Beyoncé, Drake, Mary J. Blige: 10 Perfect Songs To Play At Your 4th Of July Cookout

If there's one day of the year that screams summertime very loudly, it's the 4th of July.

It's when fireworks are heard near and far, it's when many of the beaches seem to be most full and it's the perfect holiday to fire up the grill and invite some friends over.

But what songs should you play at your 4th of July cookout? Surely, the tunes will have to be at least somewhat mellow, because most backyard barbecues aren't full-on dance parties, they're gatherings for people to relax and chill a little.

Below we've listed 10 of the perfect songs that'll go off incredibly well this weekend, whether you're having a small number of guests or a massive crowd.

1. Outkast, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik"

Obviously, one of the greatest groups of all time has a bevy of classic cuts to play at your cookout, but this is one of their first releases and most beloved tunes.

2. May J. Blige, "Be Happy"

The catchy guitar lick and Mary's soulful vocals make this gem a cookout classic.

3. D'Angelo, "Cruisin'"

It's hard to pull of a well-known Smokey Robinson cut, but Richmond, Va.'s favorite soul-singer did this one justice.

4. Beyoncé, Feat. Ghostface Killah, "Summertime"

If there's one song that has that true cookout, summery feel, it's this one.

5. Jay Z "Feelin' It"

Since it's the 20th anniversary of Hov's "Reasonable Doubt" album, you've got to play at least one of its tunes. Plus, "Feelin' It" is the ideal song to put on as you fire up the grill.

6. Drake, Feat. Alicia Keys, "Fireworks"

For its title alone, this one has 4th of July cookout written all over it.

7. A Tribe Called Quest, "Check The Rhime"

It seems like much of Tribe's music consists of chill-out barbecue tunes, so why not play one of their most popular cuts?

8. Estelle, "American Boy"

The nice groove and soothing vocals on this one will certainly have heads nodding at your barbecue.

9. Scarface, "On My Block"

You can't have a backyard shindig without a little Scarface, right?

10. Snoop Dogg And Wiz Khalifa, "Young Wild And Free," Feat. Bruno Mars

The perfect song to play as your cookout moves from evening to night.