It’s that time of the year again when men throughout the world are preparing (supposed to be anyway) to charm their significant others on the most sentimental holiday ever, Valentine’s Day. As a man, I couldn’t care less if my woman buys me chocolates, stuffed teddy bears, edible arrangements, or whatever the latest man gadget Essence magazine suggested she purchase for me to validate our eternal love of one another. All I ever want on Valentine’s Day (or any other day) from my lover is hot sex on a platter (wink wink).

Females, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated and harder to please. Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day is their day to be placed on a pedestal and glorified for all to see. As men, not only are we obligated to remember this day but we must also express our love and appreciation through romantic gestures…i.e. roses, chocolates, fragrances, lingerie, singing telegrams, etc. Additionally, many of us will either be taking our lady out for a night on the town or preparing a home cooked dinner to share by candlelight.

I say all that to say this: it is important that you set the mood properly throughout the duration of your romantic evening with the appropriate background music. Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean hip hop must be completely sacrificed in favor of Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, John Legend or whatever R&B crooner she’s into. There is a plethora of hip hop songs that can be deployed to get both hers and your temperatures elevated for some adult time. In fact, I have comprised a brand new list specifically for this occasion: The Top 30 Greatest Hip Hop Love Ballads Of All Time.

Comprising this list was quite a task, but it needed to be done, not just for Valentine’s Day, but to silence all the naysayers of hip hop music who are still under the false impression that this music promotes misogyny and the degradation of females. Many of you know these songs, many of you don’t. Either way, I encourage all of you to review this list and download the following ballads to your iWhatever device:

1. A Tribe Called Quest “Bonita Applebum”
2. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth “Lots Of Loving”
3. A Tribe Called Quest “Electric Relaxation”
4. Method Man & Mary J. Blige “You’re All I Need”
5. Murs “Love & Appreciate”
6. Gangstarr, K-Ci & Jo-Jo “Royalty”
7. LL Cool J “Love You Better”
8. Common “The Light”
9. The Roots “You Got Me”
10. Whodini “One Love”
11. 50 Cent “21 Questions”
12. Jay Z “Excuse Me Miss”
13. The Pharcyde “Passing Me By”
14. The Roots “Silent Treatment”
15. LL Cool J “Around The Way Girl”
16. Q-Tip “Gettin’ Up”
17. 2Pac “Can U Get Away”
18. A Tribe Called Quest “Find A Way”
19. Little Brother “Nobody But You”
20. Common & Mary J. Blige “Come Close”
21. Gangstarr “Nice Girl, Wrong Place”
22. Pharoahe Monch “The Light”
23. G-Unit “Smile”
24. Slick Rick “A Teenage Love”
25. Lil’ Kim & Lil’ Cease “Crush On You”
26. Wiz Khalifa “Roll Up”
27. De La Soul “Eye Know”
28. Brand Nubian “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone”
29. Poor Righteous Teachers “Shakiyla”
30. Rick Ross, Chrisette Michelle & Drake “Aston Martin Music”

-Charles Rigmaiden

The opinions and views expressed here are the opinions of the designated author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or views of any of the individual members of Dead End Hip Hop.