Day 3 of the break-up turned out to be my “story day.” For some reason, probably because my dumb ass decided to write about all this on HHL, everybody - family, friends and acquaintances - started calling me wanting to hear the story of my break-up. In the past 24 hours, I’ve probably told the story twenty times.

Therefore, break-up week track #3 is You Got Me from one of my top five albums ever, “Things Fall Apart” by the Roots. This track is a lyrical masterpiece telling the story of a relationship turned sour, and contains one of the most universal truths I learned during my break-up: that “on the topic of trust, it’s just a matter of fact/ that people bite back/”. Click below to listen to the track:

And follow along with the lyrics after the break. (more…)

Aiight, so day 2 of the break-up has me feeling not quite as friendly as day 1, and quite a bit more pissed off. Therefore, break-up week track #2 is Fuck You Lucy, from Atmosphere’s classic 2002 release “God Loves Ugly.” This track pretty much epitomizes the anger common during a break-up. Click below to listen:

And follow along with the lyrics after the break. (more…)

Me and my girl broke up recently. She’s moving out this week. And due to the stress, I find myself doing a lot less work on the site, and doing a lot more getting high and listening to therapeutic hip-hop (my bad if you’re waiting for a review). So instead of letting my anxietied-inability to keep up with my blog affect HHL, I’ve decided to create a new series: Hip-Hop Break-Up Week. It will include songs that relate to the whole break-up experience.

Break-up track #1 is Breathe in the Sun, from the Perceptionists’ classic 2005 album “Black Dialogue.” It has a peaceful piano intro and melodic chorus. The first verse by Akrobatik doesn’t really relate, at least until the last couple lines, but Mr. Lif’s verse almost perfectly summarizes my thought process upon solidifying the break-up. Click below to listen to the track:

And follow along with the lyrics, especially Akrobatik’s chorus and the entire 2nd verse, after the break. (more…)

Hip-Hop has historically existed as a male-dominated industry. Being a reflection of urban life and struggle, past Hip-Hop artists have been forced to maintain a certain level of masculinity in order to be accepted by their urban communities. Old school rappers who talked about love were often viewed as soft or corny.

Because of this perception, the existence of love in Hip-Hop is a fairly new concept. As the movement has gained support and recognition throughout the world, love has become an increasingly common theme in Hip-Hop music and poetry. (more…)