Lovely love song

A love song in Western rap

Former vocal coach specializing in Western musicRyo
Under the theme of “vocal skills that stand up on the world stage,” I have experience teaching as an online vocal coach specializing in Western music, and I usually listen to genres like nuevo flamenco, bolero, canzone, and R&B. In my teens, I questioned the idea that “foreign music equals English,” and started exploring songs from around the world. My commentary is characterized by a unique perspective shaped by listening to music of every genre, in every language, from every country. I mainly cover world music, so be sure to check it out!

Hip-hop, the most popular genre in contemporary music.

It’s a genre that has been gaining popularity in Japan as well, but there aren’t many rappers who perform love songs.

Strictly speaking, there are rappers who do love songs, but underground rappers tend not to.

Overseas, even rappers active in the underground usually release at least one love song.

Because of that, there’s quite a range when it comes to love songs in hip-hop.

This time, we’ve picked out some hip-hop love songs from Western music.

Western rap love songs (41–50)

Have You See That Girl?GoldLink

GoldLink – Have You Seen That Girl? (Audio)

Have You See That Girl?GoldLink

It talks about everything from how he first met the girl to the shocking revelation that she actually had a boyfriend.

The calm, spring-afternoon vibe of the track is the work of Steve Lacy, the guitarist from the soul band The Internet! Amazingly, this song was made on Steve Lacy’s iPhone 6.

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Western rap love songs (51–60)

Incomplete KissesSampha

Sampha – Incomplete Kisses (Live on KEXP)

Incomplete KissesSampha

It’s a ballad by the British singer Sampha, full of everyday atmosphere.

The lyrics mention all sorts of things and feel very colorful—perhaps suggesting that love is something born of chance.

Be sure to listen while reading the original lyrics.

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Bonita ApplebumA Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum (Official Video)

Bonita ApplebumA Tribe Called Quest

A track released in 1990 by the American hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest.

It samples RAMP’s 1977 track “Daylight” and has been remixed by artists such as Pharrell Williams.

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The LightCommon

Common – The Light

The LightCommon

Starting with an opening line like “I never knew a love like this,” this track lacks the misogynistic undertones often found in hip-hop, and instead shows Common treating one woman with great care.

As expected from a pioneer of Chicago conscious rap.

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KnowSyd

Syd – Know

KnowSyd

This is a solo track by Syd, the singer who serves as the vocalist for the soul band The Internet.

As her whispery falsetto suggests, it seems to be a song about a secret love.

It’s a type of track not found in The Internet’s catalog, revealing a different side of Syd.

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Passin’ Me ByThe Pharcyde

The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By (Official Music Video)

Passin' Me ByThe Pharcyde

A track released in 1993 by the American hip-hop group The Pharcyde.

It samples Quincy Jones’s 1973 track “Summer in the City.” The track has been used in films such as Big Daddy.

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Smooth OperatorBig Daddy Kane

Big Daddy Kane – Smooth Operator (Official Music Video) | Warner Records

Smooth OperatorBig Daddy Kane

A track released in 1989 by Big Daddy Kane, a Grammy-winning American rapper.

It reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts.

It samples the Mary Jane Girls’ 1983 track “All Night Long.”

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