Ever need that one song to get you up the Hill to class or just to power through a rainy day? Presented here is the amalgamation of years of campus walking experience as well as some really groovin’ selections to keep you trucking. Check back again in October for another edition of the KJHK Collaborative Playlist, and consider giving this one a whirl the next time you have to trudge your way to Wescoe for a discussion section.
Name: Kyle Wernimont
Year at KU and Major: Junior, Secondary Education
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Content Director, Friday Breakfast for Beatlovers
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Three Bedrooms In A Good Neighborhood” by Death Grips: Let me make three things clear: 1. I take my campus walking music very seriously, 2. Death Grips is not for everyone and 3. It’s not necessarily a “bop”. That being said, this is my choice for Campus Walk Bop, or rather Campus Walk Slam or Campus Walk Mosh Pit Starter. When all I am is late to class and really sweaty from the copious amounts of walking, I need nothing less than the most in-your-face, brain melting soundscapes of MC Ride and Zach Hill. Coming off of their 2016 tour-de-force Bottomless Pit, the sounds that Death Grips craft on this are arguably their most “radio friendly”. Yet as a sometimes thrash metal fan, I can’t help but hear some of those same aggressive tendencies displayed on songs like “Bottomless Pit”. “Three Bedrooms…” is a glitchy-Hardcore rave infused banger with some insane drums and a chorus I just can’t get out of my head. The Tech-filled, yet primal beat is the perfect mix of cool and anger that I need to trudge my way up the hill to the Education building every day. I highly recommend listening to all of Bottomless Pit if you need a campus walk soundtrack, but especially “Three Bedrooms In A Good Neighborhood” if you’ve got somewhere you need to be and need the energy to get there. “Three Bedrooms…” is that energy.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Patrick Kennedy
Year at KU and Major: Senior studying Geography
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Director, Co-host of “It’s Not a Phase”
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Diving Woman” by Japanese Breakfast: The first song off of Jbrekkie’s 2nd album Soft Sounds From Another Planet. I kind of have a love / hate relationship with this song as my walking song just because I can get a little too into it as I’m walking to class, and then I have people witnessing my ugly half dance / half walk all the way down Jayhawk Boulevard. The other reason is because the song is six and a half minutes long, which means I have to be careful when I start the song on the way to class because one of two things will happen: If I start too late then I’ll have the song interrupted by my professor starting class (rude right?), but If I start too early then the following song “Road Head” will start and at that point I really have no choice to just listen to the rest of the album instead of going to class (ok this has never actually happened but that bass line is strong enough to at least make me consider.)
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Kade Schoenfeldt
Year at KU and Major: Freshman, Biochemistry/Spanish
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Wide Awake” from Parquet Courts’ similarly titled 2018 album, “Wide Awake!”
This song has everything I could ask for in a walk bop: a ridiculously danceable percussion section, groovy bassline, and vocals that end up sounding more like yelling than singing. But somehow, A. Savage finds a way to make his voice sound melodic in its own special way throughout a very chaotic song. To add to the organized chaos, Parquet Courts litter the song with random whistles and adlibs that shouldn’t sound good but do anyway, because Parquet Courts. The lines “Movin’ and groovin’ and I ain’t ever losin’ the pace” are exactly the kind of motivation I need as I attempt the impossible task of crossing campus in 10 minutes. A. Savage and Parquet Courts delve further into Clash-esque punk and satirical material more than ever on this album, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Pair all of this musical goodness with a refreshing iced coffee, and you’ll be well on your way head-banging to your next class.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Miranda Roberts
Year at KU and Major: Junior, Marketing
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Director, Host of Hickory Wind
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Debbie” by Your Smith:
“Debbie” by Your Smith, formerly Caroline Smith, is a campus walking 101. I don’t give campus tours, but I really think they should consider having this playing if they want to increase enrollment rate. No matter how tired I am (8 a.m. or 4 p.m.), this groovy electro-pop gives me the energy I need to get to class. Caroline Smith just changed her name to Your Smith in the spirit of new beginnings and released her debut EP “Bad Habit.” The whole EP is 14 minutes long, the perfect length for me to bop my way to class. I guess I’ll never know if the sweat originates from hauling hills or from jammin a little too hard, but I cannot think of a better way to do it.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Claire Monroe
Year at KU and Major: Freshman, Visual Communications
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Local block every Tuesday
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Pray for Pills” by Small Leaks Sink Ships:
Since I am relatively ~new~ at walking around on campus I am still feeling out what makes a good Campus Walk Bop. I have recently gotten into Small Leaks Sink Ships, particularly their EP “Oak Street Basement”. Lately I’ve just listened to this EP on my way to and from various classes and this song kicks it off and always immediately Does It™️. I like the energy behind the vocals and guitar lines and I find it to be great for when I’m on that godforsaken bus 43 surrounded by people and uhhhh… just. want. to. scream???? I love fighting chaos with more chaos, i.e. this song.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Cami Koons
Year at KU and Major: Sophomore. Journalism, Film and Media Studies
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Arts and Culture Director
Your Campus Walk Bop: Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand by The Primitive Radio Gods
You probably don’t know this song by its excessively long title, but you might recognize it from the 1996 movie, The Cable Guy. My parents discovered this movie and consequently this mellow bop when we lived here in Lawrence, and I presume that’s when I first heard it. Years later, I find it’s my favorite song to walk up and down Jayhawk Blvd. Maybe its the nostalgia I associate with it, but I like to think that its just a great song. The beat fits my stride, there’s a bell in the background that might as well be the Campanile, and the lyrics are contemplative metaphors (a staple in 90s alternative jams). Plus, Primitive Radio Gods is a darn good band name.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Christian Toth
Year at KU and Major: Freshman, Journalism – Strategic Communications
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Tuesday 12 am – 3am
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Finger Poppin Time” by Hank Ballard
Truly an untold classic, Finger Poppin Time by Hank Ballard, A Grammy nominated hit in 1960 and featured in the classic 1993 movie The Sandlot. A movie that includes true grit and America’s favorite pastime, baseball. When really dwelling into the 1950’s-60’s pop jazz era I found many accounts of boppin music but this song really struck me with the classical swing and smooth beat. A swinging bass line with a guitar chorus and the luxurious voice of Hank Ballard provides a fresh and consistent sway to the song. A great addition to any Little Richard or Dion playlist, this song is something to not only walk and bop to, but to strut … your …stuff!
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Ashley Arnold
Year at KU and Major: Junior – English Creative Writing, Journalism Minor
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: DJ and Street Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: Short Skirt / Long Jacket – Cake
I’m sure you’ve heard it, just watch the video.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Peter Kintu
Year at KU and Major: Senior, Political Science/ History
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: no clue
Your Campus Walk Bop: Dean Martin Steaks – Roc Marciano (prod. The Alchemist)
Since our good friend Kyle already took Death Grips, a personal favorite, I was forced to to pick a couple of hip hop legends. Roc Marciano is known for his reserved delivery and tame cadence paired with clever and luxurious bars. Early on in his career he was signed to Busta Rhymes then branched off to create his own style of rhyme schemes and production. His producer on this track hardly needs an introduction. Arguably the most consistent producer that ever graced the genre, Alchemist has been pumping out project after project that remain staples in his collaborating rapper’s discographies, as well as providing completely instrumental albums that stand out on their own. His awkward approach to sample arrangement and dense layering has made his music fresh sound fresh for close to 20 years, a tough feat for almost any musician. This specific track contains a grimey low end loving instrumental with some decent Marciano bars. Perfect for a little boost before an hour and a half long class.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Jordan Doss
Year at KU and Major: Sophomore, Business Administration
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Arts and Culture staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Debaser” by the Pixies
From the starting bass line, to the guitar riff, to the driving vocals, this is my perfect early morning or midday pick up song. It just gets me going and ready to take on whatever the next class is gonna throw at me.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Natalie Lindsey
Year at KU and Major: Freshman, Journalism major with a minor in Film
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Content Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Voldemort” by With Confidence
Okay the name is really misleading at first I promise. The song is super upbeat and positive which I feel is an awesome way to start a day. I always listen to this song literally every morning. So while the title may seem a little dark…the song is not and it is one that I think a lot of people will enjoy for their morning campus walks and in general.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Parker Freeman
Year at KU and Major: Senior, Strategic Communication
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Production Director
Your Campus Walk Bop: Make 1, 2 – Arthur Russell
Listen to it. If you aren’t at least tapping your foot, you don’t have a soul. Anyway, Arthur Russell was/is criminally unknown and underrated. Check him out and pour one out for the homie.. RIP
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Sophie Johnson
Year at KU and Major: Third year, strategic communications
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Communications director, French connection DJ
Your Campus Walk Bop: Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
This is the song that Napoleon Dynamite dances to in the famous, beautiful, and whacky scene in the ever so classic Napoleon Dynamite movie. If an awkward lanky dude can whip out amazing dance moves to this song, this song can surely help me bop my way across campus and get me to class on time.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Kalekidan Yeshiwas
Year at KU and Major: Junior, Computer Science
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Technology Director, Host of Stay WoC
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Back Pocket” by Vulfpeck
OK not to be dramatic but this song literally saved me my freshman spring semester. I was in a rUT once it became spring and waking up for class got sooooo hard. Thankfully my roommate played this song for me and it became my walking anthem, as I had the song on repeat walking around campus. The song doesn’t fail to make me smile, plus the music video is also cute as hell.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Kelly-Marie Ramirez
Year at KU and Major: Sophomore
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: DJ/ Live Music
Your Campus Walk Bop: Big D**k ( am I allowed to say that?) Energy- Rico Nasty
I love rico nasty, this song makes me feel like a bad b. what more can i say? besides LISTEN TO MORE FEMALE RAPPERS.
On a more chill note: Yam Yam- No Vacation
Sweet melodies and catchy lyrics that make me feel like im a art major in a cult-favorite movie, this song puts me in my feels in the best way~
Youtube or other streaming link:
No Vacation:
RICO NASTYYYY:
Name: Lily Swanson
Year at KU and Major: Freshman, Film (and media studies if we want to be fancy about it.)
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: TBD
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Walking In LA” by Missing Persons. It’s upbeat, cheesy, and delightfully New Wave. Also it’s about how it sucks not to have a car, so yeah :/
Also “Picture Book” by The Kinks has been on heavy rotation lately.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Grace Lindsey
Years at KU and Major: Freshman, Secondary Education
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staff(?)
Your Campus Walk Bop: Lately I have been loving Saint Ivy by the Beach Fossils. This bop is suited for most moments, yet I personally think it is perfect for when you are walking and boppin’ to class. The various amounts of instruments used in the song has the ability to wake one up in the morning and has a very positive upbeat sound to keep one happy all throughout their day. So while the classes may be tough, this song always manages to keep me going.
Youtube or Streaming Link:
Name: Daniel Tomkins
Years at KU and Major: Junior, English
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Breakfast for Beatlovers DJ
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Does This Ski Mask Make Me Look Fat?” – JPEGMAFIA
Issa bop.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Jaya Chakka
Years at KU and Major: Sophomore; Behavioral Neuroscience / Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staffer
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Lisztomania” by Phoenix
This is one of those feel-good, light-hearted songs that makes you feel like the main character of an idyllic college movie. It’s upbeat enough to comfortably maintain a walking pace without feeling like you should be sprinting to your next class (and not enjoying the beautiful scenery of the KU campus). Plus, Phoenix is a nostalgic bands that everyone knows and remembers fondly. What’s not to like?
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Sam Blaufuss
Years at KU and Major: Sophomore in Strategic Communications and Film
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Around
Your Campus Walk Bop: 2Pac -How Do U Want It
The smoothest jam. Instant mood improver.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Karis Brown
Years at KU and Major: Freshman studying Biology
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “still feel.” – half•alive
This song legitimately makes you feel alive, your feet dancing along to the beat of the driving bass and rhythm. Your head can’t help but bop to this jam, it’s funky and wakes you up. So as you’re trudging to your 8am’s, listen to the words “I am not a slave, can’t be contained, so pick me from the dark and pull me from the grave”, ‘cause you “still feel alive”.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Dakota Behrman
Years at KU and Major: Senior – Strategic Communications in the School of Journalism
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Multimedia Staff Member
Your Campus Walk Bop: So Fresh, So Clean – OutKast.
Any walk, anywhere, can be improved with a little bit of Outkast. This song i came to mind when I thought of campus walk anthems because of the smooth instrumental, self-confident lyrics, and because Outkast is GOAT. The beat alone could be the bop you’d want to listen to and step in rhythm. When you hear this song, sing along, and say it to yourself. We should all strive to be fresh and clean. As a matter of fact, why don’t you just go ahead and play the entire Stankonia album. Let your walk get hit with Ms. Jackson, B.O.B, and Humble Mumble. Throw it all in.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Kaylea Keller
Years at KU and Major: Freshman, Undecided
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Content Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Staying Alive”- Bee Gees
If you aren’t feeling the beat after those first few notes, you probably don’t know what a beat is. This song is a perfect oldie to jam to as you walk down the street. The first lyric “Well you can tell by the way I walk” just shows that this song is made for strolling down the road feeling good about yourself. Even though it’s an oldie, it still resonates with that amazingly confident feeling as you strut on the sidewalk. If you’re really feeling this song, you might even decide to start dancing on the street knowing that you don’t really care what anybody else says because you’re awesome. By the time you get to your class, you’ll feel like you can take on anything from acing that final exam to asking out the hottest girl in class (User Advisory: KJHK is not liable if you fail the exam and/or are rejected).
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Savannah Adams
Years at KU and Major: Senior, Microbiology
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staff
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Glorious Warrior” by Electric Guest
If you don’t find yourself trying to walk to the beat while making your way down Jayhawk Boulevard or while trekking up the hill, you’ve got some bigger issues to confront. This song, simply put, bops. The simplicity of the opening drums quickly followed by the synth and guitar makes this undeniably catchy. The chorus of this song shouldn’t be ignored either, as it brings in a breezy and fun tone to keep those toes tapping for the remainder of the day. By the time I finish listening and make it to my class, I truly feel like a “Glorious Warrior.”
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Matthew Stratton
Years at KU and Major: Junior Psychology and German
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Music Staff, rotation DJ taking a break to go abroad
Your Campus Walk Bop: Varúð by Sigur Rós
I still remember the first time hearing this song, heading back to Ellsworth on Daisy Hill after a DJ shift. A call in recommended the album the Album Valtari to me and I was amazed by the beautiful icelandic music. The soaring vocals mixed with the subtle, yet powerful string pieces give such a distinct emotive performance that make me just want to be one with nature. The opening piano notes still to this day give me shivers down my spine. Immediately when i heard this song for the first time I was reminded of the planet earth docuseries and I imagined a time lapse sky over lawrence. This song definitely isn’t a bop, it’s more of a campus ambient walk, but this will no doubt make the world around you a more beautiful place as you walk to class.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Chris “Gorn” Tomkins
Years at KU and Major: Senior (5th year), Mathematics
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Special Program Host – – Malicious Intent
Your Campus Walk Bop: First link: “Alfonso Muskedunder” by Todd Terje
Check it out and you’ll understand it’s a great walking bop.
Second link: “Empire Falls” by Primordial
Here’s my obligatory metal track for y’all. I present to you the opening track to their magnum opus To The Nameless Dead (2007). Whether you’re on your way to an exam or to get a sick workout in, once the chorus comes you’ll feel the full might of one of Ireland’s best metal bands.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Ellie Closen
Years at KU and Major: Junior, Strategic Communications & Visual Art, Minor: Art History
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Live Music Committee
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Free Room” by Ravyn Lenae
This song is definitely a groovy little walk bop! My friend Sophia recently shared it with me and said she’d been listening to it non-stop – I can see why. It is so catchy and fun! It puts the PEP in your STEP as you strut down Jayhawk Blvd.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Olivia Jones
Years at KU and Major: Sophomore: Strategic Communication & History
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Live Music Committee & Saturdays 10pm-midnight
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Dear Sense” by Louis the Child
“Dear Sense” feels like the end of summertime. This song departs from Louis the Child’s typical bass-heavy sound and goes for something a bit more funky and gives off some serious MGMT vibes. It’s just so feel-good. Give it a listen and hopefully you feel more out of breath from dancing than from walking up the hills of KU.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Maggie Witherow
Year at KU and Major: Senior, Graphic Design
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: Creative Director
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Making Flippy Floppy” Talking Heads
This songs saves my Monday blues every time. It has the grooviest of beats!! It’s a classic perfect for walking down Jayhawk Blvd.
Youtube or other streaming link:
Name: Hannah Kroll
Year at KU and Major: 4th year, Architectural Studies and Geography (undergrad), Urban Planning (Masters)
DJ Shift or Position at KJHK: TBD
Your Campus Walk Bop: “Dance Yrself Clean” LCD Soundsystem
This is one of the only songs I can think of where the beat itself gets stuck in my head. It’s infectious, makes me want to dance, and that beat drop gets me so hyped every time I hear it. It’s also long enough to make it most of the way to class.
Youtube or other streaming link: