I write love songs as an expression of the energy we all vibrate from. For real, if we can’t talk about love, then why talk about anything else sometimes? Even the hardest tracks which seep with deep rooted aggression can find their origins in the yearning for love. Most of the music we consume in clubs hint toward a hopeful encounter with someone who will love us – whether it be for a moment (the night) or forever. Some of the greatest anthems of all time deal with this theme.

Love songs articulate every spectrum of said vibration – be it love at first sight, a secret pining you have had for someone over the course of years, or the horrid horrid yet necessary break-up/heart break song. That all being said, I can’t keep my hand from the flame when it comes to this topic. True, I can kill it on the mic with political messages, I can flex a dope freestyle as good as the next supa emcee, but when it comes to love – each and every time out I approach it as if I’ve never tried entering that space before. The result is a culmination of my personal moment at hand and a whole lot of music expressed through the beautiful voices surrounding me.

Here is a rundown of what I feel are the top 10 love songs I’ve written and why – and it’s just how I’m feeling on this particular day while going through all of the material at hand. I could have easily made it a top 20, but that would take up too much of the day – you can scroll through my site and find the others. I figure today would be the most fitting days to do something like this – enjoy.

Note: Most of these songs are free downloads – so go ‘n get you sum if you like ‘em…

10. I *heart* Olivia Munn
Yes, it’s a gimmick song. Yes, she’s now in on it. Yes, it worked. However, when was the last time you heard a true emcee flex over a hard beat in dedication to a geek queen in this manner? Love songs come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes they are aimed at the tall half asian women…

09. Burn it Down
Everything you think of when it’s over…and the voice of reason in your head asking you to stop for a second and not burn it all down. It simply ain’t worth it.

08. Cupid Got a Gun x Lykke Li
Cupid. That fucker. He points, he shoots, and sometimes that shit just takes you for a ride. Sometimes you gotta get your heart and ego back to the right place. Sometimes you gotta lift some Lykke Li and throw on some dubstep and freestyle your fucking face off until…you feel free.

07. The Breakup Hurts (prelude)
Suicidal thoughts. Rain and ambulances outside your window. The tub’s full of water – wtf should you do? Throw on some Nina. Throw on this mix. We get it. We understand. Don’t do it. We’ve been there before. Here’s living proof.

06. Come Closer
Sometimes you know. Sometimes you don’t. That’s the point, right? There IS a moment, however, when all you wanna do is tell that someone: Come closer. It’s okay. I won’t bite…unless you want me to…

05. What Comes Now
A meditated freestyle from an EP of songs I did over Ratatat beats. It was just in the moment. It was heart felt. It was true. All I focused upon was the word love and went for it. I place it smack in the middle of the list because it’s neutral – not about breakups not about finding love, it’s just about the energy of love and what it means to yours truly.

04. Shot Him Down
Written with my amazing songstress partner, Sierra Carrère as Tape Deck Prophets, I had a little something to say about what happens when a love goes wrong and gets physical.

03. Why Can’t Love
Written for the multi-talented and amazing Shefali K with whom I share the group name Bonita Applebum, this song is an expression of one of the deepest sentiments I feel.

02. Beautiful
There are just so many beautiful women in Brooklyn alone. This was inspired one night while out performing with my Cumba Mela and Gnawledge family. It all happened at a “backyard patio in the middle of Brooklyn” one fateful summer evening.

01. Rani Rani
Translated simply as: My princess, my queen. An innocent ode to the person with whom you know you will have an instant connection…should you ever decide to approach them.

Honorable Mention: Why Can’t Love (Shanti’s Lament)
I thought the original track was sooooo where I wanted to go with it, this remix just happened. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did while making it.