Warm up for Valentine’s Day with hip-hop and R&B love songs

It got steamy on #ThematicStatic in advance of the February 11 Hip-Hop Karaoke Valentine’s Show at Brooklyn Bowl, which will feature both a live band and DJ for all the bumping, grinding and serenading a Music City could possibly handle.

We built out a super 45 minutes of music, thanks to your requests and my own memories of listening to the urban alternative Cincinnati radio station as a preteen, when I’d call up and request sultry late ’90s jams that, in hindsight, should’ve made me blush.

Stream the February 10 #ThematicStatic 👇🏼 to get in the mood before performing your own renditions at Brooklyn Bowl. And tune in next week when we’ll really get down with the The Year of the Tiger by spinning songs about cats!

#ThematicStatic Playlist

The Gap Band – “Outstanding” (Keith’s request) – check out a live performance of this tune, featuring ALL THE FRINGE, and then go ahead and take a cold shower:

Faith Evans – “Love Like This”

Mac Miller ft. Ariana Grande – “My Favorite Part” (requested by Jon all the way on the island of Kaua’i!) – damn, these two were so in love, it hurts. RIP, Mac. Keep slaying, Ari. Here’s the official video for their professional collab, one of a few:

Common – “Come Close” (requested by Drinkwater)

The Roots ft. Erykah Badu and Eve – “You Got Me”

Cautious Clay – “Shook” – Clay’s Deadpan Love Deluxe version is out 2/11 and will feature a second version of this one with strings, swoon. Here’s a taste:

Aaliyah – “Are You That Somebody”

Outkast – “Prototype” (Zach’s request)

Brandy & Monica – “The Boy is Mine” – these two were teenagers when they released this duet, and Brandy’s 43rd birthday is Friday…think about THAT. And marvel at the colorful video for the smash hit:

Francis & The Lights ft. Chance the Rapper – “May I Have This Dance” (Levia’s request)