Love has been covered extensively in the rap and hip hop industry. It’s the foundation that has largely influenced the composition and production of rap and hip hop songs. The influence love has had on the industry is so strong that contemporary artists are getting inspiration from decades previously.
Below is a list of best hip hop love songs of all time:
1. Slick Rick – Teenage Love
In this industry, you can rarely find elaborate storytellers that are as evocative or creative as Slick Rick “The Ruler.” His track “Teenage Love” is a testimony to his prowess in composing expressive rap songs with themes of love. Slick released the track in 1988, a time when hip hop was relatively a new music genre, but still, the song managed to hit. Up to date, this song is liked and listened to by many rap enthusiasts. This makes it one of the best hip hop love songs of all time.
Next: The best 80s love songs (our list of overall picks)
2. L.L. Cool J ft. Boyz II Men – Hey Lover
Prior to his 2003 hit track “Paradise”, L.L. Cool J’s single tracks “All I Have” and “Luv U Better”, where he featured Jennifer Lopez, had proved his mastery in the hip hop industry. Even though his track “Hey Lover”, where he featured Boyz II Men, largely uses dirty lyrics, it perfectly depicts his artistry in composing hip hop songs. That’s why we consider this hit track of the 90s as one of the best 90s rap love songs.
Next: The top 90s love songs from the decade (our list of overall top picks)
3. D.M.X. – How It’s Going Down
D.M.X. was perceived to be a violent rapper, but in reality, he demonstrated a multifaceted character. During his hip hop and rap music career, he proved that he was evocative and open, especially in his song “How It’s Going Down.” Also, the song demonstrated that D.M.X. was one of the best hip hop artists of the 90s, flowing in lyricism. This aspect makes his song “How It’s Going Down” one of the best hip-hop love songs of all time.
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4. Tupac – Temptations
Tupac was a hip hop artist with several dedications to the female gender that incline toward chauvinism. That’s the main reason why Tupac’s track “Temptations” is striking in his discography: The lyrics are so romantic that, anytime you play the track, the lights automatically fade. Concluding to have those out of tune hood melodiousness whirling in the background was a bold move. However, over 20 years later, this track is still one of the best hip hop songs of all time.
Next: The top love songs of all time (most well known romance tracks)
5. Biz Markie – Just A Friend
It’s not all the time that love stories have a happy ending. Biz Markie’s song “Just A Friend” is a good example! After being produced as a relatively pitiable hip hop track, this love song was accepted as a result of Biz Markie’s sincerity and self-deprecatory humour in how he conveyed it. Consequently, it remains one of the most popular hip-hop love songs of all time.
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6. Black Star – Brown Skin Lady
Produced by J. Rawls, Black Star’s hip hop hit “Brown Skin Lady” is one the best love songs that pay tribute to females across the globe. The track is popular among ladies as it praises feminine beauty and portrays a good image of women. The best lyrics state, “Your skin’s the inspiration for cocoa butter/You provoke a brother, we should get to know one another.”
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7. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
Produced by Kane Beatz, “Super Bass” offers the best refutation to critics who were against Nicki Minaj’s move to go pop, as it’s evidently a fantastic track. The mainstream route doesn’t distract her from her rapping style. In any case, it’s the strength of this track. Overly, this hit is one of the best hip hop love songs you’ll ever listen to.
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8. Notorious B.I.G. ft Faith Evans – One More Chance
![The Notorious B.I.G. - One More Chance (Official Music Video) [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0Ogs_NsXh58/0.jpg)
This 1995 hip hop track is one of notorious B.I.G.’s most explicit hits from his 1994 album Ready to Die. The original release of the One More Chance hit wasn’t traditionally intimate. However, the softer, more R&B based version where B.I.G. featured Faith Evans was more romantic and gained more popularity. And because of the personal relationship that existed between them, the love chemistry was genuine, making it one of the best hip hop love tracks of all time.
Next: The best songs from the 1990s (90s track hits)
9. Mya ft. Jay Z – Best Of Me Part 2
From a technical perspective, this is an R&B hit, but Jay-Z’s lyrics, without a doubt, made it a rap crossover song. The blue elegance in the video alongside the complementary Tarheel tunics was peak 2000. Nevertheless, behind the scenes, things were different. Both artists had rough moments during the recording process, and at some point, Jay Z seemingly referred to Mya as “a spoiled brat.” Irrespective of these challenges, this rap hit became popular and remained one of the best rap hits of all time.
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10. MC Shan ft. TJ Swan – Left Me Lonely
Producer Marley Marl was motivated by Larry Smith’s “One Love” to write this rap hit song alongside his keyboardist friend Andre Booth. Then, a neighbor by the name of MC Shan raps lyrics talking about heartbreak while TJ Swan takes on the hook. This track opened ways for Shan and Swan, and they started performing shows on this hit “Left Me Lonely.” Consequently, the track became one of the best rap hits of all time.
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11. Heavy D and The Boyz – Nuttin’ But Love
Heavy D is one of the rare M.C.’s who has outdone others in the genre of hip hop romance songs. His track “Nuttin But Love” is one of his several rap hits talking about a lady who takes advantage of her boyfriend for monetary gains. However, the artist depicts a double entendre: he doesn’t have cash; all he can offer is love.
12. Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell – Beautiful
Snoop dog’s 2003 track “Beautiful” demonstrated that Snoop Dogg could go soft whenever he wanted. Definitely, this track’s video that features several Brazilian beauties is one of the best rap love songs of all time.
Next: The top rappers ever (our list)
13. Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s – Lots Of Lovin’
Nobody knew that Pete Rock, a teenage D.J. who produced Heavy D, his older cousin’s track with scratches, would become one of the best rap producers. Rock and Smooth’s 1992 “Lots Of Lovin” track is one of the greatest hip hop love hits of all time.
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14. Ja Rule ft. Ashanti – Always On Time
Regardless of 50 Cent at some point stating that Ja Rule resonated similar to the Cookie Monster whenever he rapped, he was a creative rapper. Initially, Brandy was to feature on the track but instead, Ashanti featured in her place. The track is loved by many and is one of the best love hits of all time in the hip hop category.
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15. Future – I Be You
The parting of ways between Future and Ciara was a critical moment of Future’s music career. It’s at this point that he deflected away from his pop star ambitions for a more unwavering sound. Since then, most of his lyrics, especially in his 2014 hit “I Be You”, explore the darker details of his post-heartbreak self-indulgence. In this track, he captures the delicate and romantic aspects of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Ciara.
16. Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari – LOVE
Kendrick’s love life was full of difficult emotions that he was inspired to produce this hip hop love song titled “LOVE.” The track might not be the best of his songs, but in relation to love songs, it is one of the best hits of all time.
Next: Best songs with “love” in the title
17. 50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg – 21 Questions
Produced by Dirty Swift of Midi Mafia, this hip hop hit is one of the all-time best in this category. In this track, 50 Cent portrays his concerns concerning if his fiancée would be down if he came fell back from the high-class to low class.
18. L.L. Cool J – I Need Love
In the late 80s, the youthful L.L. Cool J demonstrated where his name came from, releasing a rap song perceived as one of the all-time best. The best lyrics say, “You can scratch my back, we will get cozy and huddle. I’ll lay down my jacket so you can walk over a puddle. I’ll give you a rose, pull out your chair before we eat/kiss you on the cheek and say, ooh girl, you’re so sweet.”
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19. MC Lyte – Ruffneck
![MC Lyte - Ruffneck (Official Video) [Explicit]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NGbn6eaZmCY/0.jpg)
MC Lyte’s hip-hop love song Ruffneck is one of the all-time best tracks in this category. That’s because this song managed to make her popular in a male-dominated music genre. At some point, this single managed to top the hip hop charts, resulting in a Grammy nomination for the Best Rap Solo Performance the next year.
20. Outkast – Ms. Jackson
Perhaps, there are other rap hits by Outkast that many can consider great, but his track titled Ms. Jackson seems to be one of the best when it comes to hip hop romance songs. However, love isn’t always sweet, and it can at times turn bitter. Outkast’s hit, Ms Jackson, depicts exactly that.
21. Drake – Marvin’s Room
In 2011, not very many tracks generated several covers and remixes similar to Drake’s hip hop hit “Marvin’s Room.” While under the influence of alcohol, the artist texts his ex-fiancée but later on regrets and feels embarrassed by the ordeal. The hit song became popular owing to the honesty displayed by the artist.
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22. Jay Z – Family Feud Ft. Beyoncé
No hip hop artist has demonstrated greater artistic adaptation and progression like Jay Z. His track “Family Feud” is a way of him accepting his weaknesses as a husband, dad, and gentleman. The most intimate lyrics go, “A man that doesn’t take care of his family can’t be rich/I’ll watch Godfather; I miss that whole sh*t.”
23. Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige – I’ll Be There for You
Locating the ideal sweet spot between intimate emotions and tough attitude, this Grammy Award-conquering remix to the track from Meth’s hit “Tical” is one of the best rap love songs of all time. He reflects back to the time when he had nothing but his fiancée made him feel worthy, something that made him love and stick with her.
Next: The best 90s rap songs (1990s hip hop tracks)
24. Kanye West – White Dress
After being produced and released in 2012, this romantic song saw Kanye West get back to the soul-inspired hits he was known to release during the early days of his music career. This is the time when Kanye West had proposed to his then-fiancée, Kim Kardashian. As a result, he made reference to the possibility of walking down the aisle with her one day. The hit song went viral and is still popular and one of the best rap love tracks of all time.
25. Goodie Mob – Beautiful Skin
Whenever the Goodie Mob guys weren’t involved in conspiracy stories or serving jail terms, they were busy creating some good old-fashioned hip hop hits. Their single “Beautiful Skin” is a perfect example where they praise their opposite gender.
26. Common – I Used To Love H.E.R
As you listen to this story concerning the miseries of a lady that the Chicago-based hip hop artist Common is in love with, you’ll discover that the character is, in reality, hip-hop personified. Common utilizes the acronym H.E.R. stands for “Hip-Hop in its Essence is Real.” Overly, the track depicts a circumstance where two guys are fighting over the love of a lady.
27. Spoonie Gee ft. The Treacherous Three – Love Rap
Spoonie Gee is considered to be the godfather of rap love songs, and alongside The Treacherous Three, they released the early 80s hit “Love Rap”. Traditionally, rap love hits didn’t contain tracks with distinguishable lyrics and choruses or harmonious subjects, and this is where “Love Rap” stands apart.
28. Untouchable Force Organization (UTFO) – Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me
UTFO is a New York rap group that collaborated with the Brooklyn-based band converted production team Full Force in the 80s. Together, they produced and released several albums, including Lethal, which included that hit song “Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me.”
29. Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans and 112 – I’ll Be Missing You
Often, not each rap love song that is released is of intimacy. A perfect example is this hit by Puff Daddy, which he dedicated to his deceased fellow artist Notorious B.I.G. The latter had been killed nearly two months before the release of this hit. Puff Daddy was assisted by B.I.G.’s widow, Faith Evans, together with R&B superstars 112 in releasing this hit as a tribute to the fallen B.I.G.
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30. Jay-Z ft. Pharrell – Excuse Me Miss
Engaging Pharrell’s high-pitched voice lyrics for the hook and The Neptunes on production, this hip hop hit finished Jay-Z’s shift from a rapper to mogul in the industry, as he puts on an Armani attire and flies all over in helicopters whereas wining and dining the subject of his love. His lyrics “This is for the grown and sexy” confirms this.
31. Notorious B.I.G. – Me and My B*tCH
Notorious B.I.G.’s “Me and My B*tch” is one of his all-time best rap love songs that depict his classic emotional storytelling prowess. So long as you can enjoy his pause-worthy overstatement “You look so good/I suck on your daddy’s d*ck”, this remains an all-time love track in the hip hop genre.
32. Mac Miller – ROS
Even though Mac Miller focused on making all his albums “a project of exploring love,” possibly his most sentimental and intimate hit came from the G.O.:OD AM album. His track “R.O.S.” is a skyrocketing synthesis of his many fantastic personas: the uncovering jazz crooner Larry Lovestein, the religious yearner looking after a nearly holy realization through human connection, and the fact-focused rhymer. The rising contextual lyrics give “R.O.S.” cheerfulness and lightness, even though it’s founded on Miller’s steadfast honesty.
33. Future – Incredible
Produced by Dre Moon, Future’s album HNDRXX was a highly favorable delight that depicted Future’s rap capability. The track is a timely switch-up taking into account that he released two albums in a week’s duration. Since its release, “Incredible” has been a very popular track in the hip love genre.
34. Fabolous ft. Neyo – Make Me Better
Produced by Timbaland, Fabolous’ “Make Me Better”, a track from his From Nothin’ to Somethin’ album, contains a series of satisfactory R&B-based love songs. In the lyrics, Fabolous credits his love for his happy mood, whereas Neyo depicts himself as an individual who is not corny.
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35. Drake – Best I Ever Had
Drake’s single hit from his album “So Far Gone” assisted this complex cover superstar Drake in ruling the radio frequencies. This made him confident that he could triumph over anything.
Next: The top songs about reuniting love and getting back together with an ex
36. Mase ft. Total – What You Want
![Mase [feat. Total] - What You Want (Official Music Video)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Whe1GUjtKE/0.jpg)
Released by Mase in 1998 as the second single hip hop love song from his first performance album, “Harlem World,” this track is perceived as the Holy Pastor’s verse to those women he’s taking out of his neighborhood. It’s one of the favorites of all time among the ladies!
37. Beastie Boys – Netty’s Girl
In Beastie Boys’ hysterically funny budget-free rap music video, Mike D utters vocals in a fearful high-pitched voice imitating a lady while steering in solitary in a pedal-driven vessel in Los Angeles’ Echo Park Lake. The “Netty” in question involves a non-functional eatery in the hood where the artist met his crush.
38. The Fat Boys – Don’t You Dog Me
Kool Rock Ski, Prince Markie Dee, and Buff Love in 1983 did a collaboration in their first performing album produced by the rap legend Kurtis Blow. By 1985 their hip hop song “Don’t You Dog Me” had gone viral, making it a great addition to our list of rap love tracks.
39. MC Lyte – Poor Georgie
MC Lyte is distinguished as the first-ever woman solo rapper to produce a hit love song. In her track “Poor Georgie,” she narrates a story of how she dated a guy she understood was being unfaithful to her. However, she chose to ignore it as if she didn’t know about it. Later, the guy discovers he’s suffering from cancer, drives while drunk, and perishes in an untimely death. Here, she is trying to educate people to sincerely love their partners until death separates them.
Next: The best songs about cheating in a relationship (cheater tracks)
40. Meek Mill ft. PnB Rock and Jeremih – Dangerous
Apart from being recognized as a “whiny” hip hop artist, Meek Mill was popular for his creative tracks, with “Dangerous” topping the list. Meek Mill has had some beefs in his time in the rap game (so he’s certainly not free from discrimination), but we strongly consider this song very worthy of being on this list.
41. The Roots ft. Eve and Erykah Badu – You Got Me
Finally, this song concludes our list due to its unique neo-soul lyrics. Another reason is that The Roots were originally hip hop jazz, contrary to other groups, whose key focus was the instrumentation. Overall, it’s a great bookend to our list of songs.
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As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.
Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.
