Workout Playlist Song #7: The Dean's List "La Vie (The Life)"

The Dean's List "La Vie (The Life)"

If you've been paying attention to the extra songs at the end of each of this month's posts, you may have noticed The Dean's List pop up a few times. It's a group that was recommended to me by a friend way back in high school. "The Drive In" mixtape was one that I considered "hot fire" back in those days, and would still argue for the same description today. This mixtape was available on Datpiff, but I don't see it available there anymore. This rap group that was based out of Boston put out some great beats with solid flows to go with it. "La Vie" follows that pattern, and creates something that's easy to workout to if you need something to get yourself going. I highly recommend it to you if you can find it (maybe on Spotify or iTunes) as well as many other songs off this mixtape.

Lyrics to "La Vie (The Life)"

End of Workout

I See Stars "Ten Thousand Feet"

Transition

Desiigner "Panda"

Cooldown

Wolfgang Gartner ft. Jim Jones & Cam'ron "Circus Freaks"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang"

Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang"

Straight Outta Compton is a biographical film about the rap group N.W.A. The film was produced with help from the original members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, as well as the widow of Eazy-E. It also inspired Dr. Dre's third album which came in at #2 on the Billboard 200 a week before the release of the film. The soundtrack was comprised mostly of songs from the group itself, as well as songs by members of the group after they had gone solo. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200 chart, and topped the Billboard charts for soundtracks, R&B/Hip Hop Albums and Rap Albums. Today's song was off of Dr. Dre's first solo album, released in 1992. It was the most successful track off the album, as it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100, while also reaching the top spots of both the R&B/Hip Hop and Rap songs charts. It also finished the year end chart for 1993 at #11. N.W.A. produced some great early hip hop both as a group and as individual artists. Hopefully you'll take some time to enjoy today's selection as well as explore some of the rest of the great music they gave us. 

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" 

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Pray For Me"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "PRAY FOR ME"

The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar "Pray For Me"

While Black Panther is not that far removed from being in theaters, it received massive acclaim during its time there. It is currently the highest grossing film of the year, and is both the third highest grossing film of all time in the U.S. and tenth highest grossing film of all time. The soundtrack has been just as successful thus far. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and remained in the top spot during its second week as well. Kendrick Lamar was chosen by director Kevin Coogler to create the soundtrack because "his artistic themes align with those we explore in the film." The soundtrack has three singles that have entered into the top 25 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, including today's selection, which reached its peak at #7. I personally don't think the song is done peaking, as I believe it will continue to be widely popular well into the summer. I also wouldn't be surprised to see another song or two from this soundtrack take off. Time will tell, but given the combination of a blockbuster movie with a few hit singles, I am confident both the film and the soundtrack will remain high on the charts for years to come.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Pray For Me"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Pump It Up"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "PUMP IT UP"

Joe Budden "Pump It Up"

I am probably one of the biggest fans of the Fast and Furious series. I know there are some out there who think it's full of pointless action scenes involving cars, guns and fighting. And, while the newer movies seem to have gone that way, it doesn't make me like them any less. My favorite move in the whole series, which I always feel may be the best one in the whole series, is 2 Fast 2 Furious. It is from that soundtrack that we get "Pump It Up." This was the first movie in the series that featured Ludacris, and it was his label that had a big influence on the music selection for this soundtrack. Luda had a few songs that he put on it, including his hit "Act A Fool," but it really seemed to be Joe Budden's track that really took off. The soundtrack was certified gold in 2003, and reached #5 on Billboard's Top 200. "Pump It Up" has also been featured in a few other movies, as well as Madden 2004. It was one of my personal pump up songs (how fitting) for listening before athletic events. I will warn you that there are some explicit lyrics, but I hope you enjoy today's selection.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as the track list, click here


Lyrics to "Pump It Up"  

Day 21: One Of Your Favorite Songs That Has a Person's Name

DAY 21: ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS THAT HAS A PERSON'S NAME

OutKast "Ms. Jackson"

"Ms. Jackson" is arguably one of the best songs of the 2000s. It never gets old to listen to, and you can't help but sing along when you hear it. This is another song that I grew up listening to through my sister. It was one she played on repeat quite a bit. I encourage you to watch the music video, as I think it is also really well done. I love the periods where the animals get in on the singing action. I could honestly sit here and rave all day about how much I love this song. But, to keep it simple, this is a classic song, from a group that gave us a few great early 2000s songs. Enjoy!

Day 7: A Song to Drive to

DAY 7: A SONG TO DRIVE TO

Eminem "Lose Yourself"

This topic was a little difficult for me for the simple fact that if I like a song, I've probably driven to it before. I still live in the past in the sense that I love making and listening to CDs in the car. So, as I build playlists, I play DJ with my own music and make what I personally think are great mixes. Anyway, we drive to songs for lots of different reasons. It could be that we're upset, and we blow off steam by cruising around and blaring some heavy rock. Sometimes, we're sad and we just need to drive and sing the latest break up song. Today's pick is another one of those songs that I can almost guarantee has been driven to plenty of times. "Lose Yourself" is a classic song that comes from the movie 8 Mile, which is a profile of Eminem as he grows up in Detroit. It's arguably his most popular song of all time. This song is used for all sorts of purposes: maybe on a workout playlist or as a pump up song before a big game or presentation. Regardless, I'd bet that when "Lose Yourself" comes on the radio, you and all your friends can immediately rap all the words.