A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum

With the twinkling instrumentals and the gorgeous declarations of love, one can’t help but think this is one of the greatest love songs of all time. Whether Bonita Applebum is a real person or not, it sets itself as an idea that helped both men and women realise how they wish to romance. ATCQ’s love for Bonita is a healthy mixture of both love and lust. 

2pac – Can U Get Away

An ode to his love for Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, as he tries to convince her to leave her abusive partner and promises her all these things he’d do for her. Maybe a great song for unrequited love, but also a great insight into the sensitivity 2pac had, that made him one of the greatest artists of all time. He had no fear of expressing vulnerability, and of speaking about his deep need for something real.

Method Man and Mary J. Blige- I’ll Be There for U

An OG duet that brought together one of the most prolific rap voices and one of the most soulful R&B voices. This song is all about mutual respect for your partner and the empowerment that a healthy partnership can bring to both parties. Her rich soul and R&B vocals run throughout the song, and are paired with the unfaltering promises of Method Man. 

UGK ft. Outkast – Int’l Players Anthem

Int’l Players Anthem is one for the players, and narrates four different stories from the perspectives of some of the most prominent players in rap. Andre 3000’s verse is nothing short of heaven-sent—literally—as he makes comparisons to space ships, the Sun, the Moon; Bun B and Pimp C both rap about their love of, um, professional success; and Big Boi utilises his effortless flow to exercise his caution in choosing the right woman. If anything, this song explores the different love-relationships you can have, whether it is with your woman, your money, or yourself. 

The Roots ft. Erykah Badu – You Got Me

Black Thought’s . Erykah Badu’s silky vocals create a seductive and smooth hook of yearning, and add texture and layers to the song. They make promises to each other through the spoken word and are at the point of no return, as once more, a duet only proves that two is better than one.

Slum Village ft. D’angelo – Tell Me

The lyrics are beautiful, creating a completely simple formula: “Tell me if you want some and you can just / Come on baby”. The inclusion of D’angelo on the track is sheer genius, as sometimes I wonder if D’angelo created the concept of love. And then there’s J Dilla. If those sonic experiences do not directly translate to what love should both sound and feel like, then I don’t know what will.

Outkast – Prototype

Just give me a moment to collect myself. Give me a few years, a few centuries. What a tune. André 3000 has this way of writing music that could potentially be corny but never seems to be, and makes total sense even while he’s wearing a fluorescent white wig, emulating an alien from outer space. André challenged the notions of masculinity and had next to no fears on expressing them – a prototype for the new man, if you will.

50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg – 21 Questions

50 might be a tough guy, but he’s still a lover, and early-’00s 50 brought about as many slow jams as it did thug anthems. Alongside the soulful sounds of Nate Dogg, he wants to test those waters and know that if his girl is willing to get rich with him, she has to be willing to die tryin’ (literally, as he suggests that that they do a drive-by together).

Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx and Twista – Slow Jamz

You cannot think about romance without paying tribute to the originals—Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker—and Kanye, Jamie, and Twista do exactly that. All three of them express of getting their lovers in bed in their very own ways, Kanye with his self-aware wordplay, Jamie with his velvety vocals, and Twista with his incredibly fast-paced bars.

Kendrick Lamar ft. Drake – Poetic Justice

K.Dot is introspective, self-aware and always respectful to the rap game (except for on his ‘Control’ verse, but that’s a whole other story in itself). We know he is a scholar, a poet, an activist, and we also have to know that he is a man with a big heart. He wants to know all sides of the woman of his affections, instead of the idealised version he places on a pedestal, and the gorgeous Janet Jackson and feature with the ever-sensitive Drake make it all the more a complex and perfect love song.

Drake ft. Majid Jordan – Hold On, We’re Going Home

I couldn’t do this list without actually including a Drake song. I know that, you know that, we all know that. This song was a dream for radio, and a fulfilled fantasy for all women everywhere. And even though his IRL relationships may not reflect it, at least his songs prove he knows how to say all the right things when it comes to mastering the art of Valentine’s day.