The living is easy: 25 songs to heat up summer 2022

Earlier this year, Vince Staples released his fifth studio album Ramona Park Broke My Heart and one of the standouts is the Ty Dolla $ign-assisted track, “Lemonade.” While the lyrics highlight how the rapper's success may cause other people to take advantage of him, the breezy production has many fans calling the track a summer anthem. On the hook he says, "Feeling like ice-cold lemonade / Nowhere to go when we in the shade / Nowhere to go when we in the cage / Sometimes life tastes bittersweet." 

Drake is no stranger to experimenting with different sounds in his discography. Besides hip-hop and R&B, he's been heard on reggaeton, drill, and afrobeat. However, he recently surprised fans when he released a dance album Honestly, Nevermind. While some listeners were a bit shocked that the rapper didn't give them any bars they could use on an Instagram caption, other listeners praised Drake for incorporating house music this time around. One of the album's standout is "Massive," in which Drake tries to make amends with a past lover. 

After a four-year hiatus, rock-pop band DNCE is ready to make people groove with their new single "Move." Band member Joe Jonas penned the song alongside hitmakers Ryan Tedder and Andrew DeRoberts. The funky bass line is sure to grab a listener's attention along with the hook, "All I'm trying to do is make you get up out that chair and move / Make you move / Grab that drink and meet me on the dancefloor, baby / Let's get crazy, move." 

Bad Bunny's discography is loaded with songs to get people moving on the dance floor. It's only right that he teamed up with Rauw Alejandro on their captivating track "Party." It's the type of song in which people can let their hair down, get loose, and party all night long. 

It’s not always easy sampling a hit song and doing it justice. Thankfully, Jack Harlow did it right on his latest single “First Class,” which samples Fergie’s 2006 hit single “Glamorous.” On “First Class," Harlow raps about his road to success and how he can easily upgrade his partner’s lifestyle. 

Diddy hosted the 2022 Billboard Music Awards and in true Sean Combs fashion, he added his own performance. He teamed up with Bryson Tiller to premiere their latest single "Gotta Move On." The beat is so infectious that some listeners may forget that Tiller is pouring his heart out and realizing he has to move on from a relationship that is no longer serving him. 

Over the last several years, it seems like Afrobeats is becoming more mainstream on a global level. Chris Brown recently teamed up with one of Afrobeats' leading stars Wizkid on their latest single “Call Me Every Day.” The chill, laid-back track is perfect for listeners who want to express their love to a potential partner. 

Three years since his last project, Harry Styles returned this year with his third album Harry’s House. The album’s second single “Late Night Talking” quickly became a fan favorite as it finds Styles infatuated with his lover. The ’70s pop-influenced track has Styles on the hook singing, “We’ve been doing all this late-night talking / About anything you want until the morning / Now you’re in my life / I can’t get you off my mind.” 

Coming off the heels of her last project It Was Good Until It Wasn't, it seems like Kehlani is in full transformation mode on her newest album Blue Water Road. It's evident on one of the album's standout tracks "Wish I Never." Sampling the classic Slick Rick song "Children's Story," Kehlani sings about realizing her mistakes in a past relationship and knowing her self-worth.

BTS stays on top of the charts. So there was no surprise when the group's latest single "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" reached number one on Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart. While the single reflects on a beautiful past, the group knows that the future can be even brighter. "Yet to Come" was released just a few days before BTS announced they were going to focus on solo projects. The members realize they have to focus on themselves to grow as artists, to a point in which they can come back even greater as a group. 

The queen is back! As Beyoncé plans to release her seventh studio album Renaissance, the album's lead single "Break My Soul" is bringing people to the dance floor and quickly becoming the anthem for the Great Resignation era. With production from Tricky Stewart and The Dream, additional vocals from bounce legend Big Freedia, and a sample of Robin S' 1993 house classic "Show Me Love"—"Break My Soul" inspires listeners to quit things that are no longer serve them and find new motivation. 

There’s nothing like a summer love song that makes a listener feel good. On “I Like You (A Happier Song), Post Malone teams up with Doja Cat as the rapper realizes he has a successful life and simply wants someone to share it with. On the hook, Post says, “Ooh girl I like you, I do / I wanna be your friend, go shopping in a Benz / I like you, I do / I’ll hit you when I land, can you fit me in your plans?” 

Fans can always count on Lizzo to grace the world with a fun track, and this time she's taking listeners back in time to the disco era. On her '70s-inspired single "About Damn Time," Lizzo reflects on the pressures and stress that life can bring while encouraging listeners to regain confidence and celebrate life's moments. On the hook she says, "Turn up the music, let's celebrate / I got a feeling I'm gon' be okay / Okay, alright / It's about damn time."

It’s been five years since Calvin Harris released his last album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, well the producer is finally back with the second installment, Vol. 2. On the album’s lead single “Potion,” Harris teams up with Dua Lipa and Young Thug for a groovy listen about sex. With rhythmic guitar riffs and a funky bass line, that was also a clear strategy on Vol 1.—Harris is ready to take summer by the reigns.

As John Legend prepares to release his eighth album, he returns with the lead single “Dope.” While some listeners are used to hearing Legend sing piano-driven slow jams, he's changing it up this time around as he teams up with producers Ian Kirkpatrick and Ryan Tedder, and co-writer Charlie Puth. "Dope" is all about Legend and JID reflecting on their infatuation for women. In the first verse John says, “She roll up, it’s automatic, my mood is on ecstatic / She lightning, straight to my vein / She beautiful, she magic, she chemical reactive / I’m burnin’ all in her flame.” 

While a number of Muni Long’s previous songs have been slow jams, she changed it up on her latest single “Baby Boo.” Long teamed up with Saweetie as she sings about her feelings for a potential lover with hopes that it could be more than a crush. 

There's no doubt about it that Kendrick Lamar released one of the year's most highly-anticipated albums, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. One of the standout tracks is where he teams up with Blxst and Amanda Reifer on "Die Hard." While the track finds Lamar reflecting on love, he realizes his shortcomings and insecurities in his relationship.

It’s been a few years since Luke Combs released his last album, but that may change this year. His latest single “The Kind of Love We Make” tells the story of how the singer wants to have a romantic night with his partner. Sometimes, a little one-on-one time with a partner can make for a perfect, summer night.

When fans hear Burna Boy’s latest single “Last Last," it may sound familiar to those who love 2000s R&B. On the track, Burna samples the Toni Braxton hit “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” He brings new life to the classic song as he meshes the sample with his Afrobeats style, making it an enticing dance track.  

After becoming a viral sensation on TikTok, rapper Doechii is the latest signee on Top Dawg Entertainment. Her single “Persuasive” blends house with hip-hop and R&B as she describes her party life. The captivating production and her enticing flow make for a breezy summer bop. 

While reggaeton stars Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel announced their retirements earlier this year, fans still had something to look forward to with their recent collaboration alongside Natti Natasha. Their single "Mayor Que Usted" takes title inspiration from the 2005 hit "Mayor Que Yo"—another collaboration in which Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel teamed up. Natasha was heavily influenced by them in her career, so it's only right to send them off with a proper hit song to pay homage. 

While Latto’s original single “Big Energy” sampled the Tom Tom Club’s 1981 song “Genius of Love,” landing Mariah Carey on her remix is a career milestone. While Carey also sampled the same track on her 1995 hit “Fantasy,” fans were quickly drawn to "Big Energy" with the summer bop production and lyrics to encourage listeners to have confidence. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Sometimes a summer anthem is all about making a statement. Hayley Kiyoko does just that on her latest single "For the Girls." The track is an ode to celebrate self-love and femininity as Kiyoko reminds listeners on the hook that "Summer's for the girls." 

Joyce Wrice first teamed up with producer Kaytranada on her 2021 album Overgrown. While the first collaboration was only an interlude, the two are back this time with a full song "Iced Tea." Kaytranada’s production style of mixing house with soul and hip-hop blends perfectly with Wrice's tone. "Iced Tea" is a sweet dance record that encourages people to live confidently and carefree.

DJ and producer Marshmello first teamed up with pop singer Khalid back on their 2017 track "Silence." Well, the two are back to bring the summer vibes on their latest single "Numb." The music video sets the perfect mood as the two are lounging at a pool party before Marshmello is seen DJing all night long.