Parsons Playlists: Sounds Like Summer 2.0 – Afrobeats & Amapiano

Posted on April 21, 2026 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Laeticia (class of 2026) and features some Afrobeats and Amapiano tracks for your summer enjoyment!

Sounds Like Summer 2.0: Afrobeats & Amapiano

Spring is here, and honestly, my mind is already somewhere warm. I’m thinking picture-perfect weather, good vibes, and even better company. This time of year always has me reminiscing on my favorite summers, the kind filled with just the right mix of heat, laughter, and music that makes every moment feel like a movie scene. That music, for me, has always been Afrobeats and Amapiano.

If you haven’t been fully introduced to the world of African music yet, let me be the one to do it. Afrobeats and Amapiano have taken over dance floors, rooftops, and radio stations across the globe, and they deserve just as much shine here on campus. These genres are cultural, joyful, and layered with history, movement, and feeling. There is a richness to this music that goes beyond the beat, and once it gets into you, it doesn’t leave.

We’re deep in one of the most demanding stretches of the semester, and what better way to push through than with music that refuses to let the energy drop? I have put together the ultimate Afrobeats and Amapiano playlist filled with songs that carry that warm-weather feeling no matter what the forecast says. Think of this as your early introduction to the soundtrack of your summer. Every track on this list is one you will hear at a function, and you will want to know every word when that moment hits.

So consider this your invitation into the world of Afrobeats and Amapiano, and thank me later!

Cizo ft. Thukuthela, Jazzworx, Omah Lay, & Tems – “Isaka II (6am)”

Odeal – “London Summers”

Wizkid ft. Tems – “Essence”

NO11 ft. Ajah Bobo – “How Far”

TxC ft. Davido, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan & Al Xapo – “Nakupenda”

Seyi Vibez – “How Are You”

Wizkid ft. Asake – “Jogodo”

Asake – “Terminator”

Mavo ft. Ayra Starr & Shallipopi – “Escaladizzy II”

Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You”

Uncle Waffles & Tony Duardo ft. Sina Msolo & Boibizza – “Tanzania”

Burna Boy – “Anybody”

Darkoo ft. Dess Dior & Rema – “Favorite Girl”

Rema – “Charm”

Pcee & Justin99 – “Kilimanjaro”

Shakes & Les ft. Lee Mckrazy – “Funk 99”

Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Ami Faku – “Abalele”

Mshayi ft. Mr. Thela & T-Man – “iParty”

Mid9t ft. Officixl Rsa – “Banyana”

Tyler ICU ft. LeeMcKrazy, Tman Xpress, Visca, Ceeka RSA, Sjavasdadeejayj & Al Xapo – “Ebasini”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

Arachnophonia: Kaytranada “BUBBA”

Posted on November 24, 2025 by marmstr3

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Laeticia (class of 2026) and features Kaytranada’s 2019 album BUBBA on vinyl. Thanks, Laeticia!

Kaytranada
BUBBA

Kaytranada - BUBBA

Why Kaytranada’s BUBBA Deserves A Spot in Every Vinyl Collection

If you’re into groove therapy or just love music that makes you move without even trying, then Kaytranada’s BUBBA deserves a spot on your shelf.

Kaytranada, whose real name is Louis Kevin Celestin, is a Haitian-Canadian DJ and producer from Montreal. His music mixes electronic, funk, R&B, and house in a way that just makes you feel good. He started making beats in his bedroom and built his name by creating songs that are perfect for summer nights, long drives, and heating up a dance floor, all at once.

His album BUBBA is one of those projects that instantly lifts your mood. This album feels like movement. It’s vibrant, warm, and effortlessly smooth with every song rolling into the next like a perfect DJ set. It’s full of songs that make you want to move, but also just chill and listen at the same time. I think “10%” is probably the song most people know, but tracks like “What You Need” and “Midsection” are just as catchy. What I love most is how the album strikes a balance between dance floor energy and deep reflection. It really just vibes.

Now, let’s talk vinyl. The BUBBA vinyl isn’t your regular spin, it’s an immersive experience. It sounds warm and alive, like you’re right there in the studio. Kaytranada is known for being open about who contributes to each track, giving the record a sense of collaboration that’s rare in electronic music. Plus, if you’re into samples, you’ll have fun figuring out where some of his sounds come from. If you’re curious about who he works with or which classic tracks he’s flipped into his own, the vinyl cover breaks it all down. It even includes a poster that ties the whole aesthetic together.

The mood of BUBBA is pure good energy. It’s perfect for when you’re just chilling, getting ready, or turning a lazy Sunday cleaning session into a mini dance break. It’s for anyone who loves music that moves with purpose and personality. If your vinyl shelf doesn’t have Kaytranada yet, it’s time to make some space because BUBBA doesn’t just play, it feels alive.

Arachnophonia: House Music

Posted on April 22, 2025 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog records for the items in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features various electronic resources having to do with house music. Thanks, Nikoloz!

House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago’s underground club culture during the early to mid-1980s. Pioneered by DJs and producers like Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and Marshall Jefferson, house evolved from disco by incorporating a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat, typically at 120–130 BPM, and mechanical rhythms created using drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. The genre is characterized by deep basslines, synthesizer riffs, and off-beat hi-hats, claps, or snares, often layered with sampled vocals or instrumental loops from disco, soul, or funk. House music gained mainstream popularity by the late 1980s, influencing pop artists like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Lady Gaga, and producing hits such as “Pump Up the Jam” and “Show Me Love.” Its production relied on affordable electronic equipment, making it accessible to independent creators, and its structure typically features repetitive eight-bar sections, slowly building layers of sound and texture.

House music encompasses a wide range of subgenres, including acid house, defined by the squelchy sounds of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. Tracks often include minimal vocals, with repeated phrases or words, and are structured around intros, choruses, and outros, with longer 12-inch mixes for clubs and shorter radio edits. The genre emphasizes the lower-pitched bass register, creating a sparse yet rhythmic texture. House music’s global influence expanded from Chicago to New York, London, and beyond, becoming a staple in both mainstream and underground scenes. Its legacy continues through its impact on dance music, its presence in clubs and on radio, and its role in shaping modern pop and electronic music.

Some of the electronic resources featuring house music that the Music Library has access to include:

Streaming albums (like this one) via Alexander Street

Encyclopedia articles with bibliographies to help you start your research (like this one on house from Grove Music Online)

If you’d like to learn more about House music, the Music Library also boasts a wide variety of books, CDs, and more! You can use OneSearch to locate our holdings.

Parsons Playlists: Karol G

Posted on February 26, 2024 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Luis (class of 2025) and features music by Columbian singer Karol G.

Karol G

Carolina Giraldo Navarro, better known as KAROL G, is a Latin artist from Medellin, Colombia who has been rising in the music industry as of late. She just won her first Grammy this year and is only continuing to rise in the charts. I have been listening to her a lot recently and wanted to share some of my favorite songs.

Karol G and Peso Pluma – “QLONA”

Karol G – “Amargura”

Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenia Razon”

Karol G and Shakira – “TQG”

Karol G – “Oki Doki”

Karol G – “S91”

Karol G – “Provenza”

Karol G and Maldy – “Gatúbela”

Karol G – “200 Copas”

Karol G and Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”

Karol G – “Bichota”

Karol G feat. Aldo Ranks – “Watati”