The sun is blazin’, the weather is amazin’, and Hot Girl Summer is up for claimin’!

What started off as a fierce and unapologetic song by chief Hot Girl, Meg Thee Stallion in 2019, has blossomed into a movement for everyone and anyone to be a part of. 

Regardless of gender or other classifications, Megan encourages you to live your life to the fullest and without regrets.

The 2019 bop titled “Hot Girl Summer,” features Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign, and manages to cleverly speak to society’s misogynistic tendencies to judge and criticize women for being anything else besides their definition of “good.”

As a brown woman, it’s evident for me that this judgement and criticism only magnifies within the South Asian community, where a grave double standard exists when it comes to treating and policing our girls, in ways that are almost non-existent for our boys. 

Megan eloquently explains the true meaning of Hot Girl Summer in an interview with The Root when she said, “it’s basically about women -- and men -- just being unapologetically them, just having a good-ass time, hyping up your friends, doing you, not giving a damn about what nobody got to say about it. You definitely have to be a person that can be the life of the party, and, y’know, just a bad b*tch.”

“Hot Girl Summer,” breaks barriers and social constructs, and the best part about it is that it transcends through our differences and brings us together. It also reminds us to keep it real with ourselves and those around us.

To take part in a hot girl summer, the only thing you need to be is confident and proud of who you are.

With summer in full swing we’ve gone through the trouble of curating a bomb soundtrack for this (hopefully) sunny season, fully loaded with songs to set the right vibes for your #HotGirlSummer! 

This list features incredibly powerful female artists such as Meg Thee Stallion, Kamaiyah, and Doja Cat, and each track is hand picked to help you channel your inner Hot Girl, whether you’re wanting to wild out with your friends or just listen to some vibey tunes while vacuuming the living room!

1. Bad Girls - M.I.A
2. Addicted To Ballin - Kamaiyah
3. Bad Vibe - Quando Rondo ft. A Boogie wit da Hoodie & 2 Chainz
4. IDGAF - Domo Wilson
5. My Attitude - Flo Milli
6. Taste - Tyga
7. Pressure - Kamaiyah
8. 16 Shots - Stefflon Don
9. Up - Cardi B
10. Ooouuu - Young M.A
11. Go Crazy - Kamaiyah
12. After Party - Don Toliver
13. Shade - IAMDDB
14. Rumours - Ivorian Doll
15. She So Pretty - Pressa
16. Airplane Mode - Nines ft. NSG
17. Digits - Kamaiyah
18. Facts - Latto
19. Girls In The Hood - Meg Thee Stallion
20. SKATE - BIA
21. Netflix & Chill - Yung Tory ft. Fenix Flexin
22. Jumanji - B Young
23. Location - Dave ft. Burna Boy
24. Bad Habits - TIZ EAST, Moelogo, Nadia Rose
25. Run the World - Beyonce
26. Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
27. Juicy - Doja Cat

And of course this list would not be complete without the original hot girl anthem, Ms. Stallion’s  Hot Girl Summer! 

So there you have it folks, my take on the ultimate Hot Girl Summer playlist! Now, the rest is in your hands to truly live it up and be your dopest unapologetic self this summer season!

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Manisha is a writer and reporter with previous radio and television experience, who is passionate about connecting audiences to the stories and voices that matter to them most. Check her out on Instagram: @exclusivelymanisha