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A Bipartisan Summer Playlist From the Congressmen Behind the Music Modernization Act

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) make an unlikely pair, but they share a devotion to getting things done in Washington, as well as a genuine love of music.

On Thursday, the Senate is expected to markup the Music Modernization Act, which passed the House unanimously in late April. But the pair of Congressmen most responsible for the most complicated part of the bill have already moved on — to a bipartisan prison reform bill.

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) make an unlikely pair — Rep. Collins represents one of the most conservative districts in the U.S., in rural Georgia, while Rep. Jeffries represents parts of liberal Brooklyn and Queens. But they share a devotion to getting things done in Washington, as well as a genuine love of music.

Both said they were tracking the progress of their bill in the Senate — “you don’t do as much as we’ve done and not follow it,” Rep. Collins says — and that they remained optimistic. “Hopefully, given the incredible support for the bill in the Capitol,” Rep. Jeffries says, “the Senate will be able to get something meaningful done.”

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In the meantime, they shared with Billboard “Doug & Hakeem’s Summertime Heat” playlist, along with some comments on their favorite songs. Although President Obama was known for making playlists, few politicians do so, and it’s unusual to see lawmakers from different parties work together on anything like this. As Rep. Collins and Rep. Jeffries sat in Rep. Collins’ office in the Capitol, they talked about music, what sounds best in summer, and their mutual love of Ice Cube‘s “It Was a Good Day.” Apparently, early ’90s gangsta rap has bipartisan appeal. 

Check out their track listing below, with commentary from Collins and Jeffriees. 

Otis Redding, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”

Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come” 
Jeffries:
 “This isn’t partisan! It’s about, hopefully, the first step to ending mass incarceration.”

TobyMac, “I Just Need U”
Collins:
 “Most people wouldn’t associate this with Christian music, but it is.”

T.I. and Jay-Z, feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, “Swagga Like Us”
Jeffries:
 “That’s mine, but it’s an ode to Georgia.”

Luke Combs, “When It Rains It Pours”

Queen Latifah, “U.N.I.T.Y.”

AC/DC, “You Shook Me All Night Long”

Ne-Yo, “Beautiful Monster”

Ice Cube, “It Was A Good Day”
Collins:
 “You put that in there but I was going to.”

Notorious B.I.G., “Sky’s the Limit”
Jeffries:
 “That’s mine — he’s from my district.”

Zedd, “Clarity”
Collins:
“That’s mine — I love electronic music.”

2Pac, “Thugz Mansion”

Kenny Chesney, “El Cerrito Place”

DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”
Jeffries:
“I didn’t want to put in “All I Do Is Win” because I didn’t want to be too bragadocious.”