Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unhealthy obsession with rap music. My taste has broadened a little with age- I love me some The Walkmen or Led Zeppelin- but really I’m just kidding myself if I’m not listening to Weezy or Drake. In high school I even went through a Don Omar phase…yes, that is Reggaeton, thank you for asking. I know all the words to Big Papa, None of Your Business, Miss New Booty, Change Clothes, and Pop Lock and Drop It. You should hire me to entertain at your next cocktail party (disclaimer: I may know the words, but I sing like a dying cat).

Now that I’m a little older and wiser, I still love me some Drake– it’s impossible not to love someone who says things like “Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments.” But I have also grown fond of smart, underground rap in the vein of Childish Gambino. And it is this burgeoning music taste of mine that sponsors this playlist for your weekend. Because it’s really all about you.

The first is a remix of an old Public Enemy track that makes it perfect for your next summer bash. Featurecast’s remix pumps up the volume on the upbeat melody that accompanied the original song, and layers it with a techno beat that stops just short of being obnoxious (which is the perfect amount). So there you have it, a couple masterful tweaks and a classic is fresh as a daisy. Or a baby. Or a newly deoderized armpit.

Don’t play this song at your next summer bash. It might bum everyone out. But with whip sharp lyrics (“We weren’t young enough to be stupid, only young enough to get laid”) layered over a track that’s vaguely reminiscent of church music, you should be able to find another reason to listen. Maybe you’re trying to feel like a badass. I do that regularly– it usually involves either a) wearing the hood of my sweatshirt or b) leather.

So there you have it! P.S. I get a lot of my rap music from The Kollection, so credit where credit is due for shaping my tastes. I should be a connoisseur any day now. If only there was some sort of school where you could become a sommelier of  rap and just make recommendations for your living– I would totally go. Although on second thought, I guess that’s called being a DJ.