Making a good summer mixtape can be one of the most important things a man does with his life. A good summer mix has legs, it is still good years after you make it. I still have one on cassette that I made during the summer of 1993 that I still pull out every once in a while and, if I still had a cassette player, would pop in and jam out to.
15. The Art of Summer Mixtapin’
The most important thing to remember when making a good summer mix is that you will need to be both Jekyll and Hyde. Depending on your age range, you will need a Side A / Side B, Volumes 1 & 2, or first and second playlist. Personally, I fall into the Side A / Side B generation.
Side A
Side A is the music you will be enjoying while slumped in a lawn chair, dipping your feet into your Smurfs inflatable kiddie pool, while downing a six-pack of High Life tallboys and wearing nothing but sunglasses and a pair of cutoffs. Side A must contain a Beach Boys song. Yes, it’s ridiculously cliché but they are still the undisputed kings of summer chilling. From there, round out Side A with some mellow tunes that will enhance your High Life fueled power nap in the sun.
- Real Estate – Suburban Dogs
- Of Montreal – Jimmy (M.I.A. cover)
- Beach Boys – Surfer Girl
- DOM – Burn Bridges
- Cults – Go Outside
Side B
Now, that you are all relaxed from lounging all day in your Smurfs pool, sipping the Champagne of Beers, and jamming out to Side A, you are ready to go out and cruise the hot nightspots. Whether you are going to get your grind on at the hottest club, chill out on the patio of your local watering hole, or just drive around aimlessly all night, you will need a soundtrack. This is where Side B comes in. Side B should have a good mix of club bangers, surf rock, and old-school jams. Aside from that, go heavy on what you like. Oh yeah, and Luda usually works extremely well here.
- Wavves – King of the Beach
- Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars
- Janelle Monáe (Ft. Big Boi) – Tightrope
- Etta James – In the Basement
- Blakroc (Ft. Ludacris and O.D.B.) – Coochie
