A hip-hop love song. A rapper’s tale of love.
In recent years, thanks in part to the influence of MC battles like Freestyle Dungeon, the number of hip-hop listeners seems to be on the rise, doesn’t it?
Among those who love hip-hop, some of you might be on the lookout for love songs!
So in this article, we’ll be introducing hip-hop love songs from both Japan and abroad.
From that classic by a heavyweight of Japanese hip-hop to noteworthy tracks by up-and-coming artists, we’ve put together an article that listeners from hardcore heads to those who just started getting into hip-hop can enjoy.
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- Songs that make you want to fall in love just by listening! Classic love songs recommended for Gen Z
- Captivating in many styles and forms! Love songs in Japanese rap
- A love song in Western rap
- Recommended love songs for men: A collection of classic hits that sing about men's love
- Popular love songs on TikTok, from upbeat tracks to emotional love ballads.
- Recommended! Love songs by male artists — popular romantic songs
- A love song that's very popular on Instagram Reels
Hip-hop love songs. Love songs told by rappers (21–30)
Young Love (feat. KOWICHI)MC TYSON
This track features MC TYSON, representing Osaka’s Suminoe Ward, and Kawasaki rapper KOWICHI.
It’s a love song included on the 2018 album “THE MESSAGE II,” where unrequited feelings are poignantly sung over a mellow trap beat.
While harboring feelings for a woman who already has a boyfriend, the protagonist waits for calls and messages; his emotions are depicted through modern motifs like smartphones and social media, conveying the wavering heart of a youthful, ambiguous relationship with striking realism.
The melodic flows of these two artists—standard-bearers of Kansai and Kanto—intertwine to create a sound that shines both in clubs and on streaming.
It’s a track you’ll relate to when you’re struggling with a fuzzy, undefined romance.
sparklersloppy dim
A love song by sloppy dim themed around clumsy love, portraying a fragile relationship through the image of sparklers.
It tenderly weaves, with a melodious flow, the frustration of being unable to express affection well and the heartfelt desire to be accepted nonetheless.
The scene of lighting sparklers on a backstreet at night symbolizes the couple’s fleeting time together, and the emotion of not wanting to let go of the present, even while understanding it’s destined to fade, resonates deeply.
It was included on the EP “BALLOON” released in December 2020, and reached No.
11 on Apple Music’s R&B/Soul chart in February 2021.
Recommended for when you want to soak in the bittersweetness of summer’s end or savor time with someone special.
Hip-hop love songs: Love songs told by rappers (31–40)
Snow JamRin-ne
Rin-ne, an artist known for his chill tracks.
He’s a rapper, but there’s no thug vibe at all—every song is made to be extremely easy to listen to.
Snow Jam is a love song released in February 2020, with lyrics about a somewhat shy guy expressing his feelings to the woman he likes.
The track has a vibe similar to Shota Shimizu’s music and is arranged to be very easy to listen to across generations.
Girl feat. kojikojiSorane
This is a collaborative track with kojikoji included on Soraune’s second album, “19FACT,” released in June 2020.
As Soraune has said—“I wrote from a girl’s perspective about a girl’s feelings”—the song stands out for a male rapper deliberately portraying romance from a female point of view.
It captures the inability to be straightforward and the complicated emotions toward a lover with a light, effortless flow.
Blending chill hip-hop and R&B, the soft vocals by kojikoji layer on top to create an intimate mood that makes you want to listen alone in your room at night.
Selected as MUSIC ON! TV’s “M-ON! Recommend” and Space Shower TV’s “it!,” this piece is a love song that resonates strongly with listeners of the same generation.
Merry Go Round feat. BASI, Tsubaki, VIGORMAN, WILYWNKAGeG
The track “Merry Go Round,” produced by Japanese hip-hop producer GeG.
It’s an incredibly mellow, sexy, and chill piece where flawless rhymes by Japan’s top-tier rappers blend seamlessly with the track.
If you’re looking for a slow-tempo hip-hop number, this is absolutely the right choice.
Do For Love (feat. Eric Williams)2Pac
Here is “Do For Love (feat.
Eric Williams),” a track by 2Pac—still spoken of today as a legendary rapper—featuring Eric Williams, a former member of Blackstreet.
As one of 2Pac’s few love songs, it remains a highly popular work even now.
Love The Way You Lie ft. RihannaEminem
From the pinnacle of being a white rapper to the pinnacle of musicianship, Eminem’s unstoppable momentum continues in this worldwide, larger-than-life track with songstress Rihanna.
It opens with the chorus, then launches into the first verse with a hysterical spit from a confused Eminem, expressing the dilemma of being unable to act normal in a painful relationship.
Rihanna’s hook—singing that she’ll accept your lies—radiates compassion, creating a thrilling contrast with the intense rap parts.
A truly outstanding song.