Put Your Money 💵 on These 15 Put Songs | Playlist 🎧

6. Silk Sonic, “Put on a Smile”  

💿 An Evening with Silk Sonic • 🏷 Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic • 🗓 2021 

“When I called you out your name / That was my ego, my pride and pain,” 🎙 Anderson .Paak asserts in the first verse of 🎵 “Put on a Smile.” He continues singing on the 💿 An Evening with Silk Sonic standout, “I should be a movie star / The way I play the part like everything’s okay.” So, what’s his point?  Even though he acts like he doesn’t think about her while he’s out partying and living it up, he’s lying – he’s utterly infatuated.   

🎙 Bruno Mars, the other half of the 🏆 Grammy-nominated duo 🎙 Silk Sonic, confirms this in the chorus:

“Tryna put on a smile

Tryna fight these tears from cryin’

But Lord knows I’m dyin’, dyin’

Tryna put on a smile, smile (Put on a smile)

Ooh, out here smilin’ like a fool.” 

My, my, my! “Put on a Smile,” the sixth track from An Evening with Silk Sonic, features electrifying vocals, arguably, some of the most elite of the album.  It’s Mars’ soaring pipes that impress the most, on the chorus, with .Paak locking things down over the course of two verses.  Also impressive are the harmonic progression, the fat bass line, and the soulful, throwback aesthetic presented.  “Put on a Smile” is old-school, but it’s old-school that sounds fresh and refreshing in the 2020s.

Appears in 🔽:

• 13 More Songs Sure to Make You Smile
  

7. Jazmine Sullivan, “Put It Down”  

💿 Heaux Tales • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2021

“I was damn near willing to just let him talk to me / Because that shit was out of this world,” R&B standout 🎙 Ari Lennox asserts on 🎵 “Ari’s Tale,” a spoken-word skit from 💿 Heaux Tales, the 2021 🏆 Grammy-nominated comeback album from 🎙 Jazmine Sullivan.  On the interlude, which sets up our song at hand, 🎵 “Put It Down,” Lennox speaks about the power of the D (“That dick spoke life into me”).  From there, Jazmine plays off the power of ‘the D,’ just as Ari expresses in her skit.

Prime examples of pleasure from Suillvan include “He keep me wetter than water” and “He’s so big, call him King Kong.” Oh boy, that’s a lot of BOY! Sorry – couldn’t resist! On “Put it Down,” Sullivan manages to balance her classic, elite, God-given vocals with the more modern, hip-hop-infused R&B sound of the 2010s/20s.  Lyrically, “Put it Down” isn’t transcendent (DUH, it’s about D) but it’s certainly stimulating and titillating.

“I can’t help it, it’s a shame what he do to me (Me)

My girls ask me what it is, I say, ‘It’s the D’ (D)

I start going out my mind when he come around (‘Round)

That’s why he gets all my time ‘cause he put it down

He put it down (Put it down, put it down, put it down).”

8. Ritt Momney, “Put Your Records On”

🎵 “Put Your Records On” • 🏷 Disruptor / Columbia • 📅 2020

🎙 Ritt Momney – what a name, right? Of course, Salt Lake City singer 🎙 Jack Rutter’s stage name is a play on the famous politician’s name, Mitt Romney.  While the name is interesting, more intriguing is Momney’s unique reinterpretation of the 🎙 Corinne Bailey Rae classic, 🎵 “Put Your Records On.”  Where Bailey Rae opted for soft, pop-infused soul with more acoustic elements, Rutter embraces electronics, modernizing the 🏆 Grammy-nominated hit from 2006.   

For the members of Gen-Z who had never heard the original, “Put Your Records On” in the hands of Momney feels right.  The song features clean, inoffensive lyrics, and just makes you feel good when you listen to it.  In Rutter’s hands, he captures this same aesthetic, even as he contrasts Bailey Rae as a male singing the memorable, tuneful chorus.  Additional contrast to the original includes ample, inescapable vocal effects (pitch shift, reverb).  Purists will cry foul, but with autotune and various vocal effects ‘all the rage,’ the ear’s used to be stretched with the human voice not sounding human.  Furthermore, Rutter plays around with the tempo, which adds another individual touch to the established aughts classic.  There are lots of things to like honestly with Rutter reminding us how great the original is, while also making us appreciate his distinct, fresh cover.

Appears in 🔽:

• Corinne Bailey Rae vs. Ritt Momney: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 23 (2021)

 9. Yo Gotti, “Put a Date on It” (Ft. Lil Baby)

💿 Untrapped • 🏷 Inevitable II / Epic • 📅 2020

“Why you competin’ with me, nigga / We are not playing with the same check.” Memphis rapper 🎙 Yo Gotti is almost always good for a banger.  With an assist from 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Lil Baby, he drops another infectious banger, 🎵 “Put a Date on It”.  Released in 2019, the single would ultimately appear on Gotti’s 2020 album, 💿 Untrapped.

What makes “Put a Date on It” shine? The production (🎛 June James) slaps hard, anchored by a trap beat, with epic synths atop (including a horn synth).  This is perfect fuel for the fire, and the fire begins with a lengthy, but epic hook performed by both rappers. The rhymes aren’t game changing, but plenty of game is spit, whether it’s the “Sack coming in and the money don’t fold / Gotta put a stamp on it,” or “Runnin’ through the money and the bitch keep callin’ / Hold up she gon’ have to wait on it.” Beyond the chorus, Yo Gotti does his thing in the first verse, talking $hit as always (“Edibles, I’m tryna fuck ‘em the same night / I put two hoes on the same flight”).  Lil Baby is true to self in the second verse, serving up a familiar but highly effective flow (“If she suck good dick, she gon’ leave with a purse”).  Ultimately, it bangs!

10. Akinyele, “Put it in Your Mouth” (Ft. Kia Jeffries)

💿 Aktapuss • 🏷 Devastator / Honey Tongue / LJ2 Recordings • 📅 1999

It’s no secret that guys feel some type of way about their junk and by junk, I’m talking ‘below the belt.’ 🎙 Akinyele is a prime example.  There’s no subtlety whatsoever on 🎵 “Put it in Your Mouth,” the closing track from his 1999 album, 💿 Aktapuss. Pleasure to the D is firmly on his mind, and he gets an assist from an equally sexed-up 🎙 Kia Jeffries. Riding 🎙 Al Green (🎵 “I’m Glad You’re Mine”) and 🎙 Brick (🎵 “Fun”) samples, “Put it in Your Mouth” is something else. 

“Put it in Your Mouth” commences classy enough, with Kia Jeffries singing about her baby leaving her.  Well, she ends up going to his best friend’s house, and that’s where the ‘fun’ begins.  Jeffries ask for his… in her mouth.  Put two and two together. Akinyele joins her for this filthy chorus before dropping a filthier, X-rated verse.  “You wanna go down, why not?” he raps, continuing, “I be like Herbie and Hand-you-a-Cock.” Holy fucking moly! He continues down the rabbit hole, spitting, “And fuck chapsticks / I’m comin’ ashy as hell, wit chapped dicks / For your chapped ass lips down in my mouth.” By the way, the down in my mouth lyrics hail from Kia, who is eager for his… The outlandish sugar honey iced tea continues with the likes of “Numbing up your tonsils, like Anbesol anesthetic / Cummin’ down your throat like Chloraseptic” and “I’m givin’ bitches permanent beards.” Wow!  As eyebrow-raising as the constant references to B.J.s are, perhaps it’s a progressive reference that’s more surprising:

“What do you choose to lick

Pussy or dicks?

People throughout the world

Man, it’s your pick.”

From whatever perspective you examine that line, it’s clearly queer, which is unexpected from late 90s rap.

11. Niall Horan, “Put a Little Love on Me”

💿 Heartbreak Weather • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

On his sophomore album, 💿 Heartbreak Weather, Irish pop singer/songwriter 🎙 Niall Horan shines on the radiant ballad, 🎵 “Put a Little Love on Me”. “Put a Little Love on Me” was released prior to Heartbreak Weather as an advance single.  Although it’s one of the sadder moments on the album, it ranks among the crème de la crème.  Horan wrote the ballad alongside 🎼✍ Jamie Scott, 🎼✍ Daniel Bryer, and 🎼✍ Mike Needle.

So, why does “Put a Little Love on Me” shine? One reason is because of how relatable it is.  Here, Horan struggles to cope with the end of a relationship.

“When the lights come up and there’s no shadows dancin’

I look around as my heart is collapsin’

‘Cause you’re the only one I need

To put a little love on me.”

Sigh, that poor, handsome, hunky former 1D member! Anyways, with great lyrics, and a strong vocal performance, “Put a Little Love on Me” is terrific.  Furthermore, shout out the production by Bryer and Scott, which features strings 🎻.

12. The-Dream, “Put it Down”

💿 Love vs. Money • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 📅 2009

“Oh, baby, stop whatcha doing / And bring your little body up, up in this bed / Have you ever had somebody do it to you / While they was playing in your hair?” 🎙 The-Dream is a master at sex, or at least that’s the case when it comes to his music. He’s very much from the 🎙 R. Kelly school, sans the controversies! In the aughts, 🎙 Terius Nash delivered some truly epic contemporary R&B albums.  Furthermore, he lent his songwriting and production craft to many artists including Beyoncé (🎵 “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”).  One of my favorite albums by The-Dream was 2009’s masterpiece, 💿 Love vs. Money where the sex was L-I-T.  Among the steamiest songs was the fifth track, 🎵 “Put It Down.”

Nash produced the five-minute slow jam alongside 🎛 L.O.S. Da Mystro.  The sound is sexy, with its ripe synths and rhythmic beat.  Also rhythmic is The-Dream’s melody (some hip-hop flavor), delivered by his gorgeous tenor.  Here, Nash spits ample game, all of which is centered around – wait for it – SEX!

“I’m all up on you like a monster truck

I’m all up on you like shawty what’s up

I’m all up on you like a white tee on a thug

If you can hear me baby put your hands up

And when they ask about me you say

He put it down, put it down, put it down, put it down, put it down.”

Those lyrics speak for themselves, right?

13. Jaheim, “Put That Woman First”

💿 Still Ghetto • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2002

🎙 Jaheim might be 💿 Still Ghetto in 2002, but he 🎵 “Put That Woman First”! “When she starts bringin’ up old dirt / And the fights keep gettin’ worse,” the 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B artist sings in the chorus, continuing, “Findin’ numbers in her purse / Better put that woman first.” Phew, he’s got a point! Why? Well, it appears he could lose her!

As always, Ja brings class as well as the streets – he is Still Ghetto after all. The lyrics of “Put That Woman First” have hip-hop swagger, idiomatic of the streets. Even so, vocally, Jaheim possesses one of the smoothest instruments in the game, blending 🎙 Teddy Pendergrass and 🎙 Luther Vandross.  The verses find him highlighting his biggest mistake: “I forgot to be your lover.” At least he sees the error of his ways on this 🎛 Kay Gee-produced gem.

14. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “I Put a Spell on You”

💿 At Home with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins • 🏷 Epic • 📅 1958 

“I put a spell on you / Because you’re mine (oh yeah).” I’d argue one of the scariest songs of all time is 🎵 “I Put a Spell on You.”  The thing is, the often covered classic isn’t AS scary in the hands of some of the musicians who’ve covered it, including 🎙 Nina Simone and 🎙 Annie Lennox. In the hand of the original performer and writer, however, “I Put a Spell on You” is terrifying! Hmm, I guess he wasn’t called 🎙 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins for nothing!

The blues musician and idiosyncratic personality has a ‘robust’ voice –UNDERSTATEMENT.  His screams are monstrous – rawr! Of this legendary song (the 320^th best), Rolling Stone asserts:

“Former boxer Jalacy J. Hawkins got loaded on muscatel before shrieking out the hoodoo of ‘Spell on You,’ and it took a healthy swig of J&B for him to re-create his studio performance onstage, where he climbed out of a coffin.”

A coffin, huh? Wild! When Screamin’ Jay Hawkins sings, “I put a spell on you / Because you’re mine,” there’s truly a creepy factor in play.  When he says, “Watch out / I ain’t lyin’,” you take him at his word.  Making things even creepier are the laughs… my, my, my!  The saxophone 🎷 solo is even a bit unsettling to be honest! Worth noting, this is an oft-sampled record for good reason – it’s a surefire classic!

15. Donny Hathaway, “Put Your Hand in the Hand”

💿 Donny Hathaway • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 197

🏆 Grammy-winning musician 🎙 Donny Hathaway lived just 33 years old but left an indelible mark on music.  He is renowned for originals (🎵 “This Christmas”) and reinterpretations like the spiritually fueled 🎵 “Put Your Hand in the Hand”.  “Put Your Hand in the Hand” was written by Canadian singer/songwriter 🎙 Gene MacLellan.  It was originally recorded by Canadian🎙 Anne Murray on her 1970 album, 💿 Honey, Wheat & Laughter, before short-lived Canadian band 🎙 Ocean recorded it, making it a huge pop hit in 1971. 🎛 Arif Mardin and 🎛 Jerry Wexler did a marvelous job where the production is concerned.

“Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea

Take a look at yourself, and you can look at others differently

Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.”

While versions by Murray and Ocean exhibit gospel-pop flavor, Donny Hathaway transforms the classic into a full-blown, gospel-soul gem. You might say that it’s the Hathaway version that truly feels like a proponent of spiritual refreshment 🙌.  “Put Your Hand in the Hand” commences with a masterful, bluesy piano introduction, which hails directly from the black church. Soon enough, things evolve into even more soulful means, thanks to Hathaway’s assertive, spirited vocals, and fuller instrumentation including organ, guitar, bass, drums, and gospel choir.  Not only is this a spirit-catching gospel song, it’s also a clinic on musicianship.  There are numerous key modulations – far less common today – further amplifying the energy and overall spiritual vibe. MacLellan penned a classic on his own while a young, innovative Hathaway ran with it and made it his own.  Donny truly brought “Put Your Hand in the Hand” to the church!

Appears in 🔽:

• You’ve Got to Hand It to These 13 Hand Songs
• Donny Hathaway, “Put Your Hand in the Hand”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 7 (2022)