For all those who think Hip-Hop-Hop is rough and tumble with no heart or respect for mentors, this is the list for you! In honor of Valentine’s Day, which just passed, this list will highlight the 10 greatest love songs in Hip-Hop History. Can you name your top 10 Hip-Hop love songs, and can you guess who’s on my list at number one and why? Well here is the rundown:
10. Renee – by The Lost Boyz
This was a real ghetto love song that was tough enough to earn the respect of the fellas on the block, but sweet and sensitive enough to warm any lady’s heart!
9. Hey Lover – by LL Cool J Feat. Boyz II Men
Some of the Michael Jackson song details classic “My Lady in My Life” is considered a classic, and Hey Lover is proven it’s the right thing to do. Backpacks with LL light storage flowing and Boyz 2 men crooning this song will be all Hip-Hop lovers slow jam for years to come
8. What’s on Your Mind by Eric B. & Rakim
Sampled from another classic passionate love song (Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing), this early 90’s love gem is one of the greatest. The MC of all time not only sweats on this duo’s 4th (and final) album Don’t Technique, as well as the House Party II Soundtrack! As it was. Ra- s smooth vocals armed with superior vocal lyrics are bound to excite the mind of any women while they can take care of their loving body π
7. All I Need Is Yours – by Method Man Feat. Mary J. Blige
Meth-laden vocals, an infusion of Mariah’s heart-pounding melodies, slinky slinky tracks and the ever-effective Notorious B.I.G. sample, this song was so effective that it finally won a Grammy! It is not an easy feat to take lightly the status of Hip-Hop’s infancy in the early 90s and the respect it received from other musicians of the genre.
6. One Love – by Whodini This was a talented trio from Brooklyn who dropped one of the most sincere, honest, and fresh to def love anthems in Hip-Hop in the late 80’s! Many Hip-Hop historians credit Whodini for the foundation and foundation of radio-friendly R&B; The type of rap that was rapped, rivaled and imitated, never duplicated by everyone today from Nelly, Jermaine Dupri to 50 Cent!
5. I loved her – Common
I don’t know your typical average love song, but I figured what better way to show a Hip-Hop love song than to honor a song that expresses love and admiration for Hip-Hop music, art & worship itself! One of the funniest and hateful stories Hip-Hop has ever told, The Common Story is as pointless as it is creative and only gets better with age on thin wine!
4. Teenage Love by Slick Rick
Classic material represented in musical form! This was one of my personal favs (as you can see by being in my top 5 on here lol). Rick has always been a master storyteller and telling heartfelt stories of loved ones in a love song like this was no exception. And you gotta give it up to a cool cameo of Hip-Hop legend Big Daddy Kane in the video as well. A classic indeed!
3. Mahogany by Eric B. & Rakim
Slow flow magic is taken to another level with this slow tempo style gem here. I took the time to help you surrender with a cool and relaxed style! Pure genius!
2. Bonita Applebum
One of al time beatsd hootest, first of all! And Q-Tip has one of the coolest and smoothest voices on the mic, and one of the kick ass hook singers and he wrote all of this! The Fugees even sampled part of the song for their Juggernaut hit Killin’ Em Softly (on Robert Flack’s multi-platinum remake album The Score)! But the love of the tribe was hindered here, it was simple but I wish it was so effective. A boy meets a girl, a boy wants to be with a girl, a boy talks to & He is trying to get a virgin! Good Applebum, I had to put it on π
And I like the drum roll for the number 1 greatest Hip-Hop love song of all time
Love I – by LL Cool J
As if you didn’t already know, this is the true epitome of a Hip-Hop love song for anyone! It’s the ultimate anthem for any B-boy wanting to show his love for that special lady! Gentle, sincere, romantic, firm and true, this is the blues song that many love ill Casanovas in Hip-Hop rely on for inspiration to this day (from: Ja Rule, to Fabolous and always another rapper filed). The ladies loved the Cool James cause, and I think we need love for the cause!
I offer some of these honors to myself:
Roxxanne Roxxanne – by UTFO/ Somebody for Me – by Gravis D. & The Boyz/ Faciam Pro Te – Pater MC/ Love Me Or Leave Me Alone – by Brand Nubian/ Just A Friend by Biz Markie
So now that you’ve heard my list, let’s get to yours. Who would you name in your top 10 greatest Hip-Hop loves of all time and why? Good bye!
