Kamala Harris, the junior Democratic U.S. Senator from California, released a Spotify playlist in honor of Black Music Month on Tuesday, featuring 50 of her favorite tracks from black artists in the fields of rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, hip-hop, rap, soul, pop, reggae and funk, allowing us a peek into her personality and what gets her moving.
โOur nation has an indelible soundtrack, songs that have become anthems recognized across the world. Much of that soundtrack is inspired and informed by the vast contributions of African-American artists in jazz, R&B, rap, hip-hop, and beyond,โ Senator Harris said. โNo matter where you are from or what you look like, music is a bond that can bring us all together. To celebrate African-American music is to dance, sing, and even march to the rhythms that have long served as vehicles for honesty, inspiration, struggle, success and joy.โ
Looking at this playlist lets me know one thing: Kamala never experienced the struggle of her mama waking her up on a Saturday morning with the old school music playing in preparation for a day of scrubbing walls and mopping floors. She is, however, a Tribe lover and someone who has a favorite song for every mood. I want to know her.
Overall, the list is pretty solid, and Iโm here for it.
โCheck the Rhimeโ by A Tribe Called Quest
Things get off to a good start with Tribe. I can see Kamala rocking to this with her bamboo earrings and her overalls with the airbrushed picture of herself on the front.
โJuicyโ by The Notorious B.I.G.
I imagine Kamala changes the lyrics of this to talk about her rise in American government.
โEverything is Everythingโ by Lauryn Hill
Hm. Is Kamala into tardiness and not showing up to events? Just kidding. I actually like this song by Lauryn, so Iโll let it slide.
โRedboneโ by Childish Gambino
People give Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino a hard time, but heโs actually pretty solid, and this song is for the redbones, of which Kamala is one.
โRise Upโ by Andra Day
Eh
โGroove Meโ by King Floyd
This is super old school, and not a common pick on anyoneโs list, so Iโll give her points for this one.
โHappyโ by Pharrell
I got tired of this song the same year it was out because they played it so. damn. much. I donโt see how anyone else didnโt get tired of it too, but Kamala has to play this in preparation when she is going to meet with anyone from the GOP. It keeps her from snapping.
โCalifornia Loveโ by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre
Now weโre getting somewhere. This is a California rap classic. Every person from California should have this song on their playlist.
โDirt Off Your Shoulderโ by Jay-Z
This tells us that Kamala is not here for your bullshit, and even if she has to tolerate, sheโs going to flick you off like so much dirt off her shoulder when sheโs done.
โSuper Bassโ by Nicki Minaj
Clearly Kamala twerks in her mirror when no one is looking.
โWhatโs Going On?โ by Marvin Gaye
Iโll bet Kamala has this song on repeat in her car. With everything thatโs happening in our country right now, this song sums up pretty much every black personโs feelings.
โLove on Topโ by Beyoncรฉ
Queen. I see you.
โABCโ by The Jackson 5
This is what Kamala plays to get her happy on. Maybe while sheโs sweeping the bathroom.
โMy Shot (The Hamilton Mixtape)โ by The Roots, Busta Rhymes, and Joel Ortiz
Hamilton is everything. Has Kamala seen it? She probably has. Lucky heffa.
โHave a Talk with Godโ by Stevie Wonder
Iโm over Stevie and his Black Lives Matter comments, so nawl.
โSinnermanโ by Nina Simone
This is how you know Kamala is a little militant on the inside. Nina Simone is everything.
โKissโ by Prince
Remember that scene in โPretty Womanโ when Julia Roberts was singing this in the bathtub? I imagine Kamala singing this just as off-key while working on the elliptical, not caring that everyone in the gym is staring at her like sheโs crazy.
โEverybody Loves the Sunshineโ by Roy Ayers
Yessssssssssssss. My life. My Life. MY LIFE. Kamala sings this while she is on her way to Senate meetings. Itโs her sphere of protection against the bullshit.
โAll We Gotโ by Chance the Rapper feat. Kanye West and Chicago Childrenโs Choir
Clearly Kamala for President and Chance for VP in 2020.
โIโll Take You Thereโ by The Staple Singers
This is Kamalaโs theme music as she walks through the halls of the Capitol.
โBam Bamโ by Sister Nancy
This is a reggae classic. I bet Kamala knows all the words too. She probably puts on her headwrap and sings it into her hairbrush microphone like we all do. Oh, we all donโt do that?
โTightropeโ by Janelle Monae
Itโs Janelle, and thatโs all that needs to be said. We see you, Kamala.
โHumbleโ by Kendrick Lamar
Kamala wants you all to humble yourselves. That much is clear.
โTambourineโ by Eve
This, too, is a twerk anthem. Even more so than the Nicki one from earlier. In fact the first spoken line in this song is โYou gotta shake yo ass.โ We see you, Kamala. We see you.
โT-Shirtโ by Migos
I donโt know them, and Kamala does, so obviously I need to get my life together.
โChoicesโ by E-40
Yay Area! Kamala is letting us know she represents the Bay in every way. Why else would she pick the God Earl Stevens out of all the available Bay Area rappers? Now we just need to see her get hyphy.
โWord Upโ by Cameo
This is classic Cameo. Everyone should have this on their playlist. Kamala knows.
โTry Againโ by Aaliyah
Not the best Aaliyah song, but still a classic.
โOn & Onโ by Erykah Badu
Classic Badu from the first album.
โPretty Little Birdsโ by SZA
I donโt know her
โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ by Shai
In which Kamala reminds us that she went to Howard University. Get into it.
โEnd of the Roadโ by Boyz II Men
LOL.
โThinkโ by Aretha Franklin
This is a message to the old white men in Congress.
โVideoโ by India Arie
This is Kamala letting us know that she is just a regular degular girl doing big things in the Senate
โIn Commonโ by Alicia Keys
Iโve got nothing.
โSmooth Sailinโ by Leon Bridges
Still got nothing.
โCold Sweatโ by James Brown
Kamala dances to this in her socks so she can slide across the floor.
โBody and Soulโ by Billie Holiday
Lady Day. This is classic. Kamala gets the blues, but she sings her way out of it.
โLetโs Stay Togetherโ by Al Green
Kamala hits the high notes when she sings this, you just know it.
โWaterfallsโ by TLC
Because clearly Kamala does that shoulder dance when it gets to that part.
โBe Without Youโ by Mary J. Blige
Kamala sings this when sheโs wrapped up in her feelings.
โWhatโs Love Got to Do with Itโ by Tina Turner
This is what Kamala sings when her hair is all wild before she combs it smoothly into place.
โBambiโ by Jidenna
Jidenna is sexy and should be on all our playlists. Kamala knows this.
โDis Generationโ by A Tribe Called Quest
Clearly Kamala is a Tribe fan. Ayyyyyyyyyyy.
โHit the Road Jackโ by Ray Charles
Kamala is choreographing a routine to this so she can sing it to Trump when we finally get him the fuck up out of here.
โMarching into The Darkโ by John Legend
John Legend to round it out. Because of course.
