Hip-Hop Valentines: The 14 most romantic rap songs
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We know hip-hop doesn't have the best history romancing the opposite sex, "bitches better having my money" and "skeeting on walls" doesn't really set the mood.
But don't worry, we have you covered. So grab your girl's or guy's hand, hit the park bench with the boom box, and let's discover some good ol' boom bap romance.
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14. Hey Lover - LL Cool J
This is what happens when you mix LL Cool J with the romantic styling of Boyz II Men, you get this gem. Just like his first ode to females "I Need Love" that started the love movement in Hip-Hop, this song made the trendy rapper and R&B collaboration a sure thing for years to come.
Lines like "...besides he drinks too much and smokes too many blunts/ and I'll be working out everyday thinking about you" calls to the common problem of the beautiful woman dating the drunk douche bag. While LL lifts weights, licks his lips, and fantasizes about tropical vacations the douche bag wins in the end as James Todd Smith drives off alone with his multi-million dollar FUBU endorsement.
13. What's on Your Mind? - Eric B & Rakim
A common problem with women traveling mass transit is that they always got to encounter the guy trying to holler. It's no different in New York City; this tale is about Rakim trying to pick up a girl on the subway.
First she plays him off with the cold shoulder, but a few stops later she warms up. Before long, the romantic warrior in Rakim wins her over with a long courtship but after watching Bill Cosby at the Apollo they finally knock boot.
Who knew Pudding Pops were the key (taking notes). It also helps that the slick sample of "Curious" by Midnight Star was in the background massaging the mind.
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12. You got Me feat Jill Scott and Eve - The Roots
First off, Jill Scott sang on the original but got dumped for the better-looking Erykah Badu for the video remix. That alone dropped this down the list. Love knows all shapes and sizes, plus how you going to do Jill like that?
Black Thought spits away about his love for his woman and his love for the road, a then unknown Eve spits the woman's side of the story in a gone 'til November type tale. To every hip-hop indie hipster this is pretty much the nail in the coffin for that neo soul girl you just met at the coffee shop; just don't bore her with your own poetry.
11. 21 Questions feat Nate Dogg - 50 Cent
Who can blame Curtis? When you have as much money as he does, you have to ask a lot of questions. How about 21 of them? I love this song as much as a fat kid loves cake.
So you got to annoy her with questions about being poor, driving crappy cars and working at Burger King. Then again, if she looked like Megan Good, I might just give her a pass. But funny thing, the next single was about how Curtis improved his financial gain and profits by employing women to service other men. Were these 21 questions just an interview for a job? How romantic.
10. Teenage Love - Slick Rick
Who can forget our first love or our high school sweetheart? It starts out all warm and wonderful -- holding hands and so proud of your significant other -- but by the time prom rolls around, you're sick to death of each other and looking around. Lying, stalking and cheating come into play. Damn, now you got no date to the prom. But don't worry, Slick Rick raps you a life lesson on "Teenage Love" to protect your heart. Ricky even serenades you at the end of the song. Aw Rick.
9. Beautiful Skin - Goodie Mob
Before the days of Cee-Lo dressing up like a Megatron version of Elton John and insulting City Pages editors, he was writing and singing hymns to the black woman. Expressing how he was attracted more to her class than ass and of course her beautiful skin. His sincere approach wins her over and blossoms into late-night phone conversations.
The other members of Goodie come off less romantic, but the song survives on with the rhythmic hook. It was one of the last few diamonds left before Goodie Mob broke up and Cee-Lo went to get his freak on.
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8. Can U Get Away - Tupac
This was the time when Tupac was in top form -- after Poetic Justice but before the Death Row meltdown. Rumored to be about Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Tupac tries to convince his forbidden love to leave her unhappy, stressful relationship with her abusive man and get away with him.
Even though she rejects his advances and help, Pac still tries to help her escape -- even if it means he has to be lonely the rest of his life by doing so. When this album dropped in 1995, this was easily one of those lay back and chill joints that both sexes could appreciate and maybe even had in common. Even though it was never released as a single, this is a true favorite among Tupac fans to this day.






























