“Summer, summer, summertime, Time to sit back and unwind…” Summer is so close that students can almost taste it. If someone got the hold of recent attendance records, some students are acting like it is already here.

But summer itself means more than just a break from school. It’s a time for soon to be college freshman to get acquainted with college life, for those still in high school to prep for the SAT, and to veg out with music (and some friends) until August 14th.

We have decided to create a playlist of songs that should be on any dog days playlist. In the words of The Fresh Prince, “…put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime.”

1) “DNA.” by Kendrick Lamar

“From the flawless hard-hitting beat, and Kendrick’s amazing, socially conscious lyrics, “DNA.” has everything needed to be the song of the summer,” senior Jorge Rivera said.

The second single off of K-Dot’s most recent album, “DNA.” packs a lyrical punch about multiple viewpoints, including celebrating and embracing his black culture and heritage. The song debuted at the number 4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. This put Lamar in the Top 10, along with having all 14 songs off of DAMN. chart. As if to build a Kung-Fu Kenny hierarchy up to his top single, “HUMBLE.”

2) “On The Level” by Mac DeMarco

Three is a magic number, and this brings truth for the third single off of the upcoming third studio album for DeMarco, This Old Dog. From the beginning to the end, the relaxed, loping vibe that drips from the song hits the listener with ease. “On The Level” is the quiet yet intriguing older brother of “Chamber of Reflection”, and is the male-encapsulated version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “All That”.

3) “Passionfruit” by Drake

It is not a summer playlist without Drizzy. Complete with parallels to “Marvin’s Room”, “Passionfruit” tells the tale of Drake dealing with the struggles of being in a long-distance relationship. The mellow beat of the song has that dancehall vibe that makes its appearance in many other hits such as “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance”.

4) “Love Galore” by SZA (ft. Travis Scott)

SZA has been relatively quiet on the lead up to her new LP, CTRL, despite releasing two singles. “Love Galore” is a song for the ages; a modern love story about her longing for the past, and it leaving her in a cold despair. Combined with the talented mind of Travis Scott, it’s 4 and ½ minutes of pure smoothness.

5) “J-Boy” By Phoenix

The first song the band has released in about four years, Phoenix makes their return with this fizzy and electric single. Ti Amo, their upcoming album, comes out June 9th. “Just because of you…” lead singer Thomas Mars sings, caped by the synth fans all deserve.

6) “Hard Times” by Paramore

“Misery Business” was, and still is, the song everyone can scream (and possibly mosh) to. But, it doesn’t take much for long-term Paramore fans to realize that “Hard Times” is different. Not to mention, lead singer Hayley Williams is even sporting a brand new hair color. Is it different in a bad way? Not at all. This single has the qualities to be a great song for any type of event.

“It doesn’t feel like the original Paramore everyone’s come to know and love,” senior Lucy Ayala said, “but I really enjoy this pop vibe that Hard Times has.”

7) “Scared Money” by NxWorries

Despite the fact that Yes Lawd! is a fall album (released Oct 21, 2016), the recent music video, which pays homage to the film Paid In Full, gives the euphonious duo a place on the playlist. “Scared Money” is truly an anthem, and the listener is almost guaranteed to bounce their shoulders with the beat. It is surely another triumph for Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge.

8) “Pleaser” by Wallows

“I think this song is the perfect soundtrack for high school” sophomore Paige Christiensen said, “And the guitarist is pretty cool, too.”

In only the first four months of 2017, Dylan Minnette has had quite the year. From his portrayal of main character “Clay” in the Netflix original 13 Reasons Why, to being the guitarist of Wallows while in the midst of releasing their debut single. The song starts slow, until it fully crescendos at the :33 second mark. Wallows are the band the performs at prom in your favorite teen movie. Except, you know, real.