A few ingredients are needed to have a memorable cookout: family, friends and bonafide members of the diaspora in attendance. And there’s the menu so good your paper plate is dripping because you’ve returned for seconds…twice. But baby, if the cookout ain’t got the right tunes, we all might as well stay home.
The cookout has always been a space for Black people to gather and fellowship. Through song, dance and fun activities played with cherished loved ones, we honor the legacy of our ancestors who rarely got the chance to convene freely in such a manner. The right beats set the tone and vibe of the day.
Who better to curate a summer cookout playlist than musical artists themselves? So we asked them what artists and songs we should crank up to keep us bopping in our folding chairs and which of their songs should be in rotation all summer long.
Estelle
Estelle. Image: Keith Major.
“The song ‘Cold Crush’ from my third studio album, All of Me, is my summer jam right now,” Estelle says. “It’s got that perfect laid-back vibe, making me want to grab my skates and have an amazing time with my friends and extended community.” She’s also turning up Channel Tres’ and Fana Hues’ new albums at the cookout. “Both projects capture the essence of summer,” she exclaims, “perfect for riding out with the top down, enjoying grass under your feet in someone’s backyard or dancing at a day parties like Black Market Flea or Everyday People.”
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean. Image: John Parra/Getty Images for Carbone Beach.
We already know that “Fu-Gee-La,” dropped by the reuniting Fugees back in 1995, is a staple for the cookout. But Wyclef Jean suggests putting another iconic track in rotation as the burgers sizzle on the grill. “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, he tells EBONY. It’s a classic that puts a chill vibe in the air on a hot summer night.
Ashlie Amber
Ashlie Amber. Image: John Joseph.
The country artist’s latest single, “Dive Bar Baby,” is “fun, sassy, and packed with all the girl power vibes,” the country artist exclaims. As for her favorite cookout songs from other artists: “Tanner Adell’s ‘Do-Si-Don’tcha,’ Kane Brown’s ‘Miles On It’ and Willie Jones’ ‘Down By The Riverside’ are just a few to rock on the playlist this summer!”
Victony
The Nigerian rapper and singer’s own song for the cookout might seem a little spicy, but it’s for a good reason. “It’s ‘B#$%&@d Don’t Be Silly’ because it’s a catchy phrase and it’s something everyone can relate with,” Victony says. “I mean, we can all relate to calling out someone who’s trying to be silly.” Victony’s “playing “a lot of Saint Jhn,” who is featured on his debut album Soweto, around the grill.
Amaarae
Amaarae at CIROC Limonata Summer Solstice Yacht Party in Miami. Image: Loamis Media.
Amaarae is all about her hit “Princess Going Digital” for our outdoor festivities. “I think it’s everyone’s summer anthem, TBH,” the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter declares. As she sits back with a glass of CÎROC Limonata Spritz, Amaarae will have Normani on the line. “She has some jams on her new album,” she says. “I’d play a few of them at the cookout.
Felix Ames
Felix Ames. Image: Melchizedek Gayle.
“The lead single, ‘I’ve Seen Heaven’ from my new EP Feel the Past, See the Future, has to be my go-to cookout song,” the soul artist says. “My perfect cookout playlist has a wide range of emotions with soul music in the forefront. I’d also play ‘Mr. Weatherman’ right as the grill gets fired up, and the aunties start hitting that little two-step. Aunties love Felix!”
