The Fourth is a time for grilling, but the music is just as key as the meat. This is even more important when you’re spending mad time bouncing to different barbeques—I went down to Rhode Island for a few days and then headed up to Maine, so quality cruising tunes were a must.
That’s where Jazzy Jeff comes in.
Recently, I stumbled upon a free SiriusXM subscription. It’s been dope so far, but this weekend took it to another level. After hearing Jazz and Mick Boogie’s Summertime (Volume 4) mixtape on Backspin, I’ve never been so happy to have left regular radio in the rear-view. This shit is fire, perfect for warm weather parties or anytime you want the vibe of an eclectically ill barbeque. I could play this in January and feel like I was in the islands or the Playboy grotto.
The beauty is in the scope. Jeff seamlessly sandwiches Hall & Oates between Smif-N-Wessun and Ma$e. He randomly drops Oasis and Smash Mouth, but then comes back with Little Brother or Souls of Mischief in the next breath. The one thing that’s consistent throughout is the sunny, stony vibe.
My moment of Zen is when I’m driving—cruise control on, sunroof open—and I lose track of time and traffic. Spliffs help, but they can only go so far. When the perfect music comes in, there are few things that can fuck with that feeling.
Jazzy Jeff took me to that place several times throughout the weekend, as I caught different parts of this mix. Thankfully, you can stream or download it to take that feeling wherever—the barbeque is now all around us, even on a mundane Monday.
The end is stupid. From “Cutie Pie” to Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman,” Jeff and Mick get on some sublime shit. They never fake the funk, especially when it’s a national holiday and a legacy of summer jams is on the line.