“When I’m alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall
and in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call
Telling me I need a girl who’s as sweet as a dove
for the first time in my life, I see I need love“
—LL Cool J, “I Need Love”
There’s no denying that rap music and rock n’ roll are both synonymous with sex, drugs and money, so it is quite refreshing when a rapper pours his or her heart out on an abstract topic from time to time. In a little over two months from now, I will be getting married. With the feelings of love and excitement increasing, I thought, “Why not put together a compilation of some of the best rap love songs of all time?”
Of course, I must start off with a classic from my childhood when I first starting having crushes on boys and thinking about how it would feel to be in love. Any female who was around during the late 80s who was into rap music more than likely had a crush on LL Cool J, and I was no exception. Enormous posters of him, along with a few of my other crushes, covered my bedroom wall, and when he released the song, ” I Need Love,” I would often gaze at his pictures totally mesmerized and fantasize about being the girl in the video.
LL’s song presents a thought-provoking revelation that most people will have at one point or another in their lives. To begin with “When I’m alone in my room…” may involve some deep meditation. In 2011, nearly 25 years later, there are a plethora of technology and media outlets to distract us from being pensive and thinking about what we really want and need out of life. LL is “staring at the wall…” not texting, tweeting, updating his facebook status or checking the status of others. When is the last time you had some “alone” time to think about what you really want or need in your present or future relationship or life for that matter? It’s extremely difficult to “hear your conscience call” if there are too many distractions let alone brain chatter.
Even though I am no expert, as a result of being in a long term relationship and observing the relationships of others, I’ve learned that everybody is not looking for the same attributes in a significant other. Over time, people may even realize that what they previously wanted is not what they presently need in a relationship.
Studies have shown that love is a necessity, and it actually plays a significant role in how healthy people are and even their ability to recover from illnesses. It does not necessarily have to be romantic love, but being in love, feeling love or even giving love can add years to one’s life. Have you experienced love or being in love? When is the last time you displayed love to those who matter most in your life? We all need love!
Please feel free to share your thoughts
~Anonomz aka Tanya Harris
Bonus English Lesson:
LL Cool J experiences an epiphany in his rap song “I Need Love.” He proclaims, “For the first time in my life, I see I need love…” An epiphany is a moment of sudden revelation or insight.
“Hey Mama” by Kanye West
Journey of Anonomz 