First, EatOkra spoke to Houston hip-hop pioneer and restaurateur Bun B about his role in what intersects the Houston music legacy and food scene.

Then we played a game: We named a word signature to him and Houston. Then, Bun B named the first song that came to mind. The result: A soundtrack as Houston as it gets.

We’re sharing his curated playlist, complete with his “liner notes” below.

Happy Black Music Month and happy listening!

The vibe: Houston Rodeo

The song: “Southside” by Lil’ Keke

“It's as Houston of a song as you can get, but it still works for those who go to the Rodeo. We don't stop becoming Houstonians just because we put on country-western wear. It brings people like Z-Ro in those spaces, and we were still very new to putting on our country-western goods or whatever. I play it every year at TrillTown, people dance to it, and it's a beautiful thing. Even the most country-western of us with our hats on and our boots and whatnot will still be body-rocking through the ‘Southside’ and represent for H-town in that way. Regardless of how you find it and represent it, most people — if not all people — never feel a need to ever compromise themselves just to adopt it. I don't have to let go of screwed-up music just to listen to country music.”

The vibe: The cookout

The song: “Family Affair” by Sly & the Family Stone

“Communal food is designed for us to commune. When people eat crawfish, no one really gets full from eating it. That's not really what it's about. It's about the stories we tell and the laughs that we have while we commune and eat crawfish. That cookout mentality is really just an excuse for the family to come together.”

The vibe: A nightcap anthem

The song: “Adore” by Prince

“It’s a great way to end an evening. Whether we decide to lend ourselves to a little romanticism or not, having a nice drink and listening to Adore is just a really great way to top off an evening. Hopefully, you've had some drinking, dining, and maybe a little dancing, and that's a great wind-down song. It really says everything.”

The vibe: 30th anniversary of Ridin’ Dirty

The song: “One Day” by UGK

“It's a song that still means today what it meant then, from 1996 to 30 years later. We realized that that song was special in a much different way than the other songs on that album because Ridin’ Dirty was designed to be a gateway into understanding the pros and the cons of choosing to live that type of lifestyle out in the streets, hustling, and trying to get through it. Everyone doesn't know about sipping syrup, smoking Swishers, hustling on the corners, driving candy cars, popping trunks, and all of that stuff. You might lose some people on that, but the idea of losing those that you love isn’t something lost on any of us. It's universal. Death is something that affects all of us at some point.”

The vibe: Port Arthur

The song: “Pocket Full of Stones” by UGK and “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin

“That was the first big song for UGK. I would also pick a Janis Joplin song because she was born and raised in Port Arthur. Port Arthur will always have a ‘piece of my heart.’”

The vibe: Late-night I-10 drive

The song: “Diamonds & Wood” by UGK or “Golden Time of Day” by Maze feat. Frankie Beverly

“If no one's awake in the car and it's just me, I'm probably going to be playing Maze’s ‘Golden Time of Day’ because those late-night hours are the ‘golden time of day’ since the freeways are a bit clearer and the day is winding down. It allows me to sit back and catch a vibe, and just really relax in the moment.”

The vibe: Trill Burgers

The song: “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” by UGK feat. Outkast

“It's a very celebratory song. It comes with a lot of pomp and circumstance. It reminds me of the opening day at Trill Burgers and having that line of people ready to help us start the first brick-and-mortar days for this company. It was big for us. I think it was big for the city, and to me, that's just one of the biggest moments I think of because Trill Burgers is personal to me. It’s my moment in my building, so it’s my music.”

BONUS TRACKS

Houston’s intro theme song to the world: “Anything by Beyoncé. You’re welcome.”

The song that most channels Houston's resilience: “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” by Geto Boys

“There's really no way of talking about the Houston hip-hop sound without giving all credit to the Geto Boys’ ‘Mind Playing Tricks On Me.’ Even though that's not the first Geto Boys album or single, it’s the one that personified and signified that we had a right to be here and be a part of this hip-hop experience in America.”