Hip-Hop may be overshadowed in the romantic department by other genres of music. R&B, Jazz, Country music and all-inclusive subgenres, are often looked to for ballads on love and life.
Emerging as a genre of fun and necessity, Hip-Hop’s evolution into the most popular form of music in the country includes developing and spreading unlimited messages. Among the revolutionary and political anthems, trap music staples and odes’ to Black culture, Hip-Hop holds a life-line of love.
Often given a stereotype as rowdy music, Hip-Hop a complex art form, exists on many spectrums. The pure, poetic nature of Rap music creates the perfect arena for stanzas describing limitless love. This Valentine’s Day, switch things up. Instead of playing Luther Vandross and Al Green, try out some OutKast or 2 Chainz.
For those who celebrate, Valentine’s Day is a sweet day full of romantic bliss where your significant other will want at least an Instagram shoutout. Whether your relationship is fresh or you and bae are celebrating years of joy, the following songs can be used to express mutual love. Explore these tracks and their lyrics and get creative. Step your bars up and rap to your Valentine with the songs below:
Slum Beautiful x Outkast feat. Cee-Lo
“Look at you, unbelievably, brilliant beautiful you. You’re looking deliciously divine darling, you really and truly do”
OutKast members Andre 3000 and Big Boi fuse the musical talents of Cee-Lo for an ode to their lovers.
I’ll Be There for You (You’re All I Need) x Method Man feat Mary J. Blige
“Nothin make a man feel better than a woman. Queen with a crown that be down for whatever”
A Hip-Hop classic in its own right, Method Man and Mary J Blige flip a Biggie sample creating a testament to enduring love.
03 Bonnie & Clyde x Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé
“‘Cuz mami’s a rider and I’m a roller. Put us together, how they gon’ stop both us? Whatver she lacks I’m right over her shoulder. When I’m off track, mami is keepin’ me focused.”
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s first duet about their relationship, the power couple started their collaborative efforts with a bang.
Bonita Applebum x A Tribe Called Quest
“38-24-37. You and me, hun we’re a match made in heaven. I like to kiss ya where some brothers won’t. I like to tell ya things some brothers don’t.”
Q-Tip asserted his feelings for Bonita Applebum loud and clear with true intentions of love and lust.
Feeling You x 2 Chainz
“Everything you say and everything you do gets me lost in you days at a time. Tell me are you feeling me feeling you?”
Not quite in love, 2 Chainz takes a chance, breaking up with his ex-girlfriend in hopes of finding all he needs in a new flame.
Some Girl x GoldLink x Steve Lacy
“Anyway just know I love you more and more and it shows, and I promise baby girl I’ll probably never let it go”
GoldLink revisits his summer love, whirlwind fling resulting in life-long feelings.
Beautiful x Snoop Dogg x Pharrell x Charlie Wilson
“Beautiful, I just want you to know, you’re my favorite girl.”
Snoop Dogg, Pharrell and Charlie Wilson knew what they were doing creating an anthem celebrating physical beauty. This timeless bop can make anyone feel good.
No Better Love x Young Gunz
“Ever since the day I saw your face, my mind told me you were the one that was down for me”
The Young Gunz share how their ride-or-die chicks have held them down through the grind.
Play No Games x Big Sean x Chris Brown x Ty Dolla $ign
“Who ya love? Tell me who you fuc*in love. Tell me who you want to fu*k and love”
Big Sean teams up with Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign to share the multiple reasons he’s no longer playing games with the lady in his life.
Gotta Man x Eve
“Never leave his baby girl, mad cause he claim me. Only thug in the hood that was wild enough to tame me”
Ruff Ryder Eve got a boyfriend, and smitten by the sophisticated thug, she raps about staying by his side eternally.
Foldin’ Clothes x J. Cole
“I wanna fold clothes for you, I wanna make you feel good”
Honestly, voluntarily doing laundry signifies true love, however, J. Cole goes beyond domestic chores, celebrating the simple things in life.
Cinderella x Mac Miller feat. Ty Dolla $ign
“Because your fragrance got me faded, you be keepin’ me high. Said nothin’ better than the first time. I’ll be at your service like the check-in at curbside”
With the assistance of Ty Dolla $ign, the late Mac Miller exposes his feelings for his dreamy Cinderella.
Poetic Justice x Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake
“Love is not just a verb, it’s you lookin’ in the mirror. Love is not just a verb, it’s you lookin’ for it maybe, call me crazy. We can both be insane”
Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s ode to the mysterious, seductive poetic women in their life.
You Got Me x The Roots x Erykah Badu
“You know it’s just with you I’m staying boo. And when cats be poppin’ game I don’t hear what they sayin’ boo.”
Black Thought created an anthem providing solace to all whose trust issues derive from vicarious thoughts.
