#playlist

The Ultimate Lifting List

Kelsey Donahue

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year…midterms! Sike. It’s a miserable, dreary time. Long nights of studying and binge eating weird foods because you don’t have time to grocery shop (Not speaking out of personal experience or anything…). Anyways, everyone has their form of stress relief, whether it be watching Netflix or venting to a close friend. My stress relief drug of choice is hitting the gym. No gym trip is complete without a pair of headphones on full volume.

This playlist is 58 minutes in length, the maximum time that my lifting workouts ever last. Whatever workout regimen you follow, it’s always good to have some motivating music on in the background.

  1. A** Back Home- Secrets

This is a screamo remake of a Gym Class Heroes Song. It may surprise you how much a little bit of screaming can pump you up. This is the perfect song to start off your workout.

  1. Tom Ford- Jay-Z
  2. No Mediocre- T.I., Iggy Azalea
  3. You See Me- Childish Gambino
  4. Switch Lanes- Tyga, The Game

You may recognize the name Tyga because he has a minor role on a majorly popular reality television show. His talent is minimal, in all aspects, but this song is one of the few good ones.

  1. Headband- B.o.B, 2 Chainz

I am not going to claim that I have the credibility to make this statement, but this is a true hip-hop gold mine of a song.

  1. I Don’t F**k With You- Big Sean, E-40

Aside from being a great song to squat to, “I Don’t F**k With You” is a great study song. I know that sounds strange, but trust me. This song was the sole reason I got through finals freshman year.

  1. Otis- Jay Z, Kanye West
  2. All Gold Everything- Trinidad James
  3. R.I.P.- Jeezy, 2 Chainz
  4. No Hands- Waka Flocka Flame

This song takes me back to early high school. Pick up those free weights and stare at yourself in the mirror for a second and reflect on that dorky person that you used to be (Again, not talking out of personal experience…). Please don’t be that person that stares too long though.

  1. Gas Pedal- Sage the Gemini
  2. Fancy- Drake

I tend to try and ignore the sexist undertones that are evident in almost every hip hop song, but this one’s a little less sexist and a little more independent women. Although I wouldn’t exactly throw a Drake song in the pile of female empowerment anthems, “Fancy” does make being one of eight girls in the non-cardio part of the gym a little less annoying.

  1. Gold Digger- Kanye West, Jamie Foxx
  2. Ayy Ladies- Travis Porter, Tyga
  3. Lean On- Major Lazer

At the end of your workout it’s always good to slow down the pace a bit to match your plummeting heart rate. “Lean On” does just that, at least in comparison to the other songs on this list.


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No matter your form of midterm stress relief, it’s a guarantee that this playlist will at least provide a little escape from the madness.

You can access my Spotify playlist here! IMG_6546See you at the gym! 😉

Are you ready to turn up for this hip-hop playlist?

Maria del Carmen Huerta

San Diego is known for its beautiful weather. However, this year this city is currently experiencing summer in February. If this is of any concern to us San Diegans one thing is certain, the music this year is getting hotter and hotter. Summer can you be here all ready! I recently discovered Rdio from a fellow KCR College Radio DJ Adriana Arce, and this website has given me the opportunity to explore my musical tastes, set up my “To Be Continued Future Summer” hip-hop playlist and most importantly share this playlist with you.

Any playlist that incorporates songs that I can dance or study to are a must. I would like to point out that this is the first playlist I publish. This week I wanted to stay away from the usual concert preview and do a lighter piece for Carmen’s Hip-Hop Weekly. Aztecs feeling the heat this February need a playlist that can set the stage for spring break and summer.

The inspiration behind this playlist was the desire for warm weather, less clothing and to bring back the ecstasy of those great summer nights. Let’s begin shall we.

These 10 songs should be on everyones playlist this year as the weather begins to warm up and the parties begin to pop off. Aztecs, if you are looking forward to summer just like me, here are some great songs to have at your disposal this week.

Carmen’s Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs to Pop Off this Week:

1. PWD- Pop It For A Player ft. E40, The Game, Tech N9ne, Ryan Bowsers & Ryan Anthony (Official Remix)

2. Sean Paul ft. Damian Marley-Riot

3. Naughty Boy- Think About It ft. Wiz Khalifa, Ella Eyre

4. Schoolboy Q- Man of the Year

5. DJ Holiday “Miley” Ft. Wiz Khalifa & Waka Flocka

6. Pretty Tony- Pull Up ft. Que

7. Sean Paul- Pornstar ft. Nyla

8. Young L- What I Live By

9. Sean Paul ft. Juicy J & 2 Chainz- Entertainment

10. Wiz Khalifa- Taylor Gang

I hope my “To Be Continued Future Summer” hip-hop playlist serves you well. I know it definitely helped me shake off some of the February blues. Now, here is to hoping that the weather continues to cater to San Diego because I’m ready for that spark this year. If you enjoyed my playlist please feel free to comment below!

Make sure to also tune in to my show #STATEPROBLEMS every Friday from 10-11 a.m. on KCR College Radio with my beautiful co-host @salas_jocelyn as we showcase SDSU professors and students doing big things around campus this semester. If you have any recommendations for upcoming stories or would like to be featured on Carmen’s Hip-Hop Weekly feel free to email me at carmenhuerta2011@gmail.com or Tweet me @MadelCamHuerta with the hashtag #CarmenDoIt

Photo by terencechisholm /CC by