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The Greatest Love Stories in Hip-Hop

These artists melted our hearts with their love...sort of.

Oh, Valentine's Day. The Hallmark holiday of love that shares a name with a bloody massacre in 1929. And really, that's basically what Valentine's Day is all about. Half of the world is so deliriously annoying about love while the other half finds it repugnant. It's all about #balance, right? In hip-hop, we've witnessed perhaps the most unconventional love stories. Some have ended tragically while others will live on forever. So before you're out and about with #bae (if you still use the word "bae") or proudly anti with your girls celebrating "Galentine's Day," check out our list of the greatest love stories in hip-hop. It's not all about the romance, though. Is it ever, really?

  1. Jay Z and Beyoncé

    Considering how insane the entire world went after finding out that not only have Jay Z and Beyoncé mended fences since the Lemonade era but they are now blessing us with twins, it's safe to say they are the greatest love story in hip-hop. You're lying to yourself if A) you disagree and B) you don't consider Beyoncé as "hip-hop." You've seen the "7/11" video. Cut it out.

  2. Mr. Cheeks and 'Renee'

    Yes, we dug deep into the archives for this one. This Lost Boyz classic track was such a beautiful tale of frontman Mr. Cheeks finding love in his shorty named Renee. Spoiler alert: she dies at the end.

  3. Kendrick Lamar and 'Sherane'

    Kendrick's love affair with Sherane made good kid, m.A.A.d. city what it was. BTW, this wasn't Sherane in the video for "Backseat Freestyle," but here is a flick of little K. Dot and the real Sherane as kids. Awwww!

  4. DJ Khaled and ASAHD

    Yes ASAHD's name is in caps and don't you forget it. This is a new love story for DJ Khaled, but his Snapchat and Instagram are flooded with short videos of his beautiful baby boy. ASAHD (caps, still) is even executive producing Khaled's next album. That's even better than Blue Ivy getting on the Billboard charts as a newborn with Jay Z's "Glory."

  5. Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim

    Listen. LISTEN. Let's all be adults here. This love triangle led to the greatest story of reconciliation and acceptance in rap history. Yes, Biggie married Faith after knowing her for like a few hours (estimated) and, in the midst of all that, was also with Kim. But combined, it makes one hell of a love story that lives on in Big's honor.

  6. Diddy and Cassie

    So, uh, speaking of Bad Boys, are we ready to accept that this is still happening or nah?

  7. Drake and His Feelings

    From his constant friend zoning to defriend zoning with Rihanna to questioning the loyalty of anyone whose initials don't begin with "OVO," Drake has a longstanding love affair with his own emotions. They'll never leave him, at least. #silverlining

  8. Gucci Mane and Kale

    Have to check the tabloids to see if this relationship is still going strong, but Gucci eating kale was love at first sight when it happened. Kale has made him a better man. He's a healthy La Flare now and looks amazing. See what a good dish of kale can do for a man?

  9. Remy Ma and Papoose

    Remy Ma and Papoose are the realest REALEST definition of "ride or die." This marriage survived prison. Seriously.

  10. Kanye West and Kanye West

    It's real and it's serious. Kanye's love of himself is something that can't even be summed up in an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. This interview with Zane Lowe does a good job of showing how much Kanye loves himself though. Even when someone else is in the room, it's like it's just Kanye...and Kanye.

  11. French Montana and Julius Caesor

    We first met Julius Caesor back in 2013, and this has arguably been the longest relationship in French Montana's career. They take private jets together, Julius gets to be in movies. Hell, TMZ ANNOUNCED HIS ARRIVAL. Julius was V.I.P. from jump.

  12. T.I. and Tiny

    Just because it's over doesn't mean it didn't mean something. Plus, Tip and Tiny have all those kids together.

  13. Pharrell and That Hat

    This was a love story that lasted uncomfortably long until their abrupt breakup. Pharrell is currently involved with a beanie.

  14. Common and H.E.R.

    In 1994, when Common (then Common Sense) wrote an ode to his love of hip-hop, he personified the culture as a woman. While this song was a love affair seemingly gone sour, Common found love for H.E.R. again.

  15. Andre 3000 and Erykah Badu

    Not to seem insensitive toward the aforementioned Common, but the love between Andre 3000 and Erykah Badu felt nothing short of magical. Imagine if these two were still together? IMAGINE!

  16. Tyga and Kylie Jenner

    Sorry, just trolling to see if you're still "keeping up."

  17. Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill

    This romance was supposed to last forever, especially since they survived that ridiculous beef between Meek and Drake. It didn't though. Oh well. True love doesn't exist. Carry on.

  18. Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa

    We're still holding a candle for this relationship since they recently showed some PDA at a pre-Grammy party. Wiz and Amber seemed perfect for each other. Plus, when Muva twerks to your song and a modern art portrait of your FACE, you know it's real. Sigh.

  19. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean

    Actually, the love affair between Wyclef and Lauryn was pretty twisted and painful, but it still gave us The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, so it has to be acknowledged as one of the greats.

  20. Nelly and Kelly (Rowland)

    OK, SO WHAT if this wasn't a real romance. The video for "Dilemma" was reason enough to qualify this as the greatest love story that never was. Nelly and Kelly had such strong chemistry and this video was proof. Seriously, their connection was so strong that Kelly texted Nelly on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and he STILL got the message to come over!

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