I’d like to note that sometimes there is language used in these songs that may be perceived a certain way by different audiences. Specifically, with Hip Hop, harsher language may be used to express the reality of the message in the song. We’ve done our best to provide ‘clean’ versions of these songs, but it’s important to understand that the purpose of explicit language is often to emphasize the rawness of the message the artist is sharing. Additionally, many artists are using the vernacular of the culture they grew up around–it is not meant to be offensive, rather, the artist is portraying more vulnerability by speaking in his or her real voice.

We hope you find this playlist both educational and fun to listen to! We had a ball putting together some of our favorite classics and plan to jam in the lobby, on Zoom, and in our cars. Get into the vibes with us!

-Written by Aubrey Lawrence
Office Manager, Sunburst School of Music