Bongo beats, sharp horn melodies, and crowd ambiances that ignite a desire to dance with anyone and everyone on the block. COVER: The Get Down (Netflix)
Read my track-by-track breakdown and learn about this playlist’s “artist-to-watch”, Keiynan Lonsdale, below.
Track-by-Track Breakdown
1. Keiynan Lonsdale – “Gay Street Fighter”
I’ll never forget the first minute of listening to this track on my “Discover Weekly” playlist. “Gay Street Fighter” begins with horns fit for a fierce majesty’s entrance and unfolds into a mosaic of fresh funk. Towards the end, playful lyrics and reverbed groups of singers kick in and evoke a strong sense of community.
2. The Jackson 5 – “Dancing Machine”
Keiynan Lonsdale noted Michael Jackson as one of his influences and I wanted to explore that. I skimmed through Michael Jackson’s discography and found that “Dancing Machine” fit best. The song not only contains horns and various rhythms found in the last track, but it exudes the same feeling of “steeze.”
3. Incredible Bongo Band – “Apache”
The Incredible Bongo Band was an ever-changing group of musicians led by producer Michael Viner. Ever since I watched Netflix’s The Get Down, I was introduced to foundational Hip-Hop sounds like reverbed bongos, sampling, grand horns & basslines, and more. “Apache” is the culmination of these sounds and went on to become an anthem for the genre. I consider it the blueprint for the playlist, as the iconic bongo percussion mimics the energy and movement in a city.
4. Kendrick Lamar – “i”
The dynamic layers of “i” paint several scenes of movement at a block party. The pulsing cowbells, bright electric guitar riffs, vocal layers, and even city noises altogether create a unique, cohesive sound. My favorite part is the chorus when Kendrick Lamar’s resolute background vocals sound like they’re flying through all of those elements.
5. Deee-Lite – “Groove is in the Heart”
I practically manifested hearing this track at the Philadelphia Pride Parade and gasped when it happened! I always felt it was the perfect song for such a colorful event in the city. The crowd ambiances in “Groove is in the Heart” add a depth that’s unlike any of these other tracks. Yet, it blends with the others with its funky horns, bassline, and reverbed bongos.
6. Mark Ronson, Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife, Saignon – “Ooh Wee”
This song comes next since it has a similar animated feeling that reminds me of “Groove is in the Heart.” They use a searing horn sample from Boney M’s song “Sunny”, which takes me back to the sound of The Get Down series. For the classic bongo drums, they sampled Dennis Coffee’s song “Son of Scorpion.” “Ooh Wee” exemplifies the collaboration found in the late 1970s Hip-Hop sound.
7. Herizen Guardiola, Nile Rodgers, The Americanos – “Set Me Free”
The music of Netflix’s series The Get Down was a huge influence on this playlist. “Set Me Free” is the most disco-sounding song on this playlist, but the foundational elements of the early Hip-Hop sound remain. One of my favorite parts of the series is when The Get Down Brothers sample the song to win the battle against The Notorious 3.
// Artist-To-Watch
From acting in the heartwarming blockbuster film Love, Simon to dancing professionally in many other productions, Keiynan Lonsdale is an artist in every sense of the word. His music is another extension of his ability to tell stories. Keiynan has a voice reminiscent of Michael Jackson on his chart-shattering hits and he pairs it with fresh production that feels larger than life.
Listen to his debut album Rainbow Boy:
