It doesn’t take much to get me out of bed in the morning. I don’t need “a few more minutes” or anything. My alarm clock goes off and I hop up out of my bed and turn my swag on. I hit the showers, try to tiptoe around so as not to wake up my household and then get while the gettin’ is good. But since I don’t drink coffee and a Red Bull and some wings aren’t always instantly available, I go straight to the crates for a boost of energy in the morning.
I have a group of songs that I can turn on that will instantly get me right, and in one case had me rolling down my windows out of pure hypeness while the temperature was about 9 degrees outside. I just had to let everybody know what I was working with.
So if you’re looking for some songs to get you going in the morning when the rainbow isn’t enough, allow me to offer up these 10.
1. “Countdown,” by Beyoncé
Listen, I ran this joint this morning to get my blood moving, and it ALWAYS does the trick, from the very first notes of “Boooy—” (you know them; I can’t properly write the run she was doing). It’s my go-to hype song at all times but especially in the morning. And yes, this is the song that had me roll my windows down at 7:15 a.m. in 9-degree weather. But I had to let motherfuckers know what time it was. “London speed it up, Houston rock it.” That’s a pun.
2. “Spottieottiedopaliscious,” by Outkast
For the slower risers, there is NOTHING more invigorating than yell-singing “DAMN DAMN DAMN JAMES” at the top of your lungs at 6:30 a.m. It’s provocative—gets the people going.
3. “I Call Your Name,” by Switch
I remember once, I was driving out of my neighborhood at 7:02 a.m. and there was a dude walking in the world’s heaviest Helly Hansen parka looking like he wanted you to know not to fuck with him. He looked over at my car and mouthed the words, “I’m not worried ’bout a doggone thing ... ” Respect, killer. Respect.
4. “Make ’Em Say Uhh,” by Master P
Those horns come on, and I don’t care if you’re at church or at the steakhouse about to eat the world’s finest #Flamingyoung; you are going to move. Plus, making anybody say “Uhh” in the morning is pretty cathartic. It’s a morning 5-Hour Energy shot. I, too, am the colonel of the motherfucking tank.
5. “CoCo,” by O.T. Genasis
The anticipation for that growling bass line and THEN the actual growling bass line will turn your car into a rolling rattle. If I’m having a particularly rough morning, repeating “BAKING SODA, I GOT BAKING SODA” really loudly somehow makes it all better. It’s even OK if you don’t have baking soda at the time; I almost never do. If you want the full effect, you can throw some carpet-fresh vacuum powder up in the air to make your morning also smell nice.
6. “Roforofo Fight,” by Fela Kuti
This might be the most effective morning song because of the percussion. To know Fela is to love Fela. Even if you can’t dance a lick, this song will make you try. A lot. And what gets your blood flowing like some early-morning attempts at African dance? I’m listening to this as I type, and my legs are moving at an outrageous rate. It is VERY diffciulsdaifj’dl—dammit ... it is very difficult to type like this. Just trust me.
Once the bass line comes in, I guarantee you might decide this is your permanent morning song and alarm. Do not play this around children unless you want them to bounce harder off the walls than they already might. Oh, the horns. You’re welcome. By the way, almost any Fela song should do the trick.
7. “Hold the Line,” by Toto
This makes me do air piano. Then air guitar. Then air lead singing. Are you up at 6:15 a.m.? Me too. Let’s just form our own air band and get hype in the mornings.
8. “Knuck if You Buck,” by Crime Mob
Apparently this song is good for lots of things. But if you’re feeling or want to feel particularly froggy in the morning, this song can help release a little pent-up aggression. I’m just saying—if you need to get amped up, this is your jam. Also, you can decide if you want to knuck or buck and nobody will judge you.
9. “Ante Up (Remix),” by M.O.P.
The original or remix will do just fine. “Ante Up” is pure energy music. From the very beginning, if you don’t get up and start mean mugging at yourself in the mirror, you’re doing life wrong. By the time this song REALLY gets going, you should be threatening yourself in the mirror, which is exactly what you need to get yourself ready to go out the door and face those TPS reports. YAP THAT FOOL!
10. “Superthug,” by Noreaga
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHATWHAT WHATWHAT! Another song to make your arms do all the heavy lifting. If done properly, your wake-up routine can double as a workout while this song plays!