the best hip-hop love song ever

so, while driving back to pittsburgh after last week’s matchmaker event, my (the wire-loving) friend and i listened to different satellite radio rap stations the entire way, and were both utterly flabbergasted at how bad today’s mainstream hip-hop is. seriously, i’m usually not a “everything was better back in the day” type of guy, but after a couple verses from something called “waka flocka flame” almost gave me epilepsy, there’s really nothing else i can say.

as we neared pittsburgh, drake’s “best i ever had” came on, and the following conversation ensued:

friend: “who is this guy?” (the only “new” rapper my man knows about is kanye. seriously, talking hip-hop with him makes me feel like i’m back in 1997. all i’d need is a pair of fatigues and a red jansport and i’d be right back in homeroom)

champ: “new cat named drake. why?”

friend: “i can actually understand what he’s saying. if i was a 13 year old girl, i’d love this song”

champ: “that’s easily the gayest thing you’ve said all day. you need to quit playing them away games”

friend: “the game’s out there, manye. you either play or get played”

anyway, remembering this conversation and the subject matter of “best i’ve ever had” got me thinking: what’s the best hip-hop love song ever made? to be honest with you, i’m not exactly sure…but, i do have nine nominees.

***note: on my list, “love” doesn’t just encapsulate romantic love. the songs i’ve listed run the gamut from romantic and platonic to even inanimate object. also, just in case another batch of people completely unable to not take themselves seriously happen to “discover” vsb today, i want to remind everyone to remove the sphincter poles and realize that these nominees are just reflections of my own personal whims and remembrances***

“sweet love” (method man, featuring street love and cappadonna)

one of the reasons why i’ve love the wu so much is that they’re completely and utterly unafraid to take artistic chances. from ghost spitting that his “rhymes are like ziti” to the rza’s perpetual (and occasionally annoying) experimentation, you literally have no idea what the hell you’ll hear when listening to a wu album. this fact is evident the first verse of “sweet love“, when street life rhymes about having sex with his girlfriend while he’s driving his car. not head. sex. while. driving.

later in the song, cappadonna spits his infamous “love is love, love. love is love, love” line (which i later immortalized with a left arm tat) and method man delivers a verse than i actually cut and pasted and sent as a poem to a woman i was involved with, lying that i wrote it myself because i knew she’d never listen to the song.

***btw, by “was involved with” i mean “totally had an unrequited crush for“. the “poem” didn’t help. a couple weeks later, i got even more desperate and cut and pasted an inspectah deck verse. this worked. and by “this worked” i mean, “i finally got some from her four years later“***

“you got me” (the roots, featuring erykah badu and eve)

from the storyline and the chorus to eve’s verse and the fatalistic feel of the end of the song, everything about this track is perfect. btw, speaking of perfect, if i had to rank “impressive and envy-worthy beards”, black thought’s would definitely be 1st, jerome bettis’, would be 2nd and paul pierce’s would be 295th.

“passin’ me by” (the pharcyde)

along with radiohead’s “creep” and “friends zone” by 88 keys and shitake monkey, this song perfectly represents the gamut of emotions men go through when faced with unrequited love. plus, it’s one of the 10 or so songs that any self-respecting hip-hop head knows all of the words to. and, if you need a surefire way to make hipster chicks swoon, tweet a line from fatlips verse at least once a day.

“me and my girlfriend” (tupac)

i’m including it because, well, i don’t know if i ever loved anything as much as tupac claimed to love his gun. well, maybe cookies and cream milkshakes, but that’s about it

“full moon” (killarmy)

probably the first real surprise entry on the list, i nominated “full moon” because of the depth of the brotherly bond for a murdered friend that killa sin expresses in the song’s second verse. i still get chills today when i hear him say “we went back far, like acorn fights around the swings”.

“undying love” (nas)

arguably the best story from hip-hop’s best storyteller, “undying love” deals with a rather, ummm, extreme reaction to finding out that your loved one was unfaithful. is also one of the only “story” songs where each of the characters involved is dead by the end. basically, it’s a great song to have on your boning mixtape.

“how’s it going down” (dmx)

for no other reason than the fact that i say “since you gave me the p*ssy, your ass has gotten fatter” in dmx’s voice (in my head) to my girlfriend at least once a week.

“love is blind” (eve featuring faith evans)

i had a “why it made the cut” summary written out, but i deleted it when i realized that it was completely panderific. the only reason this song is here is because i realized i hadn’t named any female rappers and wanted to be subversive by not going with  salt and pepa’s perfunctory “gotta man”.

“renee” (the lost boyz)

i won’t say that the video still brings tears to my eyes when renee gets shot, but i will say that i haven’t watched it in over 10 years just because of that possibility. maybe this makes me a punk, but seriously, renee didn’t have to die. why the hell did renee have to die????

anyway people of vsb, i’m sure i’m missing a few (hundred). what else would you nominate for the best hip-hop love song ever?

—the champ

533 thoughts on “the best hip-hop love song ever

  1. “I Used To Love H.E.R.” – Common

    ““love is blind” (eve)”

    The music video of this song used to piss me off because of that scene (I think at the beginning) where everyone was gathered around the room, hanging out, then abusive dude starts to straight mollywhop his chick. There were dudes there and one proceeds to sit there and shake his head. Yeah, I’m sure shaking your head will prevent bruising…

    Thanks for allowing me to get that out.

    • And we’re the three best friends that anyone could have…..We’re the three best friends that anyone could have….We’re the three best friends that anyone could have…..And we’ll never ever ever ever ever leave each other

      lmao

        • i love comedy like a fat kid loves cake. the 40 year old virgin might actually be on my top five all-time movies list, and i just watched anchorman wednesday night for the 38283rd time. but, the hangover just. isn’t. funny.

          seriously, i think people were laughing more at the anticipation/idea of funny than the actual funny. plus, a ton of people went to see this at the theater, and watching something with a bunch of people laughing in anticipation skews your perception of how funny something really is.

          again, i hated this f*cking movie.

          • watching something with a bunch of people laughing in anticipation skews your perception of how funny something really is.

            Sounds like planet Deep to me. 40 year old virigin was funny. I loved the hangover so much I bought it on DVD. Seen it by myself about 4 times and still think it’s funny but I love comedies so I’m biased.

          • I agree. And I will not make myself watch it again to make sure it sucks. Too much pedophilia/child endangerment/othersuchnonsense type of “jokes” to me. In my Living Color Men on Film voice, Hated it!

          • “seriously, i think people were laughing more at the anticipation/idea of funny than the actual funny.”

            Nah, I purposely went into it like “Um, I bet it ain’t ALLA dat” (especially after you said it was a let down) and I cracked the hell up at various points. So, as usual, Champster, you are wrong.

          • see, i’d bet that the people who first saw it at the theater are more likely to think it was funny than the people who first saw it on dvd. i hated that f*cking movie

          • LOL im with cheeks. i had no expectations for this movie whatsoever. just looking at the cast alone was like “how funny could it be?”. i thought the movie was good and i really enjoyed it. its not HILARIOUS like anchorman or 4yov, but it definitely had me rollin at times. some jokes were just too force but thats ok. i thought the way the story unfolded was genius. and you never really SEE what all happens except for in snippets of a mike ty home security video and digital pictures. so all the running around trying to figure out what happened was very entertaining to me.

          • “see, i’d bet that the people who first saw it at the theater are more likely to think it was funny than the people who first saw it on dvd. i hated that f*cking movie”

            Wrong again. I saw it on DVD and not even when the DVD was first released and thought it was hilarious. lol

            “thought the way the story unfolded was genius. and you never really SEE what all happens except for in snippets of a mike ty home security video and digital pictures. so all the running around trying to figure out what happened was very entertaining to me.”

            YES, this is my favorite thing about the movie. Not even the funny jokes. It’s how it managed to be super entertaining without you even seeing the events of the night until the credits rolled (and a few pics here and there throughout the movie). And even then, it wasn’t live-action. I thought that concept was great. And not easy to pull off.

          • Sorry Champ, I gotta disagree. Anchorman is one of my all-time favorite comedies & I’d never put that or a bunch of other movies over The Hangover, but that was a funny movie. Went to see it in theaters and couldn’t stop laughing (granted, you take out Zach Galifianakis and the movie is instantly mediocre). I can understand not thinking the movie was hilarious, but not thinking it was funny at all? No comprende.

    • Stu: “She is wearing my grandmother’s Holocaust ring.”
      Alan: “I didn’t know they gave out rings at the Holocaust.”

      hahahahahahahaha

    • YESSSS!! Brown skin lady is THE most beautiful ode and expression of love to we brown skin ladies :-) definitely needs to be on the list. Also c/s to Common “I used to love HER” upthread.

  2. Okay back on subject…Pharcyde passin me by was a good one. My favorites weren’t always the popular ones. What about Tribe’s bonita applebaum? The lyrics were simple but as a teen I loved that song. I can’t think right now. It’s late for me. I’ll try to post something witty tomorrow.

    • “What about Tribe’s bonita applebaum?”

      This one is still on rotation with me. “And if you need ‘em I got CRAZY prophylactics!” LOVE IT

      • I lived in 2520ville my whole life..had no idea what was popular amongst my people. I had to drive w/ my cousins down to 163rd st (the hood) to get my mix tapes…I memorized most all of Tribe’s music. I loved them boys.

  3. Lauryn Hill-Ex-Factor.

    I loved this song before I even understood what it was about.

    And then years later, I *really* loved this song.

    And the video is gorgeous…like a precursor to Avatar :-)

      • *shrugs*

        Depends on whether we’re talking about hip-hop the genre or hip-hop culture. And even then, I never really considered the genre of hip-hop to be confined to just rap, more of a mash-up of various musical styles…especially now (but that’s another discussion i suppose).

    • I totally agree with the Ex-Factor. That song still takes me back to my high school sweet heart.

      Yesterday one of my work study students said that Lauryn Hill was old school! Old school? Mind you, the kid is only 18, but I still was trying to figure out if there was I way that I could fire him due to reverse age discrimination!

      • trin-trin, this past January I played The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill every day in my car like it was 1998. That CD is timeless.

  4. Hmmm. Some favorites are
    “Hey Lover” by LL Cool J ft Boyz II Men

    Does “Prototype” count? I know 3 Stacks is singing, but he is a rapper…

    “Faithful” by Common

    But for best, I would have to second “You Got Me” by the Roots ft Eve and Eryka.

  5. Um, I may be dating myself here, but on my list would be:

    “Bonita Applebaum” – ATCQ (and the video was great…although I remember there being a lot of girls in it who probably were just in it because they got “light-skinned points”; [I learned that term from reading VSB ;-) ])

    “I Need Love” – LL Cool J (this is just a classic…LL baring his soul and well developed pectorals)

    “One Love” – Whodini (even though it’s not a love song per se, it does speak to some truths about love…basically, they talk about how they cheated and messed up their good things…as a [black] woman, I appreciate that kind of vulnerability)

    “A Teenage Love” – Slick Rick (again, not a mushy love song, but describes the realities of teen relationships…well, at least in the late 80s)

    “Silent Treatment” – The Roots

    “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” – Outkast (I mean, even at my age, I would still be flattered if a dude said I reminded him of a brown stallion horse with skates on. Oh, and they talk about “real life” relationship stuff…like not being able to get a job at UPS due to “cloudy piss.” That’s real talk, folk.)

    • “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” – yea I don’t think you gone find a better pick up line than “girl you smell sweeter than plate of yams, with eckra surup!”

      • Yes…that song was FIRE! “One ninja dun took his shirt off like, “who else wanna f-k with hollywood coke?” Loves it!

        And I completely co-sign The Roots “You Got Me!” LOVE IT!

          • I saw that, but I gave it the benefit of a doubt that it was possibly a typo….tho’ it was a bit far fetched… heh heh… ….but who am I?…I’ve made my share of typos (on here) as well. LOL

    • “I mean, even at my age, I would still be flattered if a dude said I reminded him of a brown stallion horse with skates on.”

      Me too

    • “Silent Treatment” – The Roots is the most perfectly balanced quiet storm EVER! I don’t even need the lyric..I listen to this instrumental!

    • its stupid retarded how empowering com’s love lyrics are in “the light”…

      theres so much in a name and so much more in you

      if heaven had a height you would be that tall

      my hearts dictionary defines you its love and happiness

      as my reflection in light ima lead you

      • “ts stupid retarded how empowering com’s love lyrics are in “the light”…”

        Truth. It’s just so real.

        “I know your heart is weathered by what studs did to you
        I ain’t gon’ assault em cause I probably did it too
        Because of you, feelings I handle with care
        Some (ninjas) recognize the light but they can’t handle the glare”

        • ““I know your heart is weathered by what studs did to you
          I ain’t gon’ assault em cause I probably did it too
          Because of you, feelings I handle with care
          Some (ninjas) recognize the light but they can’t handle the glare””

          I am swooning with glee right now…

    • Common – “The Light”

      That is one of my favorites! For personal reasons, and because the song is just dope…

      “You don’t need a whole day to recognize sunshine”… Yes!

  6. I love The Roots “You Got Me” but I prefer the live version with Jill Scott singing the chorus.

    I’m also a big fan of Method Man and Mary’s “You’re All I Need To Get By”.

      • “International Players Anthem”-that first verse w/ Andre is just so damn pleasant. I love it. “I hate to see y’all frown, but I’d rather see her smiling.” I love the sampling of “I Choose You” and I love the way he explains his part and then the beat just comes in. AHHH, i love it. And that wedding looks like it was a blast.

        Love that “Undying Love” & “You Got Me” are on the list. Great classic songs that tell a story everyone can identify with. I think the overwhelming theme of these songs is the stories they tell. That’s what’s missing from these silly rappers right now. I don’t even know if Wacka Flocka knows what a story is. They just see how many words they can get to rhyme with “pamper” for just over three minutes.

        • B. Collins I totally agree on “International Players Anthem” and everything you said about it.

        • @B. Collins

          How could I forget “International Player’s Anthem”? This most definitely should be on everyone’s list

          • The rest of the track ruined any loviness it had lol

            Word. Life. Especially Big Boi ramming on Paul McCartney. :)

          • @Peyso,

            Gotta respectfully disagree. According to the post the song is perfect for varying forms of love and perfect for the various thoughts folks might privately have at a wedding. The romantic thoughts of a groom saying goodbye to his singlehood and choosing his bride, his boys wondering if he is doing the right thing and standing by him, the dude who hawking for other chicks at the wedding doing the choosing, and the one wounded who don’t trust women and is thinking about their money and a pre-nup. It fits.

          • @peyso i said “first verse,” but @legitimate kinda explained the whole song, so i’m in for the whole thing. love it. pressing play as we speak

    • @msesquire77…I love The Roots “You Got Me” but I prefer the live version with Jill Scott singing the chorus.

      yes she did! btw i just saw her in concert with maxwell and that chick floors me everytime…simply amazing

      • @thatchic

        I saw Jill a couple years ago and she blew me away. Her voice is so damn strong and pure. She makes me want to fall in love then take vocal lessons so I can write a song about it!!

        I love all of her songs but the live version of “The Way” with Mike Phillips on sax melts me EVERY time I hear it.

        • Jill can come to someone’s backyard and set up and charge $350 per ticket and I’d find a way to be there. She is THAT.GOOD!

          Easy Conversation is the BEST.SONG.EVER! I know we’re supposed to be talking about Hip-hop, but she kills all genres! Straight up. Loves her :-)

      • btw i just saw her in concert with maxwell and that chick floors me everytime…simply amazing

        isn’t she the best/baddest! Her voice is melodious not a single false note! I really enjoyed the concert.

    • i can’t believe it took this much scrolling before someone mentioned this song!!!!! when i opened the post, that was my first (and only) thought.

    • @MsEsquire77
      I love The Roots “You Got Me” but I prefer the live version with Jill

      Yes I was going to say the same thing…the version with Jill was way better

    • I love The Roots “You Got Me” but I prefer the live version with Jill Scott singing the chorus.

      what to you think of the dave chapelle block party version?

      • what to you think of the dave chapelle block party version?

        The performance was crazy!!! Jill gave me goose bumps. I hate I will not be seeing her when she comes to DC this week:(

      • I’d never heard it so I had to look it up. Just heard it on YouTube and I love it! Can’t believe i didn’t know about it. Thanks :)

      • Couldn’t get with the disco-siren ‘whooo’s that Erykah starts yelling on the outro vamp. I think there was a little weirdness added to the fact that JillyfromPhilly wrote it, but Erykah(had3babiesdifrintdudes)Badu got all the shine.

        And btw, even in the liner notes, Eve gets NO CREDIT for that track. Kinda triflin, Tariq.

    • Maybe I overlooked it but I know this can not be the first time somebody mentioned “All I need to get by”- that song is the ish!!!! I think it is one of the top “Hip-Hop love songs”

  7. You mentioned most of the ones I was going to say Champie. You got me, passing me by, and me and my gf.

    -Common and Mary J- Come close
    -Erykah Badu and Common- Love of my life
    I see someone wrote Ex-Factor, so on that note I shall ass
    -D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill- Nothing Even Matters

  8. “You got me”-Roots is definetly going to have to be my #1.

    “The Light” Common(Like water for chocolate)

      • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

        You remember the Mahagony mix? Do you have that remix? If so can I get it? I’m putting in my bid for Ms. Butta’sWorth email for
        knowing about this remix. I’ve looking for it for 10+ years.

        • @Humble_One

          I sure do (remember and possess it) and you sure can. I still listen to it as a matter of fact. My folks get real quiet when they hear this track playing in the car or at home….I’m a “shy performer”…so they always tend to eavesdrop when I’m singing.

          I love that Mahogany mix….it used to hit real close to home.

          • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

            Do you have a twitter account? If so contact me there or I’ll contact you so you can send it to me. Tragedy rhymed over that same beat on “Thug Paradise”. I like Lauryn’s version better.

          • @Humble_One

            Ummm….I don’t own a TA. :-( I’m sure I can meet you half way on this (considering the time its taken you to finally find the joint..lol)….What else do you propose? Is there another way to look you up, perhaps?

          • ….you know what? I’m trying to remember my old email addy thru yahoo. I haven’t used it in eons….otherwise, I’ll create a dummy account and post it later on this evening. Cool?

          • @Humble_One

            ROTFLMAO…well damn. Your email addy is anything BUT “humble”.

            You must be so proud. Such confidence. (I’m being sarcastic). When I tell you that caught me off guard like no other…..like WHOOOSH!!!

            But hey…that’s fine…no one’s judging over here, just thrown off a bit.

          • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

            I was young when I made that account. It’s about 10-11 years old. I used it to download music.

            *holds head in shame*

            I should have gave you my regular address. I’m embarassed. Like I said please don’t judge me.

          • @Humble_One

            I should have gave you my regular address. I’m embarassed. Like I said please don’t judge me.

            Awww…don’t sweat it. It’s fine….really. Totally understandable. Your e-persona speaks so loud, to whereas it shuts down all that other noise (if there was any to begin with). You’re good over here. And I’ll gladly reiterate: No one’s judging you over here. :-)

    • Had to de-lurk just to co-sign! That song makes me…nevah mind.

      Pray for Lauryn, y’all. Heard she’s opening Rock the Bells this year. She could win any day now…just a lil’ sanity and she’s back on genius level just like that!!! *prays fervently with lips moving and sh*T*

          • Nope…me. Sorry Original Satya!!! I am too lazy to make up new handles, i always use the same one…didn’t realize it was taken.

            Since I am addicted to this site now and I will probably be forced to comment again, I will get off my mental @ss and come up with a new handle…*putting on thinking cap, generating heat with massive mind waves*

  9. THE ROOTS “Act Too The Love Of My Life” – I would just play this over and over. Back then, I wanted to love anything as much as they loved hip-hop. Common’s quoteable: “Besides God and family, you my life’s jewel”

    WHODINI “One Love” – I can just about recite this one from top to bottom

    • THE ROOTS “Act Too The Love Of My Life” – I would just play this over and over. Back then, I wanted to love anything as much as they loved hip-hop. Common’s quoteable: “Besides God and family, you my life’s jewel”

      i actually had this on my list, but it somehow got deleted when i posted. its probably jim jones again

  10. I read this and once again I’m reminded how out of touch I am in some ways. Of the songs on that list, I only knew one. One. Now, give me a second to go outside, get into my car, run over of of “the men” to regain my brutha cred.

    This is really tough work. And it’s getting harder to buff out those red stains on my bumper. You can only drive into Mr. Magic with a story about exploding ketchup packets so many times.

  11. My favorite is LL Cool J “I Need Love.” Since he was pretty young when the song came out, it was sweet and innocent. *awwwww* I don’t know if “Round the Way Girl” counts as a love song, but LL is 99% love songs and 1% “Mama Said Knock You Out.”

    • My first encounter with hip-hop was actually by listening to “I need Love” by LL Cool J… It was 1988… and even then my young mind knew I had stumbled onto greatness… Then I peeped the video, and I was gone… (It didn’t help that I discovered it through my little neighborhood puppy love…. Awww, memories… :) )

  12. Yawn….(trying to fight it)

    I agree with most of what’s been listed above….brings back so many memories.

    I’ve got to add (off the top of my head) :

    Song Cry ~ JayZ

    Slum Beautiful ~ Outkast ….I don’t know but, it seem like uh, your daddy must have gave you, a teaspoon of honey every night before you went to bed, or was it a pack of Now & Laters? cause you’re the sweetest thing on my head…

    This Can’t be Life ~ JayZ ft Beanie Sigel and Scarface (I know it wasn’t all that romantical, but somehow it seemed to fit in there.

    • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

      “This Can’t be Life ~ JayZ ft Beanie Sigel and Scarface (I know it wasn’t all that romantical, but somehow it seemed to fit in there”

      This song was my ish.

      • This song was my ish.

        For real!!! That song was my theme music when going through the process of getting over an old ex…..a seven yearlong process at that! That track stayed on repeat! (Smh at myself.)…Welp!…glad that’s over….though I appreciate the lesson learned and experience gained.

        I still love that song….they were killin’ it with those beats.

      • Definitely. I feel Scarface’s verse right now without even listening to it. “I could’ve rapped about my hard times on this song
        But heaven knows I woulda been wrong
        I wouldn’ta been right, it wouldn’ta been love
        It wouldn’ta been life, it wouldn’ta been us
        This can’t be life”

        Others along this same sentiment:
        What was that Puff Daddy Song (back before he was diddy) where he was falling off of the motorcycle over and over again in the video? I can’t think of it right now, but y’all know that was the isht bacc in ’97/’98.

        • What was that Puff Daddy Song (back before he was diddy) where he was falling off of the motorcycle over and over again in the video? I can’t think of it right now, but y’all know that was the isht bacc in ‘97/’98

          “missin you” the biggie tribute song. damn, i definitely should have put this on my list

    • I thought about “Song Cry” too! He’s so half-hearted in a backhanded sort of way. He’s giving the worst kind of apology: the one w/o any real admittance of guilt or responsibility taken.
      Oooh! Think I just had a flashback! LOL

    • Aww man, what about JayZ’s ~ Soon You’ll Understand ?….

      Mmm, you don’t understand now be..cause you’re cryin, and you hurt…You’ll understand soon enough.. soon enough……Let him hold you, let him touch you…Soon you’ll un-der-stand…

      • Ummmhmmmm!

        Look at you, unbelievably, brilliant beautiful you
        You’re looking deliciously divine darling you really and truly do…The very thought of has got me running at the speed of love
        Exploring everything about you from the ground to the God above…Suddenly I started dreaming, traveling in time so fast, I could almost taste outer space…I saw the face of God and looked like you and me too….Hello, I’m the man that God made you for…Profound don’t think, okay let’s put this poetry in motion…I’m shining simply because mother earth I’m your son…
        Our entire circumference engulfed in emotion
        Forever gone be so fun

  13. Come Close – Common…possibly The Light – Common…I’m a Common fan. Obviously.
    Very nice list. Thanks for this post.

    • come close gets me every single damn time ……immediately wanna grab the phone and make some quality time happen

  14. Me & My B**ch – Biggie Smalls
    This was the first song I told a girl about that made me think of her.

    I’ll be your other man & Could it Be – Trick Daddy

    • i’m mad for your trick daddy reference..
      lol…
      five minutes in the corner..

      and yes, people still played opposite day in middle school.. i peeped that.. crab!

  15. Hip hop… Methodman ft mary j. You’re all I need”

    That’s my fav since the day I bought the tape in ’95

  16. 1. You got me–The Roots
    2. Goodie Mob- Beautiful Skin
    3. Brown Skinned Lady–Black Star
    4. The Beggar–Mos Def

    • Totally 100% agree on the Begger by Mos Def. Folks sleep on that brotha, but he has lyrics, depth, and range. Love me some Mos. Also by Mos Beauty in the Dark.

  17. NO love for southern rappers! Where is Outkast’s SpottieOttie or Goodie Mob’s Beautiful Skin?!

  18. I think I will take a slight turn from Champs list

    Prodigy – Gun Love

    Tragedy Khadafi feat. Dave Bing & Killa Sha – Say Goodbye

    Ghostface – Wildflower

    Slum Village feat. Kanye West & John Legend – Selfish

    Raekwon feat. Ghostface, Cappadonna, and Method Man – Ice Cream

    Dogg Pound feat. Snoop Dogg & Big Pimpin Delemond – Big Pimpin

    Sporty Thievz – Cheapskate

    I’m not sure if these count but
    DeAngelo feat. AZ – Lady (remix)
    Jodeci feat. Raekwon & Ghostface – Freek’N You (remix)
    Mary J. Blige feat. Smif n Wessun – I Love You (remix)

    • @Humble_One

      You’re all kinds of wrong for those last three. Tombout you’re not sure if they count.

      ….that reminds me:

      Come Close to Me ~ Common ft. Mary J. Blige

      • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

        “You’re all kinds of wrong for those last three. Tombout you’re not sure if they count.”

        *looking at the sky*
        I have no idea what you’re talking about.

        • @Humble_One

          *looking at the sky* I have no idea what you’re talking about.

          ….like heyal you don’t! LoL. You’re E-VIL for that. It’s late too…. *clutches pillow and pearls*

          ….okay got sum’mo:

          Getting Late & Say Yes ~ Floetry

          Crown Royal & So This is Making Love ~ Jill Scott (OMGaaawwwddd)

          911 ~ Wyclef Jean ft Mary J. Blige

          • Floetry, Floetry, Floetry- co sign , and while I realize Angie Stone may not count,(but I don’t care ) “Brothers” is a wonderful ode to Real chocolate men

          • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

            I’ve seen Floetry live twice and…______________. That blank signifies my loss for words!! Marsha has such an incredibly powerful and passionate voice. I’d love to see her in concert with Jill Scott. Then again, I don’t know if my soul could take all of that talent.

          • @bajanflchick & MsEsquire77

            I can just imagine those ladies in a live concert together.

            I agree….I don’t know if I’m ready for all ‘lat.

          • @Deviant

            He really does. Wyclef does whatever the eff he wants. He really thinks his off-key pitchy lamentation is good. I tell you one thing, he p!ssed me off in the “We Are the World” remake.

            But I do love the song.

          • LOL

            I have a younger cousin who reminds you of a cuter version of Wyclef….and I’ll be dayum if it doesn’t seem like everyone who notices doesn’t yodel out with “Someone please call 9-1-1!”

            I remember taking him to Burger King (which was unbelievably crowded) awhile back and when his order came up, the cook in the back raised his to-go bag high in the air and bust out with (you guessed it)….
            It was hilarious. My cousin was so embarrassed, but he couldn’t do a daggone thing but stand there and laugh his-damn-self.

    • I agree with “Ice Cream” on the list and Ms. Butta’sWorth’s addition of Floetry and Jill. I wanna add “Marathon” by Raheem DeVaugn feat. Floetry……ok, it’s late and this songs are putting me in a certain frame of mind, lol!

      • @legitimate soul

        Gurl, they don’t want to get us started tonight….and I’m really beginning to dig Raheem DeVaughn more & more….

        ….a certain frame of mind indeed. I blame Humble….which in tonight’s/today’s topic is an oxymoron. (starting ish…lol).

        • @Ms. Butta’sWorth,

          ^Gurl, they really don’t. I think Raheem’s first two albums are solid. Humble_One is part of the “Unicorn Crew”…..uh, we’ll call it the “Unicorn Mafia” so brotha’s won’t feel soft or like they’re panderin’….lol

          • @legitimate soul

            Humble_One is part of the “Unicorn Crew” not CLC for Sub3′s non profit org <— Definitely have an accord on this…

            AND…..uh, we’ll call it the “Unicorn Mafia” so brotha’s won’t feel soft or like they’re panderin’….lol

            ^^^LMAO…. (like folks would…naw, I’m not going to say it. Let me keep my mouth shut on that one.

    • Ghostface was madder ‘den a… on “Wildflower”…I was ’bout to put it on my list, but my list was long as heyall already

    • I LOVE floetry getting late (especially the live version) and Jodeci w/Raekwon, but I think those are more r&b/neo soul

    • @Humble_One

      I LOVE you for putting ‘Lady” on this list and I’ve unilaterally decided that it is “our song” :)

    • @Humbleone
      Raekwon feat. Ghostface, Cappadonna, and Method Man – Ice Cream

      I cosign this cause all the girls in my school was talking about what flavor they were. LOL…Butter Pecan mami

  19. I had to laugh when i read Eve’s “Love Is Blind” because I seriously lectured all of my girlfriends with a boyfriend I questioned when that song came out!
    Hilarious!
    I needed that laugh before bed! Thanks Champ!

    • 100% cosign!! I did the same thing. My sister had a boyfriend I didn’t care for at the time. He hadn’t demonstrated a single “abusive” trait, but he stayed getting the side eye after this.

  20. There are so many songs that come to mind, but I do have some faves.
    The Light-Common: “I’ll never call u my bitch, or even my boo” (Respectful Love)
    Slum Beautiful-Outkast: “Yo daddy musta gave u a teaspoon of honey every night b4 u went 2 bed, or was it a pack of Now&Laters” (Sweet Love)
    All That I Got Is U-Ghostface: “I didn’t like 2 sleep wit John-John–he peed the bed” (Honest Love)
    Adore-Prince: bcuz the line “well, maybe not the ride” IS hip-hop w/o even trying

  21. Hello My name is Aqsoul and I’m a lurker

    I’ve been reading for quite a while, always mean to comment, get distratced and by the time I remember there are hundreds of comments. ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOU GUYS! Even though I skew slightly older, still quite entertaining

    had to de-lurk on this one…

    Silent Treatment – The Roots
    You’re All I Need – Method Man ft Mary J Blige
    Co-Sign on Rene – I got choked up just thinking about it

    Plus I needed to add my fave The Wire quotes

    “…. there you go, always giving a fcuk when it ain’t your turn” – Bunk

    “It’s gonna take a lot of work to civilize that nucca.” – Prop Joe (regarding Marlo)

    My Name is My is My Name

    Stringer: Ain’t nobody got nothing to say about a 40-degree day……Nobody give a fcuk about 40. Nobody remember 40, and y’all nuccas is giving me way too many 40-degree days!

    Okay, okay..that’s it

  22. *”Stan” by Eminem – Although it may not be a traditional “love” song as it speaks of a sick, twisted obsession with a musician, I’d still throw it in there because it was obvious that Stan had the hots for Em. Not to mention, it’s one of the greatest rap songs EVER by one of the best rappers ever and it’s one of the best stories ever told in a rap song and it had a great video. Oh yeah, I’m not Stan, ha! I’m just sayin’…

    *BDP – “Love’s Gonna Getcha” – Again, not necessarily traditional love, but the bass in this joint just BUMPED…and the story wasn’t bad.

    *”I’d Rather F*ck With You” and “Automobile” by NWA – These joints were just smooth and comical…I liked them a lot.

    *”Me And My B*tch” by Biggie – Although vulgar and it had the gayest line in rap’s history (I won’t repeat it), the sentiment still seemed sincere and that’s what love’s about.

    *”Sweet Black P—–” by DJ Quik – Ok, let me stop…I can go on and on here.

    • very suspect line but when you ask yourself how bad would a chick have to be for me to do that?…….it’s like damn that chick musta been michael jackson BAD

    • @Monk,
      Yeah…that line was 1000% gay.
      Always makes me think, dayum…that chick must put a root on him, or something…LMAO

    • @Monk

      “*BDP – “Love’s Gonna Getcha” – Again, not necessarily traditional love, but the bass in this joint just BUMPED…and the story wasn’t bad.”

      How did I forget this song? This is one of my favorite songs. It knocks!! This was made when NY producers where getting away from the 808.

    • Stan is a great song and I never really thought of it as a love song. I think Mockingbird is a really good love song. It’s so evident how much he cares for his girls.

  23. Your My Lady- D’Angelo
    “all of them wishing they could have you and as a matter of fact, a bunch of them itching for you to scratch them” -Love this song.

    Bonnie and Shyne- Shyne
    “You can look at the city while I’m diggin your kitty” Hood Love

    03 Bonnie and Clyde – Jay-Z and Bey
    “She do anything necessary for him, and I do anything necessary for her so don’t let the necessary occur, Yup” -Jay-Z

    • two points for the D’angelo lyric
      two more for th shyne reference….plus the melody and chorus are fresh as can be

  24. Song cry—jigga man (thugs can’t cry but songs do…..Shrug)
    me and my bitch—-b.i.g. (gotta be able to ignantly love a chick)
    miss jackson—-outkast (gotta be able to apologize to her and her mama when need be)
    complexity—-the roots (dope lyrics)

    (Black Thought)
    You’re physically in this, but how can we tell
    If we was meant to be in bliss if you’re not mentally as well
    This energy you’re sending me is tricky as hell
    Usually it’s like a 50/50 we can take an L)

    Lost one—-lauryn hill (made me wanna do better in college…was a lyin hoe, now i’m a honest hoe and all my hoes is honest)
    slow it down—-little brother (underrated dope lyrics)
    baby—–fabolous (very catchy kinda love)
    break you off—-roots (really got me in the mood for the drive over to my girls crib……dont judge me)
    one more dance—-nasir jones (if you cant write ur best and most pure for your mother recently gone, how the hell you gonna love another woman?)

    moonwalks off his soap box

    • other dope Black Thought lyrics:

      At this point being apart brings
      The feeling of somebody plucking at your heart-strings
      I know it probably shouldn’t feel like this
      But any other woman I see is in your likeness

    • Lost one—-lauryn hill

      I love this song…

      Another song of of Miseducation that exemplify pure love is “Zion”… I was so enthralled by this song for a minute I wanted to name my future son “Zion”…. Absolutely love it!

      But everybody told me to be smart
      Look at your career they said,
      “Lauryn, baby use your head”
      But instead I chose to use my heart”

      And the parallelism with (biblical) Mary in that first paragraph?…. Brilliant. I miss you Lauryn!

  25. umm..
    Ms Fat Booty- Mos Def.
    it didn’t end well.. but the way he was feelin her was great!!
    (and i pretend he’s singing to me..)
    The Panties- it’s nothing much.. but the combination of beat and expectation makes me wanna put it on a “love CD”
    Never Been in Love- ya’ll need to check the video..
    Hot Thing (remix)- check the original too.. great take on the HP commercials..
    Everything Man- smooth
    LOVE LANGUAGE (with les nubians..)—– ALL by talib kweli….
    i’m in love with his style..
    Reminisce- Bilal with Mos Def…
    do we see a trend here…..

    • “The Panties”

      Yaaas Lawd! That just took me back to Winter of 06. That song was on heavy rotation on the “love” playlist. The simplicity of it still got the job done. Moment of silence please…

      • I find it interesting (in a very good way) that a VSS would list “Ms. Fat Booty” and “The Panties” as hip-hop love songs….I thought surely one of us fellas would name it…kudos to you, Miss.

    • Ms Fat Booty- Mos Def

      Yea I thought about putting this one up, but I just didn’t see the love angle until I just listen to it. this is a love song about a black man’s first love…A**! Just beautiful

      • @DG- i’ll take your kudos *curtsies humbly* thank you..
        for some reason.. those two songs do something to me.. which leads me to believe.. it’s all about the delivery.. because while i don’t like men talkin bout my behind.. if they immortalized it in a song, they might be able to get a pass.. lol
        @Kirk..
        is the booty REALLY a black man’s first love?? say “word!!”

        • it’s all about the delivery.. because while i don’t like men talkin bout my behind.. if they immortalized it in a song, they might be able to get a pass.. lol

          *Note to self:
          talking about a woman’s a$$ = bad (in her mind only)
          harmonizing about a woman’s a$$ = good

          • lol…
            remember, i’m in miami.. city of “d*mn girl…” and all that.. so yeah, if my booty is the first thing ya wanna talk about i’m gonna have a problem with that
            now while i might realize that not everyone has the “swag” of a mos def.. i honestly think that if i had someone feelin me like he was feelin her.. then he could talk about whatever he wanted to..
            then again, this is all supposition.. cuz i’ve never had anyone that was feelin me that way (and told me..)
            honest opinion..
            he could even say “i wanna smash you like an idaho potato..” and i’d laugh…. then take his hand and lead him to the room..
            that’s all i gotta say about that.. (forrest gump)

    • OH!!!
      and the “Love Rain” (remix) with Mos Def..
      the poem he says at the end makes me wanna call someone (if i had someone to call)

      “her lips pursed as if her breath was too sweet and full for her mouth to hold..
      i said, ‘you are the beautiful distress of mathematics’……
      and my favorite line..
      “i would make the sky shed all of its’ stars like rain.. and they would be pleased to cover you.. they would be pleased to cover you..
      may i please…….. cover you…………
      please?”
      OOOHH WEEE!!!!!
      *fans self..*

    • I find it interesting (in a very good way) that a VSS would list “Ms. Fat Booty” and “The Panties” as hip-hop love songs….I thought surely one of us fellas would name it…kudos to you, Miss.

    • Ms. Fat Booty.
      True story: Back in ’99- I met this dude when I called our community radio station to request this song. I think of him everytime I hear that song and giggle.

    • @Nick
      Ms Fat Booty- Mos Def.

      I was trying to think of the name last night. I loved that song! It told a story and the beat was tight. I felt like I learned something.

  26. I have some favorites but I can’t say one is the best. I guess it would have to depend on the mood I’m in, lol.

    Break You Off by The Roots ft Musiq Soulchild

    Touch Me, Tease Me by Case ft Foxy Brown

    Make Me Better by Fabolous ft Ne-Yo

    Down For You by Ja Rule ft Ashanti, Charli Baltimore, and Vita

    Satisfy You by Puff Daddy ft R. Kelly

    Tell Me What You Want by Ma$e ft Total

    Excuse Me Miss by Jay Z ft Pharell

    One Call Away by Chingy ft Jason Weaver

    Love of My Life (Ode to Hip Hop) by Erykah Badu ft Common

    Cosign The Light, Come Close to Me, How’s It Goin Down, Hey Lover, and a few others.

  27. This post is right up my alley! I agree with many folks have posted already. I must add L.L.’s “I Need Love” if no one has yet. Champ, I need to add “I Can’t Sleep At Night” by Wu-Tang feat. Isaac Hayes for the same reason you added the Killa Army joint.

    Non-rappping, but still hip hop:
    All Cried Out-Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and Full Force
    Tender Love-Force MD’s
    Something In My Heart-Michel’le
    Nothing Even Matter’s-Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo

    Rapping Hip Hop (in no particular order):
    Child’s Play-Ghostface Killah
    Save Me Dear-Ghostface Killah
    Ms. Fat Booty-Mos Def
    The Panties-Mos Def
    Camay-Raekwon, Ghostface, and Cappadonna
    Guinesses-Angelika, 4-Ize, MF Doom
    Kookies-MF Doom (the Sesame Street Beat)
    Ladies-MF Doom
    With Me-De La Soul
    The Break Up-Murs
    Makeba-Aceyalone
    Beauty Jackson-Ghostface Killah
    Big Girl-Ghostface Killah
    Jellyfish-Ghostface feat. Theodore Unit
    Black Shampoo-Wu-Tang Clan (except Meth’s last line at the end, lol!)
    Love of My Life-Erykah Badu feat. Common

    • @legitimate soul

      ….oh and to add to your “Non rapping, but still hip hop category:

      Come Inside ~ Intro
      Soul Sista ~ Bilal
      I Like ~ Kut Klose
      Foreplay ~ Raab (…and the remix too)
      Half Crazy ~ Musiq
      One In a Million ~ Aaliyah
      Where I Wanna Be & Shorty’s Got Her Eyes On Me ~ Donell Jones
      All of the Places ~ Aaron Hall

      • Okay, the songs you listed made me throw up one hand like I am in church! Girl, Bilal! I love Bilal’s “Love It”, “Sometimes”, “Fast Lane”, but “When Will You Call” is my sh*t! “No notice, no letter, you just packed your ‘ish and left!”… *transported to the song*

        ….and “One In A Million” is one of my favorites! I got a great memory of a nice slow dance to that song…. *transported to that dance* Dang, nothing beats a man that knows how to hold a woman. *Swoon*

        *blink, blink* What were we talkin’ about again?

        • LMAO @ —> *blink, blink* “What were we talkin’ about again”?

          You are somethin’ else, chick. heh-heh…

      • @Ms. Butta’sWorth & legitimate_soul

        What happened to Bilal? I know he was with Dr. Dre. Maybe I just answered what happened to him?

        • @Humble_One

          Good question. I’m not so sure….but he looks pretty sick these days or maybe that was an old pic I saw of him (sincerely hoping he’s not messing around with that y’eet gal = CoCaine)….but he and Raheem DeVaughn did a live one together sometime last year. Now I don’t really know….but I’mma need Bilal to drop another one soon.

          • Bilal’s album should be dropping sometime this summer/early fall…He’s been doing shows here and there, so I would imagine this album will drop (unlike Love for Sale…perhaps the greatest unreleased album ever) since he’s under an indie music label now…you can check for updates at http://www.plugresearch.com

    • @legitimate_soul

      “Guinesses-Angelika, 4-Ize, MF Doom
      Kookies-MF Doom (the Sesame Street Beat)
      Ladies-MF Doom
      The Break Up-Murs”

      I heart you for knowing these. Especially Kookies. Bonus points to you if you know when that beat came on on Sesame Street.

      • @Humble_One

        “Bonus points to you if you know when that beat came on on Sesame Street.”

        ^The beat also known as the “Funky Chimes” portion of the ending credits of Sesame Street came on during the ending credits and information of Public Television and what government and education grants funded Sesame Street. Whut! *b-girl stance* What I win, What I win, what I win? LOL!

    • @legitimate soul
      All Cried Out-Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and Full Force
      Tender Love-Force MD’s
      Something In My Heart-Michel’le
      Nothing Even Matter’s-Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo

      This whole list just put you in my top5 favorite bloggers list.

      • @Cheekie

        I know right? I just knew I wasn’t the only one…I definitely have my list on standby. These songs really go hard on that nostalgia tip.

  28. Knowing me, we could be here allll night.

    01. A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation
    Phife trying to spit game at a chick something serious while Q-Tip merely plays it cool. “You can be my mama and I’ll be your boy.”

    02. 2Pac – Do For Love
    Great song that captured the back and forthness of a relationship that soured.

    03. Mos Def – Beauty In The Dark
    Sampled “Groove With You” by the Isley Brothers. Trust me, I still keep it on a playlist whenever the moment arrives.

    04. OutKast – Stanklove
    The dirtiest love song I’ve ever heard.

    • 02. That song was stuck in my brain all weekend due to (one of) last Friday’s subtopics…more so the original, but I love them both.

      04. Man-O-Man….I started to list that but Slum Beautiful bombarded its way in…love both of those as well. And the description of dirty doesn’t do that song justice….it was straight gutter. LOL

    • 01. A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation
      Phife trying to spit game at a chick something serious while Q-Tip merely plays it cool. “You can be my mama and I’ll be your boy.”

      I did not see you had this, I wrote it too. I co-sign!

  29. Ohhh and how could I forget,

    Jazzy Belle- Outkast
    “Oh yes I love her like Egyptian…”

  30. Had to come out of lurking status for this one. Cosign on “You Got Me” and “Renee” and I add
    K.I.S.S.I.N.G- Nas
    Break you off- The Roots (don’t know if that qualifies as a love though)
    ’03 Bonnie and Clyde- Jay and Beyonce if only for my fav line “she’d do anything necessary for him and I’d do anything necessary for her so don’t let the necessary occur” owwwwwwwwwww

    • Break you off- The Roots (don’t know if that qualifies as a love though)

      lol, there needs to be an entirely new entry devoted to “f*ckin” rap songs

      welcome and sh*t, btw

  31. Back from Lurkerdom

    Talib Kweli – Won’t You Stay

    I used to love this song and the third verse was crazy to me

      • I didn’t think that many would have I mean I couldn’t even find it on youtube which is odd to say the least. It was on the Quality album. Maybe I’m the only one that liked it and it actually sucked *shrug*

  32. Even though like 80% of the songs I was going to put on my list have already been mentioned, I will give it a shot anyways…

    The Foreign Exchange – I Wanna Know
    The Foreign Exchange – Take Off The Blues
    The Foreign Exchange – Happiness
    Common – Come Close
    Erykah Badu/Common – Love Of My Life
    LL Cool J – Hey Lover
    Yung Gunz – No Better Love
    Common – The Light
    Outkast – Liberation
    The Roots feat Jill Scott & Erykah Badu – You Got Me (Live)

    I’m sure there’s more, but I can’t remember right now…

    And if you haven’t peeped Foreign Exchange, please do so, your life will be all the better for it..

  33. D@mn all the PG-rated stuff…

    Put It In your Mouth–Akinyele (a classic!!)

    *Lovin* You Tonite–Biggie ft. R. Kelly (ya’ll heard the unedited version)

    The entire musical catalog of 2 Live Crew

    *Looks around the room, waiting for the pending rebuttal…*

    • For my Eros-type love songs, I’ll add a couple just for shiggles (as some VSS would say)

      So Far to Go–Common ft. D’Angelo (RIP Dilla)
      Love Is–Common (again, RIP Dilla)
      Come Around–The Foreign Exchange
      Talk to You–Talib Kweli ft. Bilal (ill song, just slept on)

      • *Lovin* You Tonite–Biggie ft. R. Kelly (ya’ll heard the unedited version)

        Total co-sign…feeling a lil way just thinking ’bout this one. I’ll even take R Kelly’s version for $1000.

      • i TOTALLY forgot “Talk to you!”
        the way he says “let me holla at you for a minute..”
        makes me swoon……

        note to you:
        random miami boy wanting to holla=bad
        swag of kweli wanting to holla=very good..
        there’s many parts of that song that i say on the regular

  34. Had to come out of hiding for this too. co-sign on ‘hows it going down’ by the way. And ‘Damien’. Is there a better example of ‘Partnership’ gone oh so wrong.

    BUT These are the two that come to mind first, listening to them ALWAYS makes me feel so great.

    1.Travelling Man – Mos def
    The beat, the words everything is perfect.

    2. Andre 3000 verse – International Players anthem UGK.
    Love Andre, no one else’s rhymes stick in my mind like his do. Had to put the verse in

    “”So, I typed a text to a girl I used to see
    Sayin that I chose this cutie pie with whom I wanna be
    And I apologize if this message gets you down
    Then I CC’d every girl that I’d see see round town and
    I hate to see y’all frown but I’d rather see her smiling
    Wetness all around me, true, but I’m no island
    Peninsula maybe, makes no sense I know, crazy
    Give up all this pussy cat thats in my lap no lookin back
    Spaceships dont come equipped with rearview mirrors
    They dip as quick as they can
    The atmosphere is now ripped
    Im so like a Pip, Im glad its night
    So the light from the sun would not burn me on my bum
    When I shoot the moon high, jump the broom
    Like a premie out the womb
    My partner yellin “Too soon! Dont do it! Reconsider!
    Read some litera – ture on the subject
    You sure? Fuck it
    You know we got your back like chiroprac – tic
    If that bitch do you dirty
    we’ll wipe her ass out as in detergent
    Now hurry hurry, go on to the altar
    I know you aint a pimp but pimp remember what I taught ya
    Keep your heart 3 stacks, keep your heart
    Aye, keep your heart 3 stacks, keep your heart
    Man, these girls is smart, 3 stacks, these girls is smart
    Play your part,Play your part”

    Amazing

    • Thank you for saving me the extra effort of Googling the lyrics just to read that verse. And like someone else said upthread it looked like they had a blast at the wedding in the video.

      The percussion section in my high school marching band wore kilts so I hadn’t seen a Black man in one since circa 1999 so I doubly appreciated Andre 3000′s homage to his Scottish heritage!

    • “”So, I typed a text to a girl I used to see
      Sayin that I chose this cutie pie with whom I wanna be
      And I apologize if this message gets you down
      Then I CC’d every girl that I’d see see round town and
      I hate to see y’all frown but I’d rather see her smiling
      Wetness all around me, true, but I’m no island
      Peninsula maybe, makes no sense I know, crazy
      Give up all this pussy cat thats in my lap no lookin back
      Spaceships dont come equipped with rearview mirrors
      They dip as quick as they can
      The atmosphere is now ripped
      Im so like a Pip, Im glad its night
      So the light from the sun would not burn me on my bum
      When I shoot the moon high, jump the broom
      Like a premie out the womb
      My partner yellin “Too soon! Dont do it! Reconsider!
      Read some litera – ture on the subject
      You sure? Fuck it
      You know we got your back like chiroprac – tic
      If that bitch do you dirty
      we’ll wipe her ass out as in detergent
      Now hurry hurry, go on to the altar
      I know you aint a pimp but pimp remember what I taught ya
      Keep your heart 3 stacks, keep your heart
      Aye, keep your heart 3 stacks, keep your heart
      Man, these girls is smart, 3 stacks, these girls is smart
      Play your part,Play your part”

      this IS a great, great verse. welcome and sh*t, btw

    • Yeah….I saw this one being mentioned further up the scroll….I had no words…. other than a resounding YESSS!

  35. I’m the epitome of a lurker, but I love music. Champ def forced me out of hiding with this one. Alot of the great songs have been mentioned, so I’m gonna go a different route and list songs that may fly under the majority’s radar. Maybe one day they’ll be on someone’s greatest of all time list. Here goes:
    Rap:
    Untitled – Shawn Chrystopher. The lyrics speak for themselves
    Fatima – K’naan. Love lost at a young age
    She Cold – Chip Tha Ripper.
    All Or Nothing/Coming Home – The Foreign Exchange. I aint going nowhere love.
    Dreams – J.Cole. Crazy love
    Escalator – Tabi Bonney
    Cold Pillow – Theophilus London. Lost love.
    Shades – Wale ft. Chrisette Michele. Black love.
    My Sweetie – Wale. Nigerian love (I’m not nigerian just love the song)

    And for two R&B mentions:
    I Choose You – Ryan Leslie. Naked honest love
    and Chills by Fatty Koo cuz it actually gives me chills.

    • I didn’t know they qualified as hip hop. But if they do count, you would have to scratch them from the list and start w/ Jodeci.

      Ohhhhhhhhh yeaaaaaah *in K-Ci’s voice*

      • You know how many times I had to remind myself that this a hip-hop not r&B topic? Jocedi would have been all up through this piece. Something about that minuscule chest sets my soul on fire. (From a distance, you know he be beating women)

  36. aaah, guys – speaking about love songs, i dedicate ‘Missing You” by Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye to all VSB’ers – i wish i could airlift each and every one of you to Jo’burg right now! the world cup is about to kick off in the next two hours, and this city is the best place in the world to be right now!! the vibe is electric! (and IYO!!- guys, the players on your team are beaaautiful!!)

    please pray for our team as they go up against mexico…we need a miracle!

    in the meantime…blow your vuvuzela’s like your’e doing it for TV! (dont’ know what a vuvuzela is? google it!!) cheers!

    • A bunch of my friends flew to South Africa for the world cup… They rented a house in Cape Town and everything… I am so mad I couldn’t make it… :(

      But I’ve been receiving snippets of vuvuzela sounds on BBM… Lol. Enjoy!

      • Bafana bafana played surprisingly well!

        Now let’s hope, the other African teams bring it as well..(Drogba and the squad I am looking at you!!!)

        • yes, we’re all so relieved!! now everyone loves the boys all over again! it would’ve been a bleak month if we’d been kicked out…. tomorrow, it’s naija!! can’t hardly wait!!

  37. actually… diana ross sang ‘missing you’ TO marvin gaye after his passing, it wasn’t a duet…sorry!

  38. 1. Ms Phat Booty by Mos Def
    2.Valentines Day dy Andre 3000
    3.Roses (I known but still) by Andre 3000
    4. Rainy Days Mary J and that thing called Ja Rule
    5. Candy by Cameo (I know it’s not hip hop, but it’s such a cute song and I have an old soul)
    6. Many of the aforementioned songs in others’ posts

  39. Didn’t ever think I’d hear someone bring up Sweet Love. That album wasn’t half bad. Dangerous Ground was my song.

    Anyway here are my great love songs.

    Jay-Z: You Must Love Me
    - Jigga at his most emotional. Production is top notch, the singing portions aren’t overbearing, and the rhymes are painful (in a good way)

    Big Tymers: #1 Stunna
    - I’ve never heard anyone who loves themselves and their damn cars like Baby and Manny Fresh. Seriously, they outdiddy Diddy in that aspect. Bling Bling is a close second but this song wins out since baby spends the last minute or so just TALKING (not rapping) about all the cars he has on dubs. I also learned what Frog Eyes and Eyebrows are.

    Akinelye: Put It In Ya Mouth
    - Wow, this dude really like brains. Also wins for funniest attempt at a radio edit. Nore’s Hed is a good one too.

    Mos Def: Hip Hop
    - Still the best love letter to hip hop.

    M.O.P. and Freddie Foxxx: I Love
    - Very loosely based on love, but can’t go wrong with shouting over a Primo beat.

    Boogie Down Productions: Loves Gonna Get You
    - though I thought it was a weak mainstream attempt when it came out, this song grew on me. Seeing the faces of people disappear during the “shot down one, shot down two” part is one of my favorite hip hop video parts of all time. Not sure why.

    Master P: Ghetto D
    - These dudes love crack so much that they give you step by step instructions on how to make it. You know, just in case times get hard. Funniest part is Master P’s attempts to legitimize the song by adding lines about making legal money.

    Cannibal Ox: The F Word
    - Great song about the tension between being friends and wanting to take it forward.

    • You must love me!!! that song and Lucky Me are why I hold vol. 1 near and dear to my heart. its a personal fave by Hov. Not many like it but I love it.

    • triple-sign “u must love me” !!

      ” Like a stranger damn I just shot my nigga
      and ran off into the night as if it was not my nigga
      Left the scene, how could I go out that way
      Still you asked to see me in the hospital the next day
      You must love me.”

  40. I was just talking to a friend who is a young buck, lol and he serious about being an emcee. So he gave me some music and it was a song about having gas. Yea, but the crazy thing is it was supposed to be for the ladies. I had to school him on songs that came out likely when he was in the 2nd grade so he can understand how to appeal to a female audience. I used Wu as an example and he did not get. So I am going to direct him to the blog today:)

    I have so many but my favorite is “Electric Relaxtion” Tribe Called Quest.

    • If he was born after 1985 your going to have your work cut out for you. But knowledge is power. Teach on :)

      • If he was born after 1985 your going to have your work cut out for you.

        Girl! But I am consider cool because I know my stuff so that helps lol.

  41. I’m gonna have to go with:

    “All That I Got is You” — Ghostface Killah
    “85″ — Youngbloodz

    I know it has been mentioned already but the Method and Mary “You’re all I Need” still gets regular play on the iPod.

  42. all I need -method man and mary j.
    right here-erk the jerk (im feeling this right now)
    hows it going down-dmx
    teenage love-slick rick
    mahagony-erik b & rakim
    all that i got is you-ghostface/mary j
    passing me by-pharcyde
    shakiyla-prt

    That’s all I got for now

  43. No you DI-int cite “Creep!” Do you understand, I recently found the video of a live performance of that song and watched it, like, a MILLION times? Warning, Black Men: white boyz who get down like this? CAN.GET.IT.

  44. Oh: and my additions:

    Lauren Hill: Zion
    Erykah Badu: practically EVERY SONG on Mama’s Gun, but specifically: Orange Moon, In Love With You, Green Eyes
    LL Cool J: ‘Round the Way Girl

  45. Eve’s Love is Blind IS ONE OF THE BEST HIP-HOP LOVE SONGS EVER!!! The story, the delivery, the development… It’s about her friend’s love for a man who is abusing her, AND at the same time its about the love that EVE has for her friend (which brings her to do what she does at the end of the song). Y’all trippin talking about you only included it because you needed a female emcee to add. GTFOH! …Immediately. It murders most of the songs on this list.

    AND Method&Mary’s You’re All I Need belongs on the list before any of these other songs.

    Co-sign all those who brought up LL’s I NEED LOVE.

    Would also add Jay Z’s Song Cry and take it way back and say Sweet T’s Why Did It Have to Be Me

    • Usually a lurker but I had to comment because, did you take it back to Sweet T? Wow. I used to love that song!

  46. My picks are
    “Camay”~Ghostface Killah f/Raekwon and Cappadonna
    Love the Teddy P sample, and lines “sweet as carrot cake”, “hands softer than camay, and “you sexy MF, what’s the recipe/you make a ninja wanna…gotdayum!!!!” :)

    “Hello”~T.I.
    Everyone knows they got that one person, that late in the midnight hour or possibly after a few drinks that you start reminiscing about. From The Isleys Bros. sample and the lines “tell you how much I missin’ you, lovin’ you and kissin’ you, think about the good ol’ days and wanna visit you.”

  47. 1. Talk To You (Lil Darlin’) – Talib Kweli ft Bilal
    2. Soul Sista- Bilal*
    3. Sometimes-Bila*
    *These two songs bookend each other*
    4. Act Too (The Love of My Life) – The Roots
    5. Roll Wit Me- Co-ed ft T.I.P.
    6.She’s Always In My Hair- Prince (Not hip hop at all but this is my list)
    7. Sincere- The Foreign Exchange ft Yazarah (Sometimes you’ve gotta work some things out.)
    8. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You- A pre crazy L Boogie makes Frankie Valli hip hop
    9. In The Dark- Nina Simone (She’s not hip hop at all but she’s big with the hip hop head wrap crowd.)

  48. I sorta want to add “soon you’ll understand” -JayZ mainly cuz I love Jigga and also cuz I think most of us love the wrong person at some point or another.

    “why you wanna” TI if only for the “is you happy?” line and “whatever you like” cuz who doesn’t want a shopping spree

    I agree with at least half the songs already posted but I’ve got to cosign Beautiful Skin, Bonita Applebum, killing me softly, Renee, come close, half crazy, love of my life, touch me tease me and pretty much all the common, outkast and ll cool j songs listed.

  49. Oh & we can’t leave off J Dilla f/ Dwele “Dime Piece”!!! I want to got to dinner w/ this song, watch the sunrise w/ this ish…oh Eff it!

    Dime Piece…will you marry me?

  50. Mos Def’s “the Beggar” is one of my faves of all time!!
    BTW, I am a woman, and I love me some Eve, but “Love is Blind” is a terrrrrible song. Don’t muddle the greatness by needing to throw a woman on the list. That chorus made my ears bleed.

  51. Great list, Champ!

    I would add the entire The Love Below album. Every single song and interlude. Yes, he is singing throughout 92.7% of it, but it’s still a part of the hip-hop genre. DON’T JUDGE ME!! I love 3 Stacks… and he’s vegan. *swoon*

    • The Love Below will go down as one of the most forward thinking albums of all times… It was 3 stacks channeling Jimi with a hint of Marvin, a sprinkle of southern hip hop and a whole lot of ‘tude. Everything music is supposed to be: contemporary, evolutionary, revolutionary.

      Yeah this album is the awesomeness. :)

  52. The Clipse ft. Pharell “Gangsta Lean”- Ode to Mary Jane an no her last name isn’t Blige. If you’ve never heard this song…you need to listen to it NOW

    Jay-Z- “Soon You’ll Understand”
    “It must be said, though it hurts to say
    We could never be an item
    Don’t like him, you deserve better
    This is ugly, Gina please don’t love me” All 3 verses are about a different type of love..mother and son…forbidden love…girlfiend

    c/s DMX’s “How’s It Going Down”…”and we gon always be the best of friends…ha ha/mad love boo to the end, haha”

    Nas “K.I.S.S.I.N.G”

    • c/s DMX’s “How’s It Going Down”…”and we gon always be the best of friends…ha ha/mad love boo to the end, haha”

      Damn DMX should come back for a little..crack is WHACK

      The Clipse ft. Pharell “Gangsta Lean”-

      Love that song. These boys can rap and don’t get much rotation here in the south.

  53. All I Need–Method Man & Mary J. Blige
    All That I Got is You–Ghostface Killah and Mary J. Blige
    *Put it On Me–Ja Rule, Vita, Lil’ Mo
    I loved this song in college because I was so down for my boyfriend at the time it was ridiculous. I kept it on repeat and I drove my roommate crazy playing it so much. I added it to my list for shiggles (thanks Gem of the Ocean, I’ve been waiting for my chance to use “shiggles” in a sentence!)
    The Sweetest Thing–Lauryn Hill
    Do-Wop (That Thing)–Lauryn Hill
    Not your typical love song, but Lauryn made the whole “love yourself more” statement without being cheesy.I think this song should be the introduction to every motivational speech for adolescents everywhere.
    Fool of Me–Me’Shell Ndegéocello
    It’s R&B, not hip-hop, but it could quite possibly be the best most depressing break up song ever. You either have to watch or picture in your head the one-on-one night scene from Love and Basketball to get the full effect.

    I’m nota hip-hop head but I everyone’s lists makes me want to do some serious you tube viewing/listening.

    • “Fool of me”
      the way she sang that was SOO sad, SOO depressing.. and SOO beautiful…
      it sums up EVERYTHING… PERFECTLY!!!

      “i do, still smell you in my dreams..
      and now.. when we’re face to face
      you won’t look me in the eye”

      GREATNESS!!

      • Girl next to any Sade slow song, “Fool of Me” is my next in line of songs that will make me take out my former significant other with the quickness.

        I must stay away from that song. But, I agree it was great.

      • I hope you saw the disclaimer that it was only on the list for shiggles. Plus I was 18 at the time and swore I was down for my dude. Riiiiiiiight. :)

  54. Your a fan of the art of storytelling in Hip Hop huh? The songs on your list are good and were most were very popular, but the best ever? Where’s Panama when you need him? Well your entitiled to your list just as I’m entitled to mine….like to see it…here it go:

    Paid in Full ~ Eric B & Rakim
    My Philosophy ~ Boogie Down Productions
    Elevators ~ Outkast
    Scenario ~ Tribe called Quest and Leaders of the New School
    I Use to Love Her ~ Common
    The World is Yours ~ Nas
    Children’s Story ~ Slick Rick
    Jesus Walks ~ Kanye West
    My mind’s playing tricks on me ~ Ghetto Boyz
    You got me ~ The Roots

    Here are the first ten to come to mind but really there are so many more!

    • this is a list of hip hop love songs….if it was storytelling (an art lost on current music imo) eric b & rakim would definitely be first (eric b is president is my joint)!

  55. Momentarily delurking…

    I don’t have time to read the comments yet, but I am sure someone has mentioned “you’re all i need” meth & mary….

    Nothin makes a man feel better than a woman,
    queen with a crown that be down for whatever
    There are few things that’s forever, my lady
    We could make war or make babies
    Back when I was nothin
    You made a brother feel like he was somethin
    That’s why I’m with you to this day boo no frontin
    Even when the skies were gray
    You would rub me on my back and say “Baby it’ll be okay”

    This should’ve been posted as a response to Slim Thug’s comments about non-supportive sistas….

    • “This should’ve been posted as a response to Slim Thug’s comments about non-supportive sistas….”

      I was actually wondering if someone was gonna post a Slim Thug song…

  56. What happened to the grimey love songs like:

    “Camay” by Ghostface and the Wu crew.
    “Baby” Ghostface featuring Raheem Devaughn
    “Sweet Sugar Pie” Old Dirty Bastard
    “You’se a Bitch” – Compton’s Most Wanted
    “Can I Kill It” – Compton’s Most Wanted
    “Hey Love” – King Sun (ya’ll are too young for that)

    Grimey love, bammaz!

    • @CPT Callamity

      It’s good to see another CMW fan. I like Eiht but his songs about chics just didn’t seem right. Dude is too grimey.

    • I liked CMW too but not the “love” songs LOL..
      Another Victim. Hood done Took me under, Hoodrats etc some of my fav tracks!

  57. Love sick- Gangstar
    When you’re near- Guru, N’dea Davenport Jazzmatazz Vol I

    Whats on your mind- Eric B and Rakim
    Mahogony- Eric B and Rakim

    Searching- Pete Rock CL Smooth
    Mind Blowin- Pete Rock

    The entire Wizard of Poetry/Ghostdini CD

    thats off the dome be back wit more LOL

  58. Wildflower by Ghostface Killah- best break up song ever “yeah I fucked your friend/yeah you stank ho!

    Co-sign- on Spottieottiedopalicious and All that I Need to Get By- “and I got mad love to give you my nigga”

  59. ***songs not named yet that could have also made the cut***

    “where ya heart at” mobb deep (just for the chorus alone)
    “baby” and “do over” ghostface featuring raheem devaughn
    “i honor you” canibus
    “strawberry” ghostface, rza, inspectah deck
    “love song” jean grae
    “for women” talib kweli
    “make me better” fabalous, neyo
    “home” kanye west (the original version)
    “war” nas
    “life changes” wu-tang
    “21 questions” 50 cent (yeah, it belongs here too)

  60. Wildflower by Ghostface Killah- best break up song ever! Yeah I fucked your friend/yeah you stank ho!

    Co-sign on Spottieottiedopalicious and All that I need “and I got mad love to give you my nigga” best line EVER.

  61. Sir Greendown,
    Cybertronic Pergatory
    Neon Valley Street
    Say you’ll go
    Oh Maker
    My Favorite Nothing

    JANELLE MONAE AKA Cyndi Mayweather BKA ArchAndroid

  62. I actually have a hip hop love songs playlist. of the ones mentioned Renee’ and You Got Me are favorites. lots of good ones mentioned in the comments that I have on said playlist.

    but one I didnt’ see that I LOVE is BIG’s Me & My B*tch. its sooooo hood but so real. love that song. also saw no Meth & Mary “All I need” (the remix with the M&MB sample is my fave)

    Fabolous has some good ones too, Trade it All, Make Me Better, Baby…

  63. All I Need by Method Mad and Mary J. Blige: Hands down greatest hip-hop love song ever. On some Marvin Gay, Tammy Terrell @@it.

    Silent Treat by The Roots: Sisters like Queen Aminah turn brothers out….sorta like Badu.

    Soul Sista by Bilahl: Not hip-hop but the probably the greatest song about a woman ever. Ever.

  64. haven’t read all the comments so mine might repeat. i browsed though… and i really need to do some downloading it seems. i have no clue what a lot of these songs are.

    anyhoo. me loves. my ULTIMATE is definitely ‘you got me’ by the roots. i heart Eve and the roots and the lyrics are that deal. listen to it at least once a week. my others:

    the light- common: “some n*ggas recognize light, but they can’t handle the glare.” -best line ever
    the beggar- mos def
    come close- common
    nobody but you- little brother: “sat down thinking of you, and pulled my pen out…sexing with you is more than just sweaty in-outs.” loves it.
    bittersweet- kanye
    i need love remix- jagged edge (i know it’s not hiphop but i loves it)
    i need love- LL
    how’s it going down- DMX (co signnnn.)

    i prob have more but i don’t care to think about love right now. sigh.

    • oh! and ‘valentine’s day’ by 3thou. only because that’s my birthday. and this line: “could be an organ donor the way i’d give her my heart but, she’ll never know, cause shiiid i’ll never tell her. ask me bout my feelings and i’ll holla that it’s irrela.”

      and “Hans Solo till I’m hit by the bullet, so may the force
      Be with you, and I’ll hit you when better time permits
      For now, give me examples of why you’re the sh*t..”

      • and “Hans Solo till I’m hit by the bullet, so may the force
        Be with you, and I’ll hit you when better time permits
        For now, give me examples of why you’re the sh*t..”

        CLASSIC…and I cosign your whole list. The Love Below is in my top 10 fav albums

    • Aww “Bittersweet”, I’ll never hit a woman but I’d shake the sh!t out of you”

      Heart that song

  65. Wow…love this topic! Here are a few lines and artist that come to mind when I think about Hip Hop Love songs:

    “I did her, not just to say I did, but I’m committed” – I used to love H.E.R. by Common

    “I think I might wife her, you know, powder blue Roca Wear suit, White Nike her, my Ninjas like her” – No Better Love by Young Gunz

    “Some say love is painful it helps you grow, Well it’s time for the pain to go, ya’know – Love U Better by LL Cool J

    (Too Brilliant to List Only One Line….Google the Lyrics) Hypnotic – The Roots feat. D’Angelo

    (Again….Too Many Great Lines) – Silent Treatment by The Roots

    “I just got one question for you…..Is You Happy?” Why You Wanna by T.I.

    “Cause yo, picture me messing it up, her mind not corrupt with the ill C-Cups” – Find A Way by A Tribe Called Quest

    “38-24-37, you and me hun, we’re a match made in heaven “ – Bonita Applebum by A Tribe Called Quest

    “Honey, check it out, you got me mesmerized, with your black hair and fat-ass thighs” – Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest

    “I need you more in my life more than I need a bag of weed” – Special by Snoop feat. Brandy

    • What happened to Mr. Cheeks? He somewhat inspired my name.

      I went from MissCheeks84 on AOL Chat, then someone called me Cheekie (and everyone thusly caught on and called me that), and thus this legendary name was born.

  66. In no particular order…….

    * LL Cool J – “I’m Bad”
    * The Pharcyde – “Runnin’”
    * Masta Ace – “Born To Roll”
    * Ahmad – “Back in the Day” (talk about a perfectly captured trip down 80′s memory lane)
    * De La Soul – “Me, Myself and I”
    * Nine – “Whutcha Want”
    * Digable Planets – “Rebirth of Slick(Cool Like Dat)”
    * Leaders of the New School – “Scenario”
    * Black Sheep – “The Choice Is Yours”
    * Big Daddy Kane & Spinderella – “Very Special”
    * Black Rob – “Whoa”
    * The Lost Boyz – “Beasts From The East” (ft. A+, Redman, Canibus)
    For the simple fact that Canibus’ verse was so flipping ill, that not only did he outshine everyone else on this track, but his verse outshined every rap single, album, 12 inch put out by any rap artist that year, the preceding five years, and to this very date.

  67. Yeah, they aint love songs, but I just figured I would disrupt the love in the room. *snicker* Happy Friday!!

  68. okay a few that are from my childhood

    Nika -Lil Vicious
    Thats My Girl & Iesha -Another Bad Creation
    #dontjudgeme I still listen to these…
    and I know Immature and Subway aren’t hip hop so I’ll just leave those off, lol.

  69. I’m obviously not a hip hop head ‘cuz Ion know half the songs on your list and I’m over 30. smh

    But I must say the first song that made me pay attention to rap/hip hop was “You’re all I need”. My high school bf from used to whisper the lyrics in my ear all the time. *pause*
    I also loved Tupac’s “I Get Around”. But that’s not exactly a love song.

  70. @Reecie

    You from Boston? You’re clearly on the Biv 10 record tip. Subway’s “The Game We Play”. I’ll put that up on here for you.

    • @Dash

      Ummm, you better scroll up(thread) hun. It has already been mentioned and given head nod….it was listed during VSB/SS’s official Batman hours. ***now, just breathe….***

  71. Oh, I just remembered: Poor Georgie ~ MC Lyte

    *****************************************************

    Simply Beautiful ~ Queen Latifah’s remake (Original is a classic but she put it down nicely)

    Top of the World ~ Kenya Gruv (Menace II Society soundtrack)

    ‘Ol Skool ~ Isaac 2 Isaac (The Show soundtrack)

    I’m Missing You ~ Case

    Back Tight ~ Jaheim

    Me and Those Dreamy Eyes & Crusin’ ~ D’Angelo

    Kissing You and Tell Me ~ Total

    My First Love ~ Avant duet w/ Keke Wyatt (remake)

    ***…and it’s taking everything within me NOT to bring up A.H….see, I can’t even bring myself to type the man’s gubment name. He may be ‘kuntry, but HE COUNTS. Hands down.***

    • @Ms. Butta’sWorth

      “Top of the World ~ Kenya Gruv (Menace II Society soundtrack)”

      Ha! I remember this. Summer of 1993. Lots of teenage memories.

    • Since you mentioned “Poor Georgie” I gotta add “Ruffneck”. Plus, you trying to start something bringing up “Top of The World” :) . The memories…..

  72. A few more

    Snoop Dog feat. Pharrell & Charlie Wilson – Beautiful

    Nas – You Mean The World To Me

    Sporty Theivz – No Pigeons

    Bloods & Crips – Mackin to the Slob B**ches

    Domino – Sweet Potato Pie

    Q-Tip -Vivrant Thang

  73. Young folk posting whateva LOL
    sex,cut buddy anthems, party n bS joints,
    r&B joints, I thought is was Hip Hop LOVE songs?!? LLS

  74. @ Humble_One
    “Domino – Sweet Potato Pie”

    “I’m all f*ckd up off chocolate thai.
    Hit the gin shop now I’m so high.
    Now I need a b*tch thats proper and fly
    So break me off a piece of that sweet potato pie.”

    Yep….like whispering sweet nothings. If that aint love, I dont know what is. Wow.

  75. What about Method Man and Mary J Blide in “Youre All I Need To Get By” (if thats even the name of the song, lol). The version without Mary J is good, but with her,… its the bees-knees.

    Kay Bee

  76. I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get by Mary J. and Method (HANDS DOWN!) Next, the lyrics alone in Pharcyde ” Passin’ Me By” alone, is what love is all about….and Lauren’s “Tell Him” is the main song on my “babes playlist”…LOL! Oh yeah “Break up to Make Up” Method and D’Angelo was recently added to that list too.

  77. Whats good yall.

    Excellent Post.

    As far as love songs go, I didnt see these so forgive me if they are repeats

    - Freakin You remix – Jodeci and Rae/Ghost

    - Gota get you home – Foxy/Blackstreet

    - Big Poppa – Notorious BIG

    - You WOnt see me tonight – Nas x Aaliyah

    - Unthinkable Remix Drake x A-Keys (I put this as honorable bec that verse Drake layed was real man talk and Keys song is classic to me already)

    - Kanye Hey Mama (Love for moms word up)

    As far as storytelling songs, One of the greatest if not THE greatest is Nas I gave you power. So vivid so real

    Actually, a LOT of the tracks on IWW was storytelling at its finest…

    Also, Many Men by 50 Cent, BIG I got a story to tell, Jay-Z a week ago excellent

    I’ll try to think of more.

    Peace

  78. also, i don’t know if anyone mentioned… but andre 3000′s verse in International Player’s Anthem by UGK…

    i once asked someone to name a song that reminded him of me and he broke out into that verse:

    “So, I typed a text to a girl I used to see
    Sayin that I chose this cutie pie with whom I wanna be
    And I apologize if this message gets you down
    Then I CC’d every girl that I’d see see round town and
    I hate to see y’all frown, but I’d rather see her smiling
    Wetness all around me, true, but I’m no island..”

    i couldn’t help but smile. lol

    • OOOMG i forgot one of my all time favs.

      MIND SEX- Dead Prez

      “See i ain’t got to get in your blouse
      It’s your eye contact, that be getting me aroused
      When you show me your mind, it make me wanna show you mines
      Reflecting my light, when it shines, just takin our time
      Before the night’s through, we could get physical too
      I ain’t tryin to say I don’t wanna f*ck, cause I do
      But for me boo, makin love is just as much mental
      I like to know what I’m gettin into..”

      my jooooint. i’m just reading the comments so if someone already mentioned, my bad. but yes, so reminds me of freshman year in the AUC.

    • and ‘heaven ain’t hard to find’ by 2Pac

      “simply because you nervous, let me start off with my conversation, hoping my information alleviates the hesitation…”

      love him.

      also, ‘are you still down’ with him and jon b.

      k i’m done. for real. lol

      • @Muze

        You betta say that! Awwww MAN!!! As much as I loved that dude as an artist, I cannot believe I forgot about THAT one!

        See its all in your mind, so every time I sip a glass of wine, I fantasize till that ass is mine…
        Never gettin’ but wanting, never touching but wishing, A straight thug on a mission until I get what I’m missing…
        Stop with the beeper, baby Listen, I know you’re grown, but pay attention, Let me hypnotize with my tounge kissin’…
        This is a message to bomb bodies and all dimes
        Turn around one more time…
        Heaven ain’t hard to find

        You all betta stop!

      • ….and Are You Still Down???….please no more…killin’ me!

        ….which also reminds me:

        Killing Me Softly ~ Fugees

        Just Like Daddy ~ Pac

  79. Devin the Dude- Sticky Green, What I Be On, and Doobie Ashtray . . . you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who loves ANYTHING the way Devin loves the kush! LOL!

  80. Doobie Ashtray
    “What you gonna do when the people go home
    And you wanna smoke weed but the reefer’s all gone
    And somebody had the nerve to take the herb up out the doobie ashtray
    Why they do me that way”

    LMAO!

    Seriously one of my favs is . . . SoulClap (Nicolay Remix ft YaZarah and Phonte) I like the other version with Jean Grae, Phonte, and Aziz as well!

  81. In addition to all the songs listed, I’d like to add “Sunshine” – Lupe Fiasco.

    Great post today!

      • thats one of mine too, Muze! I love that line… I was waiting for someone to mention Lupe!

        others are “paris, tokyo” & “and he gets the girl”

  82. Great post, great contributions. I’d like to submit :
    Retrospect for a Life by Common and Ms.Lauryn Hill.
    And He Gets the Girl by Lupe Fiasco

    • @Jai

      I’m not one of Souljah Boy haters. Dude is wack I just don’t put all the blame of bad music on him. That being said I wonder why rappers his age make the type of music they do. If you look at the songs listed today quite a few of them were made by artist Souljah Boy’s age. What’s causing young dudes to make dumbed down music nowadays.

  83. My heart melted the first time I heard “Shorty” by Black Sheep. It was just so cute and refreshing. Sigh…

  84. Brown Sugar + Deangelo= Babies
    Tho its not really hip hop, its about a Dutch, so that kinda counts. Plus this ish RIGHT HURR….smh. This is always a ‘gets it poppin’ song

    Girls Girls Girls (Remix)
    Ukno the one at the very end of Blueprint. He sums up wat every brotha is looking for

    “A southern girl who cook like Pattie LaBelle/big ghetto booty/scarf over her doobie/attitude of the city/pretty, witty , girly, worldy/one who like to party but comes home early” …..#searching

  85. I had to add “Flavor of the Month”-Black Sheep …..coincides with Champ’s rules and added for the same reason “Ice Cream” was added.

  86. I’m not sure if anyone said this upthread but Hey Love by Mobb Deep and 11 will always be one of my favorite hip hop love songs. Prodigy whole part always makes me melt when I hear it.

  87. Okay….I have one more. I used to love, love, love this song!

    Old Time’s Sake ~ Sweet Sable (Above the Rim soundtrack)

    I know a place where we could go outside and have some fun…
    Just you and me, together we are one on one…
    I know you, you remember when we use to chill back when…
    Smokin’ the blunt and sippin’ on the Heineken…

    Dang….Aw nawww, heyal nawww….Champ, y’all went up and done it….

    My weekend is already off to a good start based on the topic alone…not to mention the comments. *sigh…*

  88. Since we are talking about love of many kinds…….

    50 Cent-Baltimore Love Thing
    One of his decent songs that was pretty creative with the personification of drugs and metaphorilizing (yeah I made it up) it. Plus I’m from Baltimore and we do have a lot of “illegal substances”.

    Talib Kweli-Never Been In Love
    Perfect “manlaw” song about experiencing love for the first time and all the feelings that come with it but not getting too gushy.

    The Roots Silent Treatment
    “Girl you know you want me, you know I look good so stop bullsh*tin and lets make this thing work” Not the words of the song but they sum it quite nicely.

    Foreign Exchange-All Or Nothing
    “Thats cool, I wanted to play Xbox on the big TV anyway”-Phonte
    Yeah, sometimes love gets like that

    Jean Grae-Love Thirst
    Imo the illest Hip-Hop love song from a female artist, sh*t made me wanna drop MY draws (or Under Armour compression shorts).

    Slum Village feat. Dwele-Call Me
    Simple song about going through a lot issues, getting caught up with life but still trying to make it work.

    The Roots-Can’t Stop This (Tribute to Dilla)
    Love of a friend lost R.I.P J Dilla.

    Madvillain and Quasimoto- Americas Most Blunted
    Well you said it didn’t have to be just about romantic love sooo….

    Little Brother Feat. Bilal and Darien Brockington-Second Chances
    “And I know that this ain’t perfect, but I still feel like its worth cause I love you”-Bilal

  89. “Love”
    -Mos Def
    I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone (no matter what race, creed, coluh, him o’ huh) express as great an appreciation and necessity for his art the way Mr. Smith does, here.

    “Can’t Forget About You”
    -Nas
    The video ruins it for me, but the song kicks me right in the chest. I hear love of all the man’s life experience, love of black music’s development, and love for the prospect of being able to appreciate it all in the future. I’m not a diehard Nas fan, but this is one of those ones that chews me up, and spits me out.

  90. Heavy D & The Boyz – Don’t You Know
    U.T.F.O. – Fairytale Lover
    Jay-Z – Excuse Me Miss
    Talib Kweli – Never Been In Love
    Pharoahe Monch – The Light
    Fabolous – Make Me Better
    Mos Def – The Panties

  91. “sweetest thing”
    lauryn hill

    “more valuable than all i own…. like precious baby, dark skin toned.”

  92. Definitive list right heeeeere!

    Prototype – Andre 3 Stacks
    The Light – Common
    Ghetto Heaven – Macy Gray + Common
    Nothing Even Matters – Lauryn Hill + D’Angelo
    You Got Me – The Roots!
    Come Close – Common + Mary J!

  93. I’m de-lurking to add “Common Ground” by A Tribe Called Quest.
    Can’t believe it hasn’t been mentioned!

    “Have you ever met a woman that just took your breath?
    So deep inside her life, she contemplated death
    Can’t help but get attached to a woman like that”
    *swoons*

  94. The original list and the comments here are great.
    I’d add Goodie Mob’s “Beautiful Skin”. It’s more of an homage to Black women, but…good enough.
    And Meth and Mary’s “All I need”.

  95. Ok of course I agree with all of you on The Roots and Jilly from Philly “You got me”. But we can not forget Method Man and MJB “All I need to get by”.
    I was a fan of JaRule and Lil Mo’ “Put it on me”
    I am with you on Common “come close” and Common and Erykah “Love of my life”
    Also “Slow Jams” Kanye, Twista, Jamie Fox

  96. Everyone has put some quality songs on thsi list but two of my fav hip-hop love songs I didn’t see mentioned are from the Do or Die “headz or tailz” album: “Nobody’s Home” adn “Can I?”.

  97. All I Need Is You- Hi-Tek

    “You’re all I need in this world to succeed
    I won’t let you go cause I can see you trust me
    I’ll never leave or deceive you, and if it’s understood
    then we can be together cause you treat a nigga good”

  98. Beautiful – Black Star ft. Mary J. Blige
    Never Been in Love – Talib Kweli
    I Need Love – LL Cool J (only for its present corniness)
    Love Is- Common (not the most perfect song, but still nice)
    Get Ta Steppin – Mos Def and Vinia Mojica

  99. Pingback: She said. « What’s the Coop of the day?

  100. Silent Treatment-The Roots
    Sincerely-Brand Nubian
    Prototype-Outkast (Can you really count this as hip hop, though? Dre didn’t drop a single bar)
    Whatever You Say-Little Brother
    Sincere-The Foreign Exchange
    Bonita Applebum-Tribe
    Climax-Slum Village

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