In case you haven’t noticed there’s something different in the air and no, I’m not talking about pumpkin spiced lattes, I’m talking about cuffing season! That time of year when La Marina has closed its doors, jean jacket weather has sprung, and old flames are sending those “hey stranger” texts in hopes of getting boo’d up as hard as Boyz II Men.
With Netflix and chill weather shortly on it’s’ way, the thirst is at an all time high. But no matter what stage of the season you’re currently at, the following tracks are guaranteed to have you all up in your feelings in both the best and worst ways (but mostly in a 90s R&B silk shirt type of way).
1. Fabolous: Cuffin’ Season
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUzh-9PyD4E&w=560&h=315%5D
“Been naughty all year trying to end it nicely (nice), summer hoes turning into winter wifeys” – While cuffing season has always existed, thanks to this track off his third installment of the S.O.U.L. Tape series, 2013 was the winter Fabolous helped certify the term as well as boost crowds at La Marina indefinitely.
2. PARTYNEXTDOOR: Wus Good / Curious
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMRZ6fCXeRs&w=560&h=315%5D
“Hey shawty this what I’m here for, I’m ready. Are you downtown when I’m round town, I’m ready, girl just let me know what’s good” – Just like his OVO label counterparts, PARTYNEXTDOOR delivers the smoothest tracks essential for your cuffing season draft days.
3. Jodeci: Come & Talk to Me
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg4oBib8eys&w=560&h=315%5D
“I wanna know, you wanna tell me your name, let me play your game” – If you’re a 90s baby like me, you might be late to the game on Jodeci but they are pretty much the gods of classic R&B – who else do you think inspired Drake to combine his singing into raps?
4. Chris Brown: New Flame feat. Usher & Rick Ross
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwctEiWLe84&w=560&h=315%5D
“When we’re standing here looking at each other, baby, eye to eye and I’m hoping that you’re thinking about leaving with me tonight” – Cuffing season is all about finding love, and I mean anywhere, even in the club. Will it last? Hard to say – but you’ll just have to wait and see once the sun starts coming back out.
5. Drake: Best I Ever Had
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGt4DOl411o&w=560&h=315%5D
“You know a lot of girls be thinking my songs are about them, but this is not to get confused, this one’s for you” – This track is memorable for countless reasons – One of Drake’s first breakout records plus the realization that this kid was even able to make a song about one night stands romantic as hell. Maybe you’ll get lucky this season and have one of your best hook ups turn into a full time fling.
6. TLC – Kick Your Game
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5EHZpugNmE&w=560&h=315%5D
“I’ve been watching you watching me and I know you want it, come on let me kick a little game with you” – TLC has always been there for us ladies whether reminding us of how beautiful we are or that we have every right to take home whomever we want – nothing is stopping you from kicking your game too.
7. Guy: Let’s Chill
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wj8Yxa309E&w=560&h=315%5D
“Come closer, let me talk to you, let’s chill” – Before dudes were bold enough to hit us with the not so subtle “Netflix & Chill,” Guy was out there sweetly strumming the guitar, asking to literally “just chill.” Thank you Guy, thank you.
8. Aaliyah: Come Over
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD7ufhnTUbA&w=560&h=315%5D
“I know it’s late, real late, but I’m calling you, calling you, tryna figure if I, can, come, see, you” – Sometimes, like Aaliyah, you just cannot wait to see that someone special. Whether it’s your boo or your booty call, sometimes you just gotta make that late night call and have them come right over.
9. Ginuwine: So Anxious
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-75YEclqg&w=560&h=315%5D
“I’m so anxious, so meet me at 11:30, I love the way you’re talking dirty” – It’s no surprise Drake so famously sampled this record for his “Legend” track – If there were ever a champion for writing songs to pull women into the bedroom, I’m sure Ginuwine would be it. Who else could write a song about hook up anxiety and make it sounds this smooth?
10. BJ The Chicago Kid: Good Luv’n
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhurWuExlHQ&w=560&h=315%5D
“Everybody wanna feel that G-O-O-D-L-O-V-E” – BJ has one of the flyest, most charismatic voices out in the game. He has collaborated with countless artists always adding the perfect adornment of R&B into every track.
11. The Weeknd: What You Need
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGCVhhUxnp8&w=560&h=315%5D
“And I’m gon’ give you girl, what you fiend. I’m the drug in your veins, just fight through the pain” – Hooking up to The Weeknd is an unspoken item on everyone’s bucket list. One of his first break out tracks, reminding us all what we really want this season.
12. Kehlani: The Way feat. Chance The Rapper
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kqg-9JMxw&w=560&h=315%5D “Boy you know all I do is stay up all night losing sleep over you. All I do is drive myself crazy thinkin’ ‘bout my baby” – We can all thank Kehlani for bringing these beautiful R&B sounds back into the scene. Always pouring her heart out on to every single track – sometimes it’s so hard to explain, sometimes it’s just the way someone makes us feel!
13. Brandy – I Wanna Be Down
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpLkcfBe-A&w=560&h=315%5D
“I wanna be down, I wanna be down for you. No matter what time of day or night it’s true” – Here, Brandy proves you can make a video encompassing how badly you wanna be down, yet still with all your clothes on. Damn, do I miss the 90s.
14. Eric Bellinger: Cuffing Season
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfL5vfsKuzY&w=560&h=315%5D
“Teach you how to love, I can change your life if you let me, cuffing season’s here” – This past year, Eric Bellinger released an entire album entitled, Cuffing Season. It’s a great album, but for a quick idea this track will help you out. When you need to convince your new flame to stick around for good just play this one.
15. Childish Gambino: So Into You (Tamia Cover)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXf-E78tdK4&w=560&h=315%5D
“I really like what you’ve done to me, I can’t really explain it, I’m so into you” – I Am Donald, formerly Childish Gambino, recently blessed us with this cover of Tamia’s “So Into You.” It’s impossible not to love it, even Fabolous remade his own version of the song.
16. Mya: Fallen
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4GLjo-6V78&w=560&h=315%5D
“Like an accident it happened, out of nowhere it just happened, and I ain’t mad at all” – Those times when you fall so hard and there’s just no turning back. What else can you really say? (Enjoy it!)
17. Miguel: Adorn
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dM5QYdTo08&w=560&h=315%5D
“You just gotta let my love, let my love, let my love adorn you” – After this record hit, Miguel went from songful features to the full on king of romance on every record he touched. Miguel makes every song sexy, just what cuffing season needs.
18. Tink: Million
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHcJWvYs1w&w=560&h=315%5D
“Your love’s like a big hug on a bad day just what I need in my life, you’re one in a million when I wake was the first thing on my mind” – To take on an Aaliyah cover cannot be done lightly, but with Timbaland behind you and Tink spitting, the outcome is sure to be fire.
19. Wale: The Need To Know feat.SZA
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eRa8Ov7vrQ&w=560&h=315%5D
“I’m not tryna pressure you, just can’t stop thinkin’ bout you, you ain’t even really gotta be my boyfriend” – SZA’s delicate vocals add all the sweetness Wale needs to create this perfect track. Who needs labels anyway right?
20. D’Angelo and The Vanguard: Really Love
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVsQwJfWzoI&w=560&h=315%5D
“Doo doo wah, I’m in really love with you, I’m in really love with you” – With a long hiatus, D’Angelo succeeded in blowing us all away with his comeback album, Black Messiah. Play D’Angelo all cuffing season long and you will never go wrong – How does this record not make you want to be in love?
21. Floetry: Say Yes
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCCGIXME164&w=560&h=315%5D
“Loving you has taken time, taken time, but I always knew you could be mine” – Floetry is one of the most underappreciated duos, as their music always bleeds with soul. Listen to this song and the word beautiful will take on a whole new meaning.
22. UGK: Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You) feat. Outkast
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ7P3dG8MmY&w=560&h=315%5D
“I know you ain’t a pimp, but pimp remember what I taught you, keep your heart, three stacks, keep your heart. Man these girls is smart, three stacks, these girls is smart” – One of my favorite collaborations is this perfect mix of Southern soul between Outkast and UGK. As cuffing season comes to a close, just be careful who you pick!
23. Chris Brown: Loyal ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXRN_LkCa_o&w=560&h=315%5D
“But you was blowing up her phone last night, but she ain’t have her ringer nor her ring on last night, oh” – As we learn from Chris Brown at the end of every cuffing season, these hoes ain’t loyal! Also it’s important to remember, “hoes” are most certainly not exclusive to females.
24. Drake: Hotline Bling
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPEJFyD–ck&w=560&h=315%5D
“I know when that hotline bling, that can only mean one thing” – Another classic example of Drake heartbroken over another girl from home he used to kick it with, before he got too famous. Yet regardless, we still feel the pain, especially after the warm weather has begun and our hotline only blings only on their drunkest of occasions.
25. Usher: U Don’t Have To Call
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AszPTJXIgM&w=420&h=315%5D
“You don’t have to call, it’s okay girl, cause I’m gonna be alright tonight.” Feel free to replay this song as many times as you need to when cuffing season has come to a close and you’ve been dumped, ghosted on, or just straight up rejected. Also feel free to call up P. Diddy (is that even his current name?) or if not, your best friend for some much needed motivation to get back out there!
