Without saying too much about me, I'm not really the type of guy who likes to have sex to rap music. As a matter of fact, as I've gotten older, the idea of doing it to any kind of music seems so contrived and forced. Sure, in college, putting on the latest R. Kelly album was as essential to sex as a condom, but real women are like Nike. They'll just do it when they want to, even if the only soundtrack is coming from the traffic outside.

But, as I was listening to the oh-so-smooth "Party Life" from Jay-Z's new album, American Gangster, I was reminded of a story one of my female friends told me back in college. She had been seeing some guy for a while and was finally ready to go home with him after a late night of partying. When they got to his crib, the guy dimmed the lights, told her to lay down on the bed while he put on some music. "Guess what he put on," my friend asked me. "D'Angelo," I said. "NO! This fool put on Jay-Z's Black Album!" After I stopped laughing, which was a good five minutes, I decided to play devil's advocate. "In his defense," I said. "There are some smooth cuts on that album." She agreed, but her issue had more to do with the fact that he tried to be romantic with a rap album, to which I replied, "Why is that so wrong?"

From there, I tried in vain to come up with rap albums that were appropriate for a night of intimacy. Needless to say, she wasn't hearing it, but I decided to have that conversation with you, the people, so I took another go at listing the top six albums (in no particular order) that are bedroom appropriate. Click on my song examples for a listen and after, feel free to hate in the comments.

ATLiens (1996)
Artist:
OutKast
Case In Point: "Elevators"

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A good rule of thumb to follow when thinking about whether or not a rap album is good background music for bumping uglies: If you can get high to it, you can probably make babies to it. Such is the case for ATLiens. Andre 3000 and Big Boi never really rap above inside voices, and with Organized Noize's funky, svelte production, you can go a long way with your lady like them slim ass cigarettes.

Be
(2005)
Artist:
Common
Case In Point: "Go" feat. John Mayer

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The best thing about Be is it's mid-tempo groove, which is consistent throughout, and as Common is want to do, a lot of the lyrical content is woman-friendly, but without the cornball one liners he recently started rapping on Finding Forever. Also consider, of this list, Be is probably the shortest album, coming in at a little over 45 minutes. You take that however you'd like.

Do You Want More?!!??! (1995)
Artist:
The Roots
Case In Point:
"Silent Treatment"

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There's some real jazzy stuff in the early years of the Roots catalog, and Do You Want More?!!?! is arguably their most jazz-inspired work. Quite a few cuts on this album have extended instrumental breaks, which do a lot for whatever kind of freaky ambience you have. But word to the wise: Make sure you cut the album off before it's final track - a spoken-word poem about rape and other not-so-endearing subjects.

All Eyez On Me (Book Two) (1996)
Artist:
2Pac
Case In Point:
"Ratha Be Ya Nigga"

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Whether your girl's into thug passion or the progressive type who can appreciate the poetry of "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" , for my money, "Book Two", if played at the right time, can set things off. Some will wonder why not include both discs instead of just singling out one, but in its entirety, All Eyez On Me is over two-hours long. You take that however you'd like.

Fantastic Vol. 2 (2000)
Artist:
Slum Village
Case In Point: "Tell Me" feat. D'Angelo

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Slum Village's nationwide debut album (Fantastic Vol. 1 wasn't released until years later) is considered a cult classic, moreso for it's soul drenched production by the late Jay Dee than for it's lyrical content. The truth is, if you turn this on for your lady and she's still not letting you hit, it's probably because she doesn't like hip-hop in the first place.


American Gangster
(2007)
Artist:
Jay-Z
Case In Point: "Party Life"

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Okay, I understand it's too early to heap a ton of praise on Jay-Z's latest. I'm not saying it's his best work, or rap album of the year. I still need some time to make those kinds of statements. But I have heard it enough times to get the feeling that some couple, somewhere, has already done their thing to American Gangster. This album is one of Jay's more soulful efforts, and when you listen to some of the samples, there's a good chance they were taken from songs your parents used to conceive you. Tell me I'm lying.

Motivation To Write This Piece

- "Party Life" by Jay-Z
- An idle mind.

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