Callie is back with this week’s playlist. Now that we’ve officially celebrated a full week of summer, here are all the official contenders for that coveted honor: what song will remind you of summer 2018 for the rest of your life? Check out the playlist here. 

  1. “Nice For What” – Drake. Drake truly shines in this kind of competition. He has an uncanny, unmatched ability to read trends and absorb them completely, adding his own irresistible personal touch. (Exhibit A: “One Dance” is still a bop, two whole years after it claimed the crown for summer 2016.) It makes sense that the lead single for Drake’s upcoming album Scorpion, dropping tomorrow, hasn’t left radio rotation from the moment it was released. Odds are, it’ll hold that spot until at least September.
  2. “APESHIT” – The Carters. When Beyoncé drops anything, the world is required to pay attention. When it’s in collaboration with her esteemed husband (noted examples: “Crazy In Love,” “Drunk In Love,” etc.), you just know that she means business (even though she out-raps and out-shines him throughout their entire joint album, but I digress). “APESHIT” is the tour de force on EVERYTHING IS LOVE, boosted by its masterful music video and shady reference to the Grammys. Summer tea is only served piping hot.
  3. “Better Now” – Post Malone. Whether we like it or not, Post Malone has claimed his place in the hearts of many and he is here to stay. The man boasts an impressive ear for hooks and melodies that slowly infect your brainwaves. Personally, I prefer “Ball For Me,” but the people have spoken; this song is still going strong on the charts and we will be singing along to “Better Now” for many months to come.
  4. “I Like It” – Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin. Cardi B’s recent album is chock full of confidence-boosting, bloody-heeled bops, but “I Like It” was an immediate standout. It is, at different turns, both harsh and tropical. Plus, it’s nice to have a Spanish-speaking hit that features an artist who actually knows how to sing her own lyrics (here’s looking at you, Justin Bieber).
  5. “Powerglide (feat. Juicy J)” – Rae Sremmurd. “Powerglide” is not necessarily new, but who could forget the sleeper hit that Rae Sremmurd found with “Black Beatles?” A song like this has longevity and will effortlessly elevate any sunny, flip-cup-fueled day party in July. In the words of Rawiya Kameir for The Fader: “The track employs the Brothers Sremm’s near-perfect formula: a superhero beat from Mike Will, high-octane rapping from Jxmmi, and feather-soft vocals from Swae Lee. That’s all I need, tbh!”
  6. “Girls Like You (feat. Cardi B) – Maroon 5. It seems that when an artist wants a surefire hit these days, the easiest go-to solution is to just say, “let’s ask Cardi B for a feature!” (I don’t hate it).
  7. “No Tears Left To Cry” – Ariana Grande. Ariana Grande is poised to dominate this summer’s charts (not to mention, with her hasty engagement, its gossip columns). But while Ariana has contributed to a number of excellent recently released records (“BED” with Nicki Minaj, “Dance To This” with Troye Sivan, and her own “the light is coming,”) none radiate summer vibes quite as well as her first drop of the year. “no tears left to cry” is infectiously joyful and truly exultant. It will last the test of time — at least until the fall.
  8. “Chun-Li” – Nicki Minaj. A good summer song brings people together and transcends the fight for the aux cord. When Nicki Minaj performed this song on Saturday Night Live, every single member of my family immediately agreed that it is Very Good — and the variety of music taste in my immediate family is vast and kaleidoscopic, so that unanimous agreement speaks volumes to the power of “Chun-Li.”
  9. “One Kiss (with Dua Lipa) – Calvin Harris. It seems that Calvin Harris’ quest to dominate summer 2017 has been extended another year by popular demand. Although “One Kiss” doesn’t quite succeed in the way that “Slide” or “Heatstroke” did last year, it’s still catchy as hell — and, of course, boasts a triumphant feature from pop’s brightest rising star.
  10. “Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai. If you can’t imagine this song playing loudly while you sway joyfully on a rooftop with a pineapple-infused overpriced cocktail in hand, then we can’t be friends.