Photo: : wundervisuals (Getty Images).
The keys to a good July 4th party are good food, cold beer and a banging playlist. Even the best party hosts often overlook the music aspect, simply programming a pre-fixed Fourth of July playlist where the music is a backdrop. Sorry, but no one wants to hear Bruce Springsteenâs âBorn in the USA,â except uncle Teddy and heâs been passed out on the couch after his fourth hot dog.
Luckily for you and us (if weâre invited to your rager â hint, hint), the music world has gifted us with some hot as a Brooklyn rooftop summer jams. Craveâs weekly New Music Playlist for this holiday weekend is like a good Fourth of July spread, offering a lilâ sumptinâ sumptinâ for everyone from the likes of DJ Khaled, Zhu, and J. Balvin.Â
Dj Khaled â âI Got The KeysâÂ
In case you forgot that the Snapchat kingâs day job was as a hit-making producer, the social media philosopher reminded everyone at Sundayâs BET show when he debuted his latest off his upcoming album, âMajor Keyâ (out July 29). DJ Khaledâs bouncy track, only available on Tidal and iTunes (as of now) featuring Jay-Z and Future is fire, so light up the barbecue, hit play and get the party started.
J Balvin â âSafariâ featuring Pharrell & Biaâ
Colombian-born J Balvin is the latest find from Pharrell, who lends his falsetto (in Spanish!) to the reggaeton singerâs first single off his recently released Energia album. Skateboard P has done it again with a head-nodding beat drop that sets up a Tango like back-and-forth as Balvinâs smooth vocals grind up against Biaâs fiery raps. I got five on it that you will get a couple more âplay it againâsâ cause this track is more addicting than chips and guacamole.
Zhu â âGeneration Whyâ
Impress your party peeps when they roll in with this song of summer contender that is sure to turn up the heat. Dance musicâs mystery man has been teasing us with his upcoming second album (out July 29th) since Spring when he made a rare live appearance at Coachellaâs infamous Sahara Tent. This sure to please single will arouse the crowd with Zhuâs trademark sex-ed up grooves, provocative â80s guitar solos and bikini-top dropping ear whispers.
Sofi Tukker â âDrinkeeâ
Fourth of July is basically an all day/night drinking party so why not just play this song on loop? The irresistible single off the New York indie dance music duoâs soon to be released album (Soft Animals coming out July 7) has been on my personal playlist for months, but the recently released video made me fall in love with it all over again. You may not know what the hell sexpot Sophie Hawley Weld is singing in Portuguese, but we all know what âdrinkeeâ means.Â
Red Hot Chili Peppers â âEncoreâ
As the sun sets on the party, the pink-skinned and the dry-mouthed are going to be looking to wind down before the epic fireworks show. This pretty ditty from Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and company off their latest comeback album has an easy breezy SoCal vibe that evokes the Beatles (thanks to production by Danger Mouse), which will please everyone, especially Uncle Ted.
Kygo â âIâm In Loveâ featuring James Vincent McMorrow
The reigning king of tropical house (yes, itâs a thing), but doesnât have the same ring as âKing of the Northâ (sorry, Game of Thrones spoiler), but The Norwegian music multi-hyphenateâs latest single featuring Irish crooner James Vincent McMorrow has the epic romantic feel of a lyrical and melodic fireworks show that builds, flows and finally explodes before drifting off into the night.
Riff Raff â âOnly In Americaâ
 We donât live in Kid Rockâs âAmerican Badassâ era no more (thank you very much). No, todayâs âMerica is more like Riff Raffâs, whose âOnly In Americaâ banger starts off with Martin Luther Kingâs iconic âI have a dreamâ speech thatâs countered with the trap rapperâs âI Sip Codeineâ response. The song is hilarious with a WTF âOnly Americans Eat Duck Sauceâ chorus, but the former MTV Gâs to Gents star does manage to drop Harmony Korine-esque philosophyâs in-between the beats âChildren growing up to be professional Snapchatters, Even substitute teachers, these days is battle rappers.â This is strictly a late night jam that will either clear the house of stragglers or keep the party going until dawn.