I’m seeing light at the end of this Covid-19 pandemic tunnel. Cases are going down across the country and my family and friends are all getting vaccinated so this is all great news! I get my first vaccination this afternoon and then have my second one scheduled for late April. And then when May comes around? I’m going to be driving to all of my homies’ pads with my youngster right alongside of me. Windows down, stereo blasting, big ole smile on my face. My whole crew of friends haven’t kicked in a minute.
Through this year of lockdown I’ve learned to better appreciate my family and friends because they are with me through the thick and the thin. I’ve seen family and friendship bonds grow stronger during this quarantine and I’m confident we’re going to come out of this as better people. During the past year, I’ve been putting together a playlist that pulls together all of my favorite rap songs that have a family and/or friendship theme.
Below are a few videos and then I’ll get you to the playlist. Music to bump to think of your homies. Hope you enjoy!
Lil Wayne “I Miss My Dawgs”
Weezy was 21 or 22 when he wrote this and it was his ode to the Hot Boys crew. They were no longer a group but the love was obviously there through the lyrics in the song. Each of Wayne’s verses is for a different member of the Hot Boys. Love this track.
2. Tupac “Neva Had a Friend Like Me”
This is a slept on 2Pac track which was on the Gridlock’d soundtrack. Johnny J was on production and the beat is the perfect foundation for Tupac Shakur to drop his lyrics on why you’ve never had a friend like Pac. RIP Pac!
3. Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar “Hood Gone Love It”
Classic TDE shit right here with Jay Rock and Kendrick rapping over a great J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League beat. It has a solid chorus, along with dope verses from both Jay Rock and K Dot. This song means a lot to me. I have love for my hood and still keep in close contact with all my day ones. This is the theme song for my crew!
4. Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean “Clique”
Wow…. This track? Yup…. Hit-Boy brought it on this damn beat. “Ain’t nobody f*ckin with my clique…” Yes… That’s how I feel about my crew. Big Sean sets it off with a fire verse followed by Jigga and then ‘Ye for the grand finale. Solid posse track that brought Kanye and Jigga together for the first time since the Watch the Throne album. Now that Kanye and Kim are a thing of the past, can Kanye come to his senses and invite Jay to Montana so they can work on Watch the Throne 2? The fans are ready.
5. Young Thug “Best Friend”
Can’t have a list full of old head songs so gotta throw a little Thugger in here. Young Thug’s cadence on this track is next level and the overall vibe just gets you ready for the weekend. Off of the Slime Season mixtape from 2015 which showed Young Thug’s range with experimentation and the fact that you can’t put him in a box. He’s a rapper, singer, trapper, and so many more in one. Thugger has style for days.
6. Freddie Gibbs “My Dawgz”
Gangsta Gibbs of course has to get some play on this playlist. Freddie Gibbs has been putting in work for years and it makes me so happy knowing that he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. This is off of his Cold Day in Hell mixtape from 2012. A great track about Freddie and his crew.
7. DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne “No New Friends”
Do I need even need to write anything here? Drizzy Drake gets hated on for not being on that rappity rap tip all the time but cmon now…. Drake has bars. And he can absolutely kill a chorus with ease. Then we get Rozay sliding in on verse 2 and you know what Ricky Ross is going to bring to the track. Weezy hitting 3rd on the track and rides the beat effortlessly. Khaled gets some hate at times but I don’t get it…. Dude has put together some dope singles and some fresh albums. He’s long been the plug for a lot of these guys.
8. Master P, Pimp C, and Silkk The Shocker “I Miss My Homies”
A No Limit classic with with lyrics talking about fallen homies. P had a great verse, Pimp C from UGK steals the show as usual, and then Silkk closes out the track on a somber note with his verse. This song is for sure on my funeral playlist in 2063. No Limit doesn’t get the respect they deserve for their movement but I’ll tell you this… When Ghetto Dope dropped it was MAJOR. Everybody was knockin that album!
9. Kurupt, Baby S, Daz, Crooked I “I Ain’t Sh*t Without My Homeboys”
Soopafly and Daz Dillinger on production on this West Coast slapper. Not many rap songs about friendship that beat this one. DPG forever. And man… Could you imagine if Crooked I was around when The Chronic and Doggystyle were getting made? Crooked Intriago would have been huuuuuge. He’s still had a great career but I always wonder what a ‘92 - ‘95 Death Row album from Crooked would have sounded like. Luckily we have tracks like this to bump with our homeboys.
10. Future “My Savages”
I can’t even call myself even the slightest of Future fans outside of a few tracks but “My Savages” goes. Future is one of those rappers that I know I need to spend a few weeks on their catalog because I feel I missed the whole wave. The fact that he’s part of the Dungeon Family is so dope too. ATL stays pumpin’ out rap stars and Future has a fresh song about his homies here. “I got love for all of my savages with itchy fingers.” DOPE.
And without further adieu, here is the homie playlist. If I missed some notable tracks, please drop them in the comments and I’ll add them to the playlist.