The Rhyme Suite

A selection of songs that sound the way springtime feels.

Springtime, where flowers bloom and rays of sunlight dance through the bedroom window. 

Where snow caps melt to reveal blends of juniper and emerald green. Where fingertips once pestered by cold winds are adorned by fragments of pollen, a substance no more plentiful than the showers that wash it away. 

With springtime comes renewal. Rebirth. Reminders that growth is on the horizon and that periods of desolation only last for a season.

As you step into the dreaminess of spring, consider adding these 25 songs to your playlist.

1. Icarus – Fana Hues

“Oh, how the feels fill the room I could melt to touch /  And all that I ever need is right here between us…”

In Greek mythology, Icarus, the son of Daedalus, dies by flying too close to the sun. In this tale, Fana Hues, backed by The Drum Kitchen’s lulled production, warns listeners of flying too close to the sun and losing one’s self in the process.

2. Bliss – Mariah Carey

“Gimme some pure delectable love/ Like I’m gonna give to you/ Keep coming around/ ‘Cause I won’t run out…”

The “Songbird Supreme” and Queen of Whistle Tones sings of blissful love and how it goes on– and on and on and on and on.

3. I’m You: You Are Me and We Are You (Pt. Me & You) – Maxwell

“I’m you, you are me and we are you…”

Maxwell, over a dreamlike fusion of funk and soul, reminds us that we are one. 

4. Window Seat – Erykah Badu

“Concluding, concentrating on my music, lover, and my babies/ Make me wanna ask a lady for a ticket outta town…”

The Dallas-bred songstress sings of the need to get away, not only from one’s physical location but from any entity that hinders one’s growth.

5. Girl Next Door – Musiq Soulchild, Ayana

“If I would’ve knew the girl next door would’ve been you/ I probably would’ve shared my grub/ Depending on how close we was/ By now we would be so in love…”

A lyrical embodiment of the “What Ifs?” surrounding childhood friends, this song makes you want to jam like they used to. 

6. Do U Wrong – Leven Kali, Syd

“Baby, won’t you let me ride?/ Tell me what you like, I can’t read your mind/ Bad as I want to, I really want you, so…”

If a song could feel like cotton candy clouds and soft serve on a cozy day, it would be this one. 

7.  Grounded – Ari Lennox

“You can’t grow unless you’re grounded…”

Springtime brings about growth, renewal, and reinvigoration. Through this song, Ari Lennox reminds us that, like plants, we cannot grow unless we are grounded.  

8. Montego Bae – Noname, Ravyn Lenae

“How’s it feel to be on my mind?/ I can’t believe I found you in time/ I had a dream across seas for you and me…”

Ravyn Lenae’s lush vocals, Noname’s lyricism, and jazzy, soullike production– the perfect blend for a Spring Break vacation or a day spent outdoors.

9.  all of your love – Luke James

“Like a flame to a moth, I’m addicted to your sauce so bad/ I want it 24/7, 365, 911, I need it fast…”

With a sound and cadence reminiscent of the late Prince, Luke James implores the subject of his desires to give him all of their love– he needs it. 

10. Give You the World – Steve Lacy

“You’re so fickle and cold/ But you feel so electric/ Tell me, what I gotta do?/ To move a little closer to you…”

To a hesitant lover, Steve Lacy makes one small promise over a sunny beat: to give them the world. 

11. Rider – Mereba

“Baby, it’s gotta be love/ I’ma give mine to you/ Call me anytime you want/ Baby just call my bluff…”

Though the world feels like a war, Mereba aims to be your rider.

12. Good Mornin’ – Flwr Chyld, Sebastian Mikael

“Just like the moon/ She light up my darkest hour/ And I’ll cherish every moment/ I wouldn’t let this slip away…”

“Like flowers to the sun,” Sebastian Mikael and Flwr Chyld send vibrations fit for a mellow day. 

13. On the Run – Kelela

“Open up, babe, to the sun/ Open up, babe, we ain’t done/ Come out and touch the rays…”

Kelela won’t wait all night, but this sultry songstress encourages the song’s subject to face their feelings rather than run away from them.

14. Replay – Tems

“Goodbye to a boring life/ I like to seek but I’m never in sight…”

It’s not exactly a diss track, but Tems seeks to remind her haters that it is she who stays on replay– and in the spirit of fresh starts and new beginnings, why not start by leaving the naysayers behind?

15. YOU’RE THE ONE – KAYTRANADA, Syd

“I feel like I’m walking/ The tightrope of love in your circus, babe/ If I were to fall, it’d be my last day…”

Syd’s soft vocals over KAYTRANADA’s blend of House and R&B music– what better way to enjoy a spring day?

16. Lose Control – Amaria

“Can you hold me, never let me go?/ Take me to another world, you know/ Keep on running let us lose control…”

Amaria’s lush vocals transport us to another state of being as she aims to lose control in the face of love and new beginnings.

17. Got ‘Til It’s Gone – Janet Jackson, Q-Tip, Joni Mitchell

“If I could turn back the hands of time/ Make you fall in love, in love with me again/ So would you give me another chance to love/ To love you, love you the right way, no games…”

Though the song refers to reconciling with a lost love, the chorus – “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” – reminds us to savor the present moment and those who inhabit it. 

18. Hold On – The Internet

“You got me on a cloud nine, baby/ Feels almost like a dream…”

“Feels almost like a dream” – enough said. 

19.  LOW TIDE – DESTIN CONRAD

“Rockin’ in this bitch Bitch, I’ve been vibin’ in this bitch…”

A song fit for Spring Showers, wishful thinking, and those days when you’re running low.

20. On and On – Tyla

“Let’s take it back in time/ Party like it’s ’95/ I just wanna dance all night…”

Whether you’re prepping for a day party or a night in, this song will have you moving.

21.  Treasure in the Hills – Leon Thomas 

“Been on a hunt, found what I want/ Found what I want in you…”

The Nickelodeon alum brings you on a chase worth more than diamonds and gold. 

22. Feelings – Jorja Smith, J Hus 

“I’m liking the way that you talk to me nice/ You know what you’re doin’, don’t look in my eyes…”

Title aside, it’s actually hard to get caught up in your feelings with this song playing.

23. Oasis – AMAKA

“You can’t deny this vibe is right, it’s like an oasis…”

Thanks to KAYTRANADA’s wave-like production, this song transports you to a place of tranquility. 

24. Sweet Tea – Snoh Aalegra

“I feel so free/ So serene, whenever you’re with me/ Sweep over my soul, yeah, I don’t mind…”

Snoh Aalegra evokes a feeling almost as sweet as the subject of this song. 

25. Good Days – SZA

“I don’t regret, just pretend shit never happened/ Half of us layin’ waste to our youth, it’s in the present…”

A reminder that good days are dually present and on the horizon. Springtime personified.