, no turning back”
This pop-influenced hip-hop track off Kid Cudi’s debut album cautiously strives to set you up for continued success — but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter hurdles along the way. Listen here.
fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Standout lyric: “So let’s set the world on fire/ We can burn brighter/ Than the sun”
It sounds like “fun.” is exactly what the pop-rock band is having in their anthemic hit about memories and growing up with a feature from Janelle Monae. Listen here.
Billie Eilish, “my future”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “Know I’m supposed to be unhappy/ Without someone (someone)/ But aren’t I someone?”
A track that starts as a somber, introspective ode to Billie Eilish’s past turns into a funky, optimistic look at her future. Listen here.
Bill Withers, “Lovely Day”
Standout lyric: “When the day that lies ahead of me/ Seems impossible to face”
We’ve all had those days where we just can’t keep it 100. But Bill Withers’ groovy anthem is sure to get you out of whatever rut you may be in. Listen here.
Post Malone feat. Quavo, “Congratulations”
Standout lyric: “I was patient/ Now I can scream that we made it (We made it)”
Manifesting success is the theme of Post Malone and Quavo’s celebratory track. Which exactly the energy all new grads deserve. Listen here.
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, “Moment 4 Life”
Standout lyric: “No, I’m not lucky, I’m blessed, yes/ Clap for the heavyweight champ, me/ But I couldn’t do it all alone, we”
Despite being the biggest names in rap, Nicki Minaj and Drake aren’t letting fame get to their heads. The duo shouts out everyone that helped them get to where they are in their celebratory collaboration. Listen here.
Taylor Swift, “Long Live”
Standout lyric: “You held your head like a hero/ On a history book page/ It was the end of a decade/ But the start of an age”
Taylor Swift reflects on the best of memories in her Speak Now closer. Though she’s likely singing about the success of Fearless (award wins and world tour), the lyrics will hit close to home for graduates, too. Listen here.
Kool & The Gang, “Celebration”
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Standout lyric: “So bring your good times and your laughter too/ We gonna celebrate your party with you”
Because what good is any party playlist without this classic? Listen here.
Maroon 5, “Memories”
Standout lyric: “There’s a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain/ When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same”
Maroon 5’s nostalgic number won’t just be on your graduation party playlist — it’ll be on your 10-year reunion mix, too. The question remains: What memories will you keep talking for years to come? Listen here.
Lorde, “Ribs”
Standout lyric: “This dream isn’t feeling sweet/ We’re reeling through the midnight streets/ And I’ve never felt more alone/ It feels so scary, getting old”
Though the lyrics aren’t necessary celebratory or even nostalgic, Lorde perfectly captures the fear that comes with growing up in this fan-favorite Pure Heroine track. Listen here.
Benny Blanco and Juice WRLD, “Graduation”
Standout lyric: “What I didn’t know was this grown-up world (This grown-up world)/ Was just school in a blown-up world (This blown-up world)”
Benny Blanco and Juice WRLD create an upbeat, yet slightly bitter take on Vitamin D’s early 2000’s track by the same name (which also appears on this list). Listen here.
Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow, “INDUSTRY BABY”
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Standout lyric: “Turned my haters to consumers, I make vets feel like they juniors”
This one is for the champions (graduates)! Complete with a marching band, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow take you back to high school in their enigmatic collaboration. Listen here.
Alice Cooper, “School’s Out”
Standout lyric: “Well, we got no class/ And we got no principles/ And we got no innocence”
Alice Cooper’s smash opener to their School’s Out album is a dedication to those who maybe didn’t have the best experience in school, and are just grateful to get outta there. Listen here.
Panic! At The Disco, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”
Standout lyric: “In the garden of evil/ I’m gonna be the greatest/ In a golden cathedral/ I’ll be praying for the faithless”
Panic! At The Disco frontman Brandon Urie sings about the ups and downs of the fame train in his upbeat banger. Listen here.
SZA, “Prom”
Standout lyric: “Promise to get a little/ Better as I get older/ And you’re so patient/ And sick of waitin’”
SZA’s thoughtful yet far from mellow ode to growing up serves as a piece of advice for everyone entering adulthood: it’s okay if you don’t have it all together. Listen here.
Kanye West and T-Pain, “Good Life”
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Standout lyric: “The good life, let’s go on a living spree/ S—t, they say the best things in life are free”
Throw your hands up in the sky! Kanye West subtly samples Michael Jackson in his vibey collaboration with T-Pain off his aptly titled Graduation album. Listen here.