Carrying confidence: Dallas Cowboys custom playlist to help bounce back after Week 1 woes

The Dallas Cowboys are “America’s Team” because they have excellent branding — spanning from coast to coast.

Three Lombardi Trophies in five years is impressive by any standard, but the Cowboys of today are not Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys.

On Sunday, Dallas stumbled during a 19-3 loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to begin their 2022 season. To make matters worse, quarterback Dak Prescott sustained a fractured joint near his thumb in the fourth quarter, according to team owner Jerry Jones.

The start was less than ideal for Dallas, which has not made it to the Super Bowl since 1996. The glory days’ triumvirate of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith are no more.

But the Cowboys are still coming off a 12-5 season in 2021 where they made the playoffs for the first time since 2018 — also the last time they posted a winning record.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands the ball off to running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

The defense is perhaps the most exciting side of the ball right now and showed well against Tampa Bay. Linebacker Micah Parsons won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award last year with a record 13 sacks. Safety Jayron Kearse led the team with 101 tackles and cornerback Trevon Diggs had 11 interceptions last season. In 2022, both will seek to step up as franchise leaders.

Is either the next Deion “Prime Time” Sanders? They’ve got a while to go before that comparison, but having the legacy woven into the team’s DNA sure helps.

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Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Jayron Kearse #27 after intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

A perfect playlist for the Cowboys blends homegrown artists — both local and large — with some ’90s hits to reignite the championship spirit. Not to mention, Jerry Jones is a favorite name-drop among rappers who seek to exude confidence.

Keep scrolling to learn about select songs on the Cowboys’ “Carrying Confidence” playlist, why they were chosen and their connection to the team.

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Demi Lovato – “Confident”

The horns and drums on Demi Lovato’s album-opener “Confident” are perfect for when the Cowboys storm onto the field. The Dallas artist has had her own journey in taking ownership of her life and this booming track can serve as motivation for the team, who will now have to overcome losing their starting quarterback. The Cowboys will have to be confident in their pursuit of making the playoffs twice in a row for the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Tag Team – “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

Speaking of the postseason, the Cowboys won their first of the 1990s Super Bowls in 1993 when Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)” was dominating the airwaves with its frenetic pace and catchy chorus. The song was revived last year and celebrated by an entirely new generation when Geico enlisted the duo for a commercial where they served ice cream and changed the lyrics to “Scoop! There It Is.” Who doesn’t love ice cream?

Dorrough – “Ice Cream Paint Job”

A 2000s hit, “Ice Cream Paint Job” from Dallas rapper Dorrough fed the hype of candy-colored cars that signified cool in the South. The tune reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and the official video has more than 35 million views to date. Dorrough remains active in the Dallas community and even performed at the Cowboys’ Juneteenth celebration. “Ice Cream Paint Job” is the perfect recognizable song for Dallas to fill Cowboys Stadium AT&T Stadium with electric energy.

Ace Hood – “Glory”

You might be wondering where Ace Hood went after dominating the early 2010s with hits like “Bugatti,” “Hustle Hard” and “We Outchea.” The answer is he didn’t go anywhere! The Broward County Boss is still on his grind, although independently now. And he even has his own fitness brand. His new song “Glory” has a racing beat and a message of embracing one’s own greatness. It’s a perfect gift from the Cowboys fan to his team.

Numbaa 7 – “As A Slidah”

This summer, Dallas rapper Numbaa 7 released his latest album, “Diary of a Steppa,” which has multiple hype songs. But we’re going back to the top of the year when he released the single, “As a Slidah.” The beat pays homage to 2Pac’s classic “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” and Big Tuck’s “Southside Da Realist,” a Southern anthem that samples the iconic piano loop. It’s a blend of SoCal-meets-Dallas that All-Pro tackle and USC grad Tyron Smith could appreciate as he motivates himself to recover from a knee injury and cheers his teammates on in the meantime.

The D.O.C. – “It’s Funky Enough”

Even though The D.O.C. made history with the West Coast as a key figure of N.W.A and the gangster rap movement, he actually hails from Dallas. The rapper, writer and entrepreneur also released his own music — including the heavily sampled “It’s Funky Enough.” The cut can serve as inspiration for Micah Parsons’ celebratory dances, since he might run out of ideas with so many sacks.

The Chicks – “Cowboy Take Me Away”

The Chicks (who changed their name in 2020 if you’re not recognizing them at first glance) are a Dallas staple. The trio has so many iconic songs for fans to enjoy and feel tapped into their country roots, but the 1999 single “Cowboy Take Me Away” is the perfect touch of nostalgia for the playlist.

Mo3 ft. Boosie Badazz – “Mop Wit It”

Mo3’s “Mop Wit It” with Louisiana legend Boosie Badazz is one of the Dallas artist’s best tunes — complete with soulful piano a la Zaytoven. Mo3 was shot and killed in 2020, but built a fanbase through an incredible outreach and is an example of the consistency the Cowboys need. Rookie wide receiver Jalen Tolbert can learn from CeeDee Lamb in the same way Mo3 was mentored by Boosie as the Cowboys seek to create the greatness this song exudes. .

Hurricane Chris ft. Superstarr – “Halle Berry”

Did you know that the 2009 hit “Halle Berry” is technically a Dallas song? While Hurricane Chris boosted the song to national popularity, Dorrough created the track with fellow Dallas MC Superstarr and sold the rights to the Shreveport, Louisiana rapper, according to the Dallas Observer. Hurricane Chris shouts out UGK on the song, saying the most attractive girls listen to the Texas group. The DNA of the Lone Star State is evident and will propel the Cowboys farther than Tony Romo was able to.

Trip Lee ft. Lecrae – “Manolo”

You may have heard of Lecrae, who has had life conversations with Dak Prescott, but did you know about original 116 member Trip Lee? The Dallas native has been with Lecrae since the early days, impacting culture with a fresh blend of fierce lyricism, thoughtful production and a message of hope. “Manolo” is a straight banger whose explicit purpose is to turn up. The Cowboys definitely need this track in their arsenal.

City Girls – “Rodeo”

What’s the ultimate arena for cowboys? A rodeo of course! City Girls put their own spin on the country tradition with their booming song “Rodeo.” Yung Miami and JT spit verses about their domination over gritty production from Mari Beats and Sean da Firzt. JT even gives a shoutout to Jerry Jones.

Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris – “Yeah”

At this point, Usher is an international superstar, but it all began in Dallas. Of all Usher’s songs, “Yeah” has to be the best hype track. If anybody had forgotten about the many hits Usher has, his recent Tiny Desk performance reminded the masses of how talented the man is. And it sparked the viral “Watch This” meme too.

Jay Z – “I Did It My Way”

If we’re talking about an iconic team, we have to include the iconic Jay Z on the playlist. “I Did It My Way” might not be a hype song on first listen, but the classic sample and nod to Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is a great timeout track to keep the Cowboys’ head in the game. And when they win, they can take confidence that they’re in a new era doing it their way.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dallas Cowboys 2022 playlist: Packed with confidence boosters