The Fourth of July weekend is upon us. And as you’re putting the finishing touches on your cookout menu, you can’t forget to make sure your playlist is on point. The right music can make or break your BBQ, and can mean the difference between a festival worthy of fireworks and one that’s over before the sun goes down.
When I’m not writing, I DJ, so I take my music seriously. But I’m also over 40, which means I have a special place in my heart for music from the 80s and 90s (sorry, Doja Cat). If you need a little inspiration, check out our ultimate BBQ playlist that will have everyone at your cookout from 8 to 80 dancing non stop. And if you think there’s a song we missed, be sure to let us know what’s on your cookout playlist in the comment section.
Frankie Beverly & Maze – “Before I Let Go”
No disrespect to Queen Bey. She slayed her version of “Before I Let Go,” which she dropped as a bonus track on her “Homecoming” live album. But when you’re putting your cookout playlist together, ain’t nothing like the real thing. Although Frankie Beverly & Maze’s 1981 hit is all about breaking up, I just can’t help but smile and dance as soon as the first beat drops.
Marvin Gaye – “Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1)”
Marvin Gaye released “Got to Give it Up’’ in 1977. But the song was back in the news in 2018 when after a five-year legal battle, Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were ordered to pay $5 million to Marvin Gaye’s estate in a copyright infringement suit. The family claimed Thicke’s hit, “Blurred Lines” took a little too much inspiration from Gaye’s song. But who could blame them? Everything about this song, from Marvin Gaye’s falsetto to the milk bottle percussion in the background, is perfection.
Mary J Blige – “Family Affair”
When Mary J Blige and Dr. Dre get together you can only expect that the product will be something that makes you want to dance. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul blessed us with “Family Affair” in 2011 on her “No More Drama” album. And when she performed the hit at the 2022 Super Bowl, she proved that it is definitely a banger that can stand the test of time.
Alicia Myers – “I Want to Thank You”
No party playlist is complete without “I Want to Thank You,” Alicia Myers’ 1981 hit. In the song, she’s thanking the Lord for sending her true love. And you’ll want to thank her for blessing us with this timeless classic that is sure to be a favorite of any lover of house, disco, or R&B.
Jagged Edge ft. Nelly – “Where the Party At”
Jagged Edge is known for their love songs like “Let’s Get Married” and “Promise,” but they proved that they also know how to make people dance with “Where the Party At,” the 2001 Jermaine Dupri-produced track featuring Nelly. “If the party’s where you’re at then let me know.”
Zhané – “Hey Mr. DJ”
The ‘90s introduced us to some amazing R&B girl groups, and Zhané is no exception. “Hey Mr. DJ” was the duo’s debut single and one of the hottest tracks on their 1994 album “Pronounced Jah-Nay.” The song soared to the top of the R&B and Dance charts and had all of us wanting the DJ to keep playing that song “on and on and on.”
Ghost Town DJs – “My Boo”
Ghost Town DJs’ “My Boo” was a hit when it first dropped in 1996, reaching #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. But a viral “Running Man Dance Challenge” breathed new life into the song in 2016 and sent the song up the charts to the #29 spot.
Beyoncé – “Break My Soul”
As a true-blue house head, I don’t know if I can agree with the internet’s claim that Queen Bey resurrected house music with her latest track, “Break My Soul.” But that’s only because I don’t think the genre needed resurrecting in the first place. But I will admit that the house-inspired track is an undeniable banger that you can’t help but dance to.
Donell Jones ft. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – “U Know What’s Up”
If you were clubbing in the late ‘90s, you already know what’s up. This Donell Jones classic was a go-to when I was getting ready to hit the streets with my girls. And when Left Eye’s verse drops, it’s hard not to dance.
Roy Ayers – “Running Away”
Where this often-sampled disco track lacks in lyrics, it totally makes up for in funkiness. If you’re looking to burn some calories after eating all of that Fourth of July food, this nearly seven-minute track will help you break a serious sweat.
Faith Evans – “Love Like This”
Faith Evans’ “Love Like This” samples the unmistakably dope baseline of Chic’s “Chic Cheer.” Her 1998 hit is an R&B classic everyone can get down with.
Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – “It Takes Two”
You may not have been around when Lyn Collins’ 1972 single “Think (About It)” was released. But we can all agree that Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two” did it justice with the sample.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – “Summertime”
It’s easy to forget that Will Smith was a rapper long before he became an A-list actor. But “Summertime” will remind you that the guy actually has bars. The song, which samples Kool & The Gang’s “Summer Madness,” won them a GRAMMY for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1991 and has been a cookout classic ever since.
Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”
Your cookout may be in July, but Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1978 hit “September” is a classic disco track your guests will love.
Teena Marie – “Square Biz”
Teena Marie may have been white, but she had a standing invitation to the cookout. And her hit, “Square Biz,” is a timeless classic that should be on every party playlist. “When I first auditioned her she was so awesome she blew me away,” Berry Gordy said after her passing in 2010. “She had so much soul — the only thing white about her was her skin.”
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