JAMMIN AT THE GYM

Raheel Ramzanali: Ranking the workout songs from the Black Panther soundtrack

Raheel Ramzanali
Feb 13, 2018, 7:19 am
The Black Panther soundtrack has great workout songs. Youtube.com

This week Marvel’s highly anticipated Black Panther will finally come out after years of anticipation and early last week the soundtrack for the movie was released. While most soundtracks feature mostly instrumentals, Black Panther’s soundtrack was produced by Grammy winning artist Kendrick Lamar so it sounds and plays like a traditional hip hop album. While I love a good Hans Zimmer track in my workout playlist (shout out to Time on the Inception album!),  you normally can’t finish off the last five minutes of cardio to most movie soundtracks. The Black Panther soundtrack is different. This soundtrack is tailor made for your workout playlist so I want to rank the most “workoutable” songs on this album from 1-13.

  1. Pray For Me by The Weeknd - Unlike most writers, I’m starting with the best stuff and giving you the most workoutable song. This song was destined to be your go to song for that PR set or the jam to get you started on cardio day. I’m not the biggest fan of the Weeknd, but he does the damn thing on this song. Get ready to squat until you can’t when the chorus hits. Getting tired? You just need Kendrick’s, “You need a hero, look in the mirror, there go your hero.” I’ve listened to this song at least 38 times since the soundtrack released. You won’t be disappointed.

  2. Redemption by Zacari - This is a huge upset because All The Stars is a GREAT workout song and I’ve had it on my playlist for a month now, but after listening to the soundtrack multiple times, this song here goes so hard. I had it on while playing basketball and pretty much the game stopped so we could all get in a booty pop. The beat is great and will provide you with that much needed boost during your sessions.

  3. All The Stars  by Kendrick Lamar - When I first heard this song last month I couldn’t believe I liked it since I’m not the biggest Lamar fan, but even he couldn’t make me hate this song. This is such a built for Top 40 radio station song with the themes of love, use of Sza, and leftover Rihanna beat, but it works so damn well. This is also the first song by Sza that didn’t make me question everything I know about relationships and love. My one pet peeve with this song? The way Sza pronounces “closer” - y'all sure she isn’t saying kosher?! Best time to play this song? Right when you start your workout.

  4. King’s Dead by Kendrick Lamar - MISS ME WITH THAT BULLSH*T! If you were looking for a “traditional” sounding K.Dot song then this is the one. The beat brings it and the features by Jay Rock and Future really bring that extra eyyyyyyy we’re looking for in a workout song.  Just when you think this song is done - oh snap, James Blake on it! Everything changes from here and Kendrick Lamar takes us home.

  5. X by ScHoolboy Q - I’ll admit it, I don’t even know who or what a ScHoolboy Q is, but I’m into it now. We’re now entering the part of this list where you could shuffle 5-8 and they’ll be about the same in the workoutable measurement. At this point it’s just really good background music that will keep you going during your workout. I’m putting this song at 5 out of respect to 2 Chainz and his feature.

  6. Big Shot by Kendrick Lamar - Please, please, please don’t kill me for putting this at six since Houston’s own Travis Scott is on this track. I really like this song, but to me it falls into the category where the songs really don’t pop, but still are good workout songs. Bonus to Scott for always mentioning Houston on major projects.

  7. Opps by Vince Staples - I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I can already tell you this song’s instrumental will be used in the most dope fight scene we’ve ever seen in the Marvel Universe. This song will bring it so hard in the movie, but as for a workout song? It’s just another song. I have a feeling most will not agree on this ranking.

  8. Black Panther by Kendrick Lamar - If you LOVE Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical mastery then this song is for you, but it really doesn’t have that IT factor for a workout song so it comes in at eight.

  9. Paramedic!  by SOB x RBE - Good beat, catchy chorus, and features from a bunch of guys, but man this song just doesn’t work for me. You might like it, but this one won’t be making my workout playlist.  

  10. Bloody Waters by Ab-Soul - See above. (Sidenote, this song is a setup for King’s Dead so it does flow nicely if you put em back to back like they are on the soundtrack.)

  11. The Ways by Khalid - We’ve now hit the portion of the list where the tracks are really good for a cool down or warm-up. Need to bring that heart rate down some? Put on this love ballad and just let Khalid and Swae Lee bring a smile to your face as you check out your gym crush that can bench more than you.

  12. I Am by Jorja Smith - I can’t get Jorja’s voice out of my head. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful. Damn, this is such a good song to have on while you’re setting the mood with that special someone, but I just can’t see myself using this in the gym. Maybe for couples yoga or sitting in the sauna just so I can make it awkward for others in there with me.

  13. Seasons by Mozzy - This song doesn’t have workout beat you need, but damn Reason brings it in this song.

 

So there you go, enjoy this soundtrack and movie! Let me know what you think by tweeting me @The_Raheel.

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Examining the Houston Astros' reported interest in free agent catcher Willson Contreras

Willson Contreras could give the Astros some extra pop in the lineup. Composite image by Brandon Strange.

“The Hot Stove League” is the nickname given to Major League Baseball's offseason. In particular, the free agent signing period in late November/early December. Trades are also made during this period. Now that Astros' owner Jim Crane has ousted all opposition to his idea of how things should be run, he's free to do things the way he sees fit.

He opened it by not hiring a general manager to replace James Click. Instead, he opted for a committee of assistant GMs. Those guys are assisted by some special advisors, like former Astros great Jeff Bagwell. Crane likes and wants to take a big swing at things. He'd probably hit about .250 with 30-plus home runs every season. Can't leave out his guaranteed 80-100 strikeouts. Typical power hitter. It's all or nothing, except Crane has been making great contact and knocking some things out of the park.

Signing Jose Abreu was an example. Yuli Gurriel looked as if he was losing the battle with “Father Time” during the regular season. This was an insurance policy at first, and designated hitter. Another prime example is their reported interest in C/DH/LF Willson Contreras. His bat would be a major upgrade over past Astro catchers. Although Martin Maldonado may not be going anywhere, having a quality bat to relieve him is key. Add the fact that he plays some outfield, and he's almost a “two birds with one stone” type of signing.

Abreu may be 35 years old, but he's coming off a year hitting .304 with 15 home runs. Contreras may be the younger of the two at 30, but his .243 average hurts the fact that he hit 22 home runs. Both sport an OPS above .800 for their careers. Bagwell said he wants Yordan Alvarez to play left field 45% of the time. The other 55% can be Contreras, Chas McCormick (assuming Jake Meyers is still in the mix for center field), and whoever else they sign or bring up from Sugar Land. When Contreras isn't in left, he needs to be behind the plate or hitting DH. I'd really love the idea of him sitting under Maldonado's learning tree for a year and taking over catcher long-term. Not many can be the catcher "Machete" is, but hitting 50 points better than him has its advantages.

Then there's the reported interest other teams have in Justin Verlander. Supposedly, the Mets have met with him via Zoom. The Dodgers are interested and are seemingly the leaders in the clubhouse to sign him. However, I wouldn't count Crane and crew out. He may come to JV last minute and offer him something comparable in order to keep him around. He strikes me as the type of guy who'll keep his plays close to the vest, then make a Godfather type of offer. He negotiated Verlander's last deal with the team himself. Coming off a World Series win, Cy Young win, and opting out of said deal, Verlander is most likely looking to get one final payday that'll also land him on a contender.

Having a winner is one thing. Having a winner committed to winning long-term is another. Crane wants to strike while the iron is hot. Sure, he wants his franchise to be sustainable. But he also wants to keep the World Series window open as long as possible. Kyle Tucker's next deal will be one to watch. Having an embarrassment of riches on the pitching staff means you have trade bait. Keep an eye on old Jimmy Crane. I think he might be the best thing to hit Houston sports in quite some time.

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