Roofie Rhymes

It's Valentine's Day a.k.a. the day after Jumpoff Day (all you side chicks know what I'm talking about).  Since music, more specifically hip-hop, is a huge part of this blog, I've decided hit you all with a list of what I consider to be the best hip-hop love songs of all time.  Surprisingly enough, it was somewhat slim pickings.  There are plenty of hip-hop songs about girls and what rappers want to do to them, very few about love.

To formulate my list, I excluded songs where the rapper referred to their virtual significant other in the derogatory (ex: bitch or hoe...sorry Biggie).  I also left out songs about gratuitous boning, for lack of a better word (who am I kidding, there are plenty of better words, I just prefer "boning").  Now that I explained my rubric, let's begin.



10. Talib Kweli – Never Been In Love

Kweli is one of the best at stripping down subjects to their bare bones, and spares no expense here breaking down his story of falling in love for the first time.  From his The Beautiful Struggle album and produced by Just Blaze...where's he been at lately?

9. Common - The Light

The whole vibe of this song just gives you a warm feeling.  This was the star of his critically acclaimed album, Like Water For Chocolate. Produced by the late great J Dilla, The Light was nominated for a Grammy in 2001.  I like to imagine Common's writing process included a summer day, a pitcher of lemonade, a back porch in the south, and an Erykah Badu head wrap.  Your imagination may vary.

8. Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell - Beautiful

It still surprises me that Snoop was able to go the entire length of this song without mentioning a bitch or his balls.  The maturation of Calvin Broadus I guess.

7. Lost Boyz - Renee

Mr. Cheeks masterfully told his tale of his "ghetto princess."  Each verse was a different phase in their relationship, which ends so tragically. R.I.P. Freaky Tah.

6. Drake - Best I Ever Had

This song came Drizzy's memorable So Far Gone mixtape.  Smooth production and an unapologetic hook that doesn't dance around the subject.  Nothing complex about telling your girl that she's "the fucking best!" Fun fact: This song was played at my wedding.

5. 50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg - 21 Questions

Two words: 1) Nate 2) Dogg.  'Nuff said.

4. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum

There's not too much in the world that beats a classic Tribe cut.  Q-Tip hypnotized his listening audience as he professed his infatuation with the fictitious Bonita.

3. Common ft. Mary J. Blige - Come Close

Chicago's finest, Common.  The only repeat offender on this list.  The Neptunes on production, Mary J. Blige on the hook...beautiful perfection.  And the video...lets just say I needed to do some push-ups and take a walk outside to block the tears from flowing after the watching it.

2. Method Man & Mary J. Blige - All I Need

Mary again?  This is one of the grittiest depictions of love ever put on wax.  Meth nailed it, Mary killed it, and the Grammy committee recognized.  Valentine's Day aside, this is one of the illest hip-hop songs of all time.

1. LL Cool J - I Need Love

"When I'm alone in my room, sometimes I stare at the wall/And in the back of my mind I hear my conscious call..."  LL was serious ladies and gentlemen.  After a long day of slaying weak emcees, all Cool James really wanted was l-o-v-e.  LL was able to inject a different level of emotion into each bar. I really believed he was sad in that Kangol hat and Troop track suit.  A true classic, deserving of the top slot of my list.

Alright, get this mushiness out of your system, its back to business next post.  Deuces.