Aux Cord Chronicles V: Best Homecoming stroll songs

Believe it or not, strolling, which is exactly what you think it is, hasn’t always been a large facet of the black Greek experience. It played in the cut to relentlessly rehearsed stepping and to more formal step shows — the more popular form of expression. Over the last 15 to 20 years, however, according to Lawrence Ross, author of 2001’s The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities and a spring 1985 initiate of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the University of California-Berkeley — the tide has changed. “Strolling has taken over stepping mainly because it takes too long to put together a step show or routine,” said Ross. “Strolling wasn’t really emphasized until younger generations. We didn’t have strolling competitions back in the day. But you also had strolling at picnics and social events, so that’s remained consistent.”

October is unofficially National Homecoming Month, and if you’re traveling back to your alma mater, you’re bound to see a healthy dosage of strolling. Hence the reason we’re gathered here for the latest chapter of Aux Cord Chronicles. Every generation, every region and certainly every chapter of Alphas, AKAs, Ques, Kappas, Deltas, Sigmas, Sigma Gamma Rhos, Zetas and Iotas have their signature songs, making it virtually impossible to produce a definitive list — but we have done our best. So take a trip through time for some with some of the greatest strolling anthems — from George Clinton to Keri Hilson to DJ Khaled. And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or even BlackPlanet, if you can find us there — and let us know what we left off.

George Clinton — “Atomic Dog” (1982)

If you’re a freshman and this song randomly comes on, do yourself a favor and get out of Dodge. I’ve seen way too many people get kicked in the face because they were clueless, or didn’t think a flock of Ques would catch them boot-first when the Omega national anthem comes on.

Cheryl Lynn — “Encore” (1983)

I would’ve never believed you could stroll to this until I actually saw it with my own two eyes.

Strafe — “Set It Off” (1984)

Billboard’s Nelson George, in 1986, referred to this as a “cult dance classic.” That should tell you everything you need to know.

EPMD — “You Gots To Chill” (1988)

This came out 19 years before I crossed Alpha at Hampton, but I imagine this went over well with the black and gold crowd.

Rob Base & DJ Easy Rock — “It Takes Two” (1988)

I remember people strolling to Snoop Dogg’s 2009 “I Wanna Rock,” which sampled Rob and Easy Rock’s classic. So it only makes sense the original gets the job done, too.

Chubb Rock — “Treat ‘Em Right” (1991)

It’s basically a Que step show/hop party for parts of the video. Just look close enough. You’ll see it. Don’t let the white and blue suit throw you off.

Montell Jordan — “This Is How We Do It” (1995)

Apparently, Montell Jordan’s a Kappa. Spring 1989 at USC, No. 4 “ScKroller.” For some reason, though, I’m not surprised. Not in the least bit. #TheMoreYouKnow

Junior Mafia feat. The Notorious B.I.G. — “Get Money (Remix)” (1996)

Twenty years later there’s a bounce to this — thanks to the Dennis Edwards 1984 “Don’t Look Any Further” — that is just undeniable. Fun fact, that sample inspired two classics for two completely different reasons: the song featured here and 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up.”

Griff & Booman — “Pick ‘Em Up” (1997)

One of the three strolls I knew at Hampton came from this Baltimore club classic. Basically any school — especially any historically black college (HBCU) — with a high concentration of Baltimore natives will appreciate this.

Juvenile — “Back That Azz Up” (1998)

If you don’t know my feelings on this song, please refer to my signature. It’s an American classic, one that should one day live in the Library of Congress. Me personally, the absolute last thing I’m thinking about when this comes on is strolling. I live by the motto, “If she’s throwing, I’m catching.” But one of my closest friends, Nick, is a Sigma, and they go crazy when Juve’s iconic ode drops.

Pastor Troy — “We Ready” (1999)

A down south HBCU classic in every sense of the word.

Vol. 10 — “Pistol Grip Pump” (2000)

Shout-out to my guy David down in Houston. He might have never talked to me again if I forgot this.

C-Murder feat. Magic & Snoop Dogg — “Down For My N’s” (2000)

Everyone’s organization has something for this. C-Murder even had Kappas in the video. I don’t have many regrets when it comes to Greek life. But never learning the hop to this is one.

Freeway feat. Peedi Crakk — “Flipside” (2003)

Don’t even get me started how Philadelphia Freeway is one of the best albums of the 2000s. Because it is. But mannnnnnnn, listen? This song? This song right here? Your chapter had to have a stroll/hop/whatever you wanna call it to Free and Peedi’s anthem.

Bonecrusher — “Never Scared” (2003)

As an Alpha, it’s always fun when this comes on.

Crime Mobb — “Knuck If You Buck” (2004)

Granted, I was way too busy waiting to see all the women get crunk (because that’s what it was called then) to Princess’ verse because that thing is nearly a spiritual experience. But a big-time shout-out to all the down South chapters — in particular the K’s and Reds — who bodied this every time.

T.I. — “Bring Em Out” (2004)

My chapter had a crazy stroll to “Bring ‘Em Out” called “The Puppet Master” and I’d be lying if I said this didn’t aid in my decision-making process. The only problem is I never learned it.

Chris Brown — “Poppin” (2005)

The things my eyes saw in college with this (and the remix with Wayne and Juelz Santana) to this song.

Foxx feat. Lil Boosie & Webbie — “Wipe Me Down” (2006)

Random idea. Put a camera in front of Boosie and Webbie and let them critique all of the hops to this song. Or have them talk about the election. Or why Webbie should really be LSU’s next head football coach. Basically, what I’m saying is, get them in the same room together, press record and give them random topics to talk about.

DJ Unk feat. OutKast & Jim Jones — “Walk It Out (Remix)” (2006)

Some records are just universal stroll anthems. This being one of them.

Young Jeezy — “Spaceships On Bankhead” (2006)

I went to the Atlanta Greek picnic in 2008 or 2009. It’s something special when this drops in The A. It was just a sea of black people strolling.

Too $hort — “Blow The Whistle” (2006)

The state of California is responsible for many great gifts. Consider this one of its finest.

Jay Z — “Show Me What U Got” (2006)

It was either this or “I Just Wanna Love U.” You can’t go wrong with either one.

Mary J. Blige — “Just Fine” (2007)

I’ve seen some sororities get it in to this.

The-Dream feat. Fabolous — “Shawty Is A 10” (2007)

If you crossed anywhere between the years 2006 and 2009, you know how important the man born Terius Nash was to your college experience.

DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross & Plies — “I’m So Hood” (2007)

I can’t even lie. The Ques at Hampton had a mean hop to this. Also, Plies’ “Got ‘Em Hatin’ ” works, too.

T-Pain — “Buy You A Drink” (2007)

Pain received a full-ride scholarship to heaven off this one song alone.

Kelly feat. T.I. & T-Pain — “I’m A Flirt (Remix)” (2007)

Two things. One, peak T.I. was such an incredible force of nature (his new Us or Else EP is well worth your time, too, on a related note). And two, I temporarily lifted my R. Kelly ban because the combination of Tip and T-Pain in 2007 made for some incredible memories during my neo year.

Beyoncé — “Diva” (2008)

Because essentially every woman in my family is a Delta, and they always absolutely kill this, and I couldn’t come home again if I forgot this.

Lil Wayne — “A Milli” (2008)

Shout out to my LB, Max. He helped create a fire stroll with “A Milli” as the soundtrack. Once I actually knew it at one point. I swear I did. Seriously.

The-Dream feat. Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross & Ludacris — “Rockin’ That Thing (Remix)” (2009)

The-Dream, at least musically, can do no wrong.

Lil Wayne feat. Drake & Young Jeezy — “I’m Goin’ In” (2009)

It’s tough to tell which fraternity, in a parallel universe, Wayne would have been had he pledged at school. Though the Sigmas will tell you it’s not up for much debate.

Roscoe Dash feat. Soulja Boy — “All The Way Turnt Up” (2010)

Before there was “lit,” there was “turnt up.” One time for one of the funnest party songs in recent memory.

Soulja Boy — “Pretty Boy Swag” (2010)

Do I like the song? Quite bluntly, no. And that’s not hating because I’ll say from now until they put me in the dirt, Soulja’s first album — 2007’s Souljaboytellem.com — had some college house party classics. But this one strikes a particular chord if you’re a Kappa, I’ve been told. For reference, “Turn My Swag On” was the much better song.

Keri Hilson — “Pretty Girl Rock” (2010)

Just be prepared to have your eardrums burst from all the AKAs gleefully skee-weeing when this drops.

Big Sean, Kanye West & Jay Z — “Clique” (2012)

Ain’t nobody f—’ with my clique. Kinda self-explanatory given the theme of this, right?

A$AP Ferg — “Shabba” (2013)

Set this out at homecoming for the late A$AP Yams. I mean, Yams probably didn’t know (or care) about Greek life. But he always appreciated a quality turn up.

YG feat. Drake — “Who Do You Love” (2014)

All these rumors about Drake joint albums with Kanye or Gucci Mane, but to be real, I’d be here for Drake/YG project. Including this and 2016’s “Why You Always Hatin’,” they’re batting 1,000.

Migos — “Fight Night” (2014)

Migos’ catalog is littered with records like this: ones that just took parties by storm and completely turned them upside down.

Future — “March Madness” (2015)

Because it is disrespectful not to honor The Real National Anthem in every way possible. How this video only has 11 million views on YouTube — and not 111 billion — is proof this country’s standards have reached an all-time low.

Rich Homie Quan — “Flex” (2015)

It seems like Quan forgetting the lyrics to Notorious B.I.G.’s verse on “Get Money” happened years ago when it was really less than three months ago. Thankfully, he has his own catalog and legion of fans who will remember records like this longer than his national television mistake.

Future — “Stick Talk” (2015)

Having conferred with several people younger (and probably 100 times cooler) than me, this Dirty Sprite 2 standout was a near universal choice. That and “Too Much Sauce” with Lil Uzi Vert.

Fetty Wap — “Jimmy Choo” (2016)

No lie. Only figured out the actual name of this song while doing this.

Young Greatness — “Moolah” (2016)

I’d imagine strolling/hopping to this is fun. And given the pace is slow, you won’t be drenched in a pool of sweat by the end of it. It’s a win-win.

DJ Khaled feat. Drake — “For Free” (2016)

Within the next two weekends (after this one), I’ll be at two HBCU homecomings — ironically Hampton and Howard’s. I fully expect to hear this 3,286,539 times.

French Montana feat. Kodak Black — “Lockjaw” (2016)

The beat is too chill not to do something with it.

2 Chainz — “Watch Out” (2016)

And if this doesn’t work, try the “MF’n Right (Remix)” with Wayne, “100it Racks” with Future and Drake, “Magic City Monday” with Jeezy and Future, or “Big Amount” with Drake. Between 2 Chainz and J.R. Smith post-Game 7, those two have been my 2016 spirit animals.

Big Baby D.R.A.M. feat. Lil Yacht — “Broccoli” (2016)

Don’t even front. You know you like this song. This just feels like a college record.

Usher feat. Young Thug — “No Limit” (2016)

Just look at the video. It’s almost like the dancers are strolling anyway.