The University of Wisconsin’s annual Mifflin Street Block Party is this Saturday! Like any event, music can make or break the experience, so no matter where the day takes you, make sure to come prepared with a soundtrack.
This curation introduces songs into pregame playlists with new tracks from established artists like Travis Scott and glossed-over records from Beyoncé’s extensive catalogue. Still, throwbacks are a necessity. Familiar favorites add fuel to a function’s fire, connecting everyone to a nostalgic, instantly recognizable sound. This weekend, you can balance both sensibilities with these ten party rock anthems.
“CRAZY (feat. PinkPantheress)” by LE SSERAFIM, PinkPantheress
Featuring the princess of hyperpop herself, PinkPantheress, “CRAZY” by K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM showcases the best of the genre — repetitive, almost unintelligible lyrics to a high-energy beat. The girls offer good advice for the weekend ahead, singing, “Act like an angel and dress like crazy.”
“Club classics featuring bb trickz” by Charli xcx, Bb trickz
In another international partnership, Charli xcx collaborates with Spanish rapper Bb trickz on a remix of track 2 on her culturally defining album “Brat.” This version of “Club classics” features a snappy Spanish verse before a deep, distorted bridge. “Club classics featuring bb trickz” further proves the case international duos make great hyperpop songs.
“212” by Azealia Banks, Lazy Jay
Named one of Billboard’s “Songs That Defined the Decade,” the 2011 hit mixes house and hip in a brash club beat. Showcasing her vocal range and lyrical flow, “212” is a career-defining track for Azealia Banks. She also has an impressive knack for duking it out with cultural heavy-hitters. She’s engaged in public feuds with practically everyone on Earth, from Elon Musk to Beyoncé. I’m not saying you should get into a bar fight this Saturday, but if you do, “212” should be bumping the background.
“No Hands” by Waka Flocka Flame, Roscoe Dash, Wale
Truly an equalizer of the masses, I have never seen anyone retreat from the dancefloor when “No Hands” plays at a party. The song commands your attention from the very first line — “Listen to this track, bitch!”
“Long Way 2 Go” by Cassie
For those who have heard Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” one too many times, “Long Way 2 Go” off of Cassie’s self-titled debut has the same impact in her own cute, sassy way. The classic, sultry, 2000s instrumental shines along with attitude-filled lyrics. “You wanna please me? Got a long way to go,” she sings to a man who is not worth her time, endearingly relatable to many party-goers.
“HEATED” by Beyoncé
At the 2025 Grammys, Beyoncé won Album of the Year for the first time in her career, two years after her dance pop house perfection “Renaissance” was snubbed by Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House” at the 2023 Grammys. Song 11 on the album, “HEATED” exemplifies ballroom/drag culture with a track made for dancing. It features the lyric, “Uncle Johnny made my dress,” an homage to her Uncle Johnny, a gay man and godmother who introduced her to the culture and music that inspired this album.
“Alter Ego (with JT)” by Doechii, JT
Doechii rose to fame last year with her Grammy-winning mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” released in August 2024. Just before she put out the smash hit, “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” Doechii blessed listeners with “Alter Ego.” The song has that perfect loudness that gets your heart pumping, but Doechii brings it back down effortlessly with a borderline angelic chorus.
“Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap
Released in 2015, “Trap Queen” was an instant classic, and if you remember listening to it the first time around, I promise it only gets better with time. Currently, we are in a Fetty Wap renaissance with his hit, “Again,” reentering the Billboard Hot 100 after a 10-year hiatus. “Trap Queen,” though, has far more iconic lyrics and a better beat, so run it back to the middle school soundtrack this weekend.
“No Pole” by Don Toliver
This is a guilty pleasure song of mine. I listen to it more than I would like to admit, but it is hard to deny its addictiveness. Hip-hop meets lo-fi in the calm, slowed-down beat of “No Pole.” Despite underperforming on the charts, the song remains Don Toliver’s most-streamed song to date.
“4X4” by Travis Scott
The latest release from hitmaker Travis Scott, “4X4” is the type of track that sounds so much better when it is blasting out your eardrums. If his smash hit “FE!N” has grown tired, “4X4” offers a less aggressive, more vibey take on the classic Travis Scott sound.
