The Best Spotify Playlists For Every Occasion

Sometimes finding the right, or rather, perfect playlist is the hardest thing in the world.

Spotify offers users several methods of finding the right playlist for the right moment, but it might not always fit the narrative of your emotions. The clever algorithms of the streaming platform can detect what music you will most likely enjoy, but still, thousands of users find themselves hitting the “next” button and skipping through suggested playlists and songs. That being said, it can also be extremely time-consuming to create your own playlists, so it becomes tricky when locating the perfect playlists for yourself, that are ready-made.

Maybe you need something to clear your mind during a late-night drive. Or possibly, you’re throwing a house party and you need a playlist massive enough to allow you to enjoy your surroundings without worrying about being the DJ all night. That’s where we got your back. Contained in this list are the ten playlists on Spotify which are all perfect for different occasions. You won’t find “Rap Caviar” or a “Daily Mix” playlists here, however. Most of these playlists were found by digging through discussion forms, experimenting with different searches, and just naturally running into them on the daily grind. Many of these playlists aren’t even overtly popular, they are more like the hidden gems of Spotify. From hard hitting trap records to lyrical masterpieces, reggae jams to R&B bangers, these are the Spotify playlists you need in your life right now.

Let us know your favorite Spotify playlists in the comments, and while we're here, take a look at some of our own Spotify playlists below (and stay tuned for another shameless plug later in the list).

Follow our FIRE EMOJI playlist on Spotify here.

Follow our G.O.O.D. Music playlist (for a GOOD ASS FRIDAY) here.

Follow our Eminem & 50 Cent: The Hits playlist on Spotify here.

Follow our 420 Wake & Bake playlist on Spotify here (cause, tomorrow).

Best Use: Daytime Driving.

We can all agree that the music we listen to during the daytime drive differs from those night time vibes. This playlist contains the perfect set of bangers to listen to while you're stuck in rush hour traffic on the way to work, or while making your way to complete daily errands.

Best Use: Contemplative Night Vibes.

This playlist is short and sweet. It will fill your car with that ambient emotion that speaks to you when your life is lost in-between dusk and dawn. Expect Drake, Kanye West, and J. Cole to guide you through the night.

Best Use: Everyday tunes.

You trust us to deliver you the most accurate and up to date news, and this playlist reflects the tastes of several of our staff members with the same curated professionalism. Call it a shameless plug if you want, but our staff members know good music. 

Shameless plug:

Best Use: DJing a party without having to move a muscle.

This extensive playlist spans classic party records from every generation. From 70’s hits like “Give It To Me Baby” by Rick James, to 90’s anthems like “One More Chance” by Biggie, and even early 00’s classics like “Down And Out” by Cam’ron and Kanye West, this is what you need to keep the party going.

Best Use: Remembering the festival.

With Coachella memories fresh in your head, you might be wishing you were back at the massive festival, by creating a playlist of several artists that performed at the event. Stop right there. Spotify got it right, and built a playlist that features several of the musicians that played the festival. If you didn't make it out to the California desert, then bump this and pretend you were there.

Best Use: Staying up to date with current commercial hip-hop songs, commercial hits of the last 6 years.

If you happen to be one of those people who enjoy staying up to date with radio records, this playlist is for you. If you dig deep enough into this massive playlist, you can go back to 2012, and listen to the songs that most likely dominated the radio at the time.

Best Use: Nostalgic slow jams for those more intimate moments.

Although there are some old school gangsta rap tracks and more commercial R&B tracks mixed up in this playlist, the majority of the songs here are for those intimate moments. If you enjoy listening to R&B on the daily, this is definitely for you as well. From Usher to Trey Songz, and Whitney Houston to Jagged Edge, this is the king of R&B playlists.

Best Use: Island Jams

Reggae music lovers rejoice. If you’re somewhat weary of the current hip-hop trend that calls for sampling island vibes, this is where you can find more original reggae tunes. On a side note, this is probably the best playlist to light one up to as well (see: 4/20 tomorrow).

Best Use: Ushering in the new season.

For me, music is seasonal. Fall tunes and Summer tunes are not the same. Spring is here, although in some places of the country Winter is somehow still in effect. Whatever season your city might currently be experiencing, this playlist builds on some of the more recent tracks that dropped since the Spring officially started, as well as great throwbacks that will hopefully shake you out of the cold Winter blues.

Best Use: When you feel like stunting.

The name of this playlist is misleading. Although it can definitely be used as a way to vent, and release any pent up anger without doing something irrational, its best use is for that moment when you feel like the shit. Landing that new job promotion. Buying that new car. Graduating from college. Whatever makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. This is the playlist you throw on when you feel like stunting, shamelessly. F*ck a humble brag.