When you met, they made it clear that hip-hop was their first love. They’re not like anyone you’ve ever met before so Valentine’s Day is probably no big deal, right? Wrong. Valentine’s Day might seem like the last thing on your partner’s mind but don’t be fooled. No matter how loud they blast Wu-Tang, they want to feel just as special as anyone else on the 14th. Seriously. Thugs need love, too. Oh, and you don’t want to see what happens when the mild-mannered royalty of conscious rap finds out you chose Valentine’s Day to support their fight against capitalism and corporate greed. Here are six ways you can “Protect Ya Neck” this February 14th.
Know what they like
This shouldn’t be that hard if you’ve been dating them for a while, but it doesn’t hurt to be sure. Hack their SoundCloud, check out their YouTube account, take a screen shot of the “most played” songs on their phone, do whatever you have to do to find out what they’re digging right now. “Hip-hop” is broad and it would serve you well to know if they’re into Future or Dom Kennedy. If it seems like they dabble in all the sub-genres, don’t be discouraged. You can focus on their latest obsession, their top five dead or alive or nothing at all. The more varied the playlist, the more likely they’ll dig whatever you come up with. Hint: Don’t get caught. If you’re clumsy, enlist a friend or family member to do the digging for you. And if you’re just getting to know them, you can still get the low-down on their taste. Something as simple as, “I need some new music. What’s something dope that I can download?” will go undetected and might even spark up some pretty good convo. When you show up on Valentines Day with something thoughtful, they’ll know you’ve been listening. You just earned a check by your name. #winning!
Idea: If your partner is indeed a Purple Sprite kind of person, Trap Karaoke is the perfect way to send their heart (metro) boomin’.
Remember the culture
Hip-hop is more than music, it’s a way of life. And you don’t want to be too predictable. Think about ways to incorporate the other elements of hip-hop in your Valentine’s Day bag of tricks. If you’re short on time, you might have to surprise them with plans to do something dope after the big day. Plan a trip to another city to see one of their favorite artists or get them a three-month pass for break-dancing classes at a local dance studio. Your cool points just skyrocketed.
Idea: Map out some of the dope street art in your area and serve as the guide on your own personal graffiti tour.
Corny is cool
If your first thought is, “Nah, they’ll think it’s corny,” go with it. Etsy is filled with cheesy Valentine’s Day cards that will make your love smile, no matter how gangster they might seem. If they’re into more alternative rap, the stranger the better.
There’s no real way you can go wrong here. The thought really does count. Consider it a compliment if they laugh and tell you it’s the lamest thing they’ve ever seen. Laughing is always a plus. Once again, #winning.
Idea: Cancel the traditional pink teddy bear and go for one of those rapping Gemmy Frogz. They’re extremely cheesy but cute enough to make someone’s day.
Don’t forget the lyrics
Here’s where you can go full throttle with the music itself. Incorporate rap lyrics in your day to make it exciting. If you’re planning on cooking breakfast in bed on Valentine’s Day “a T-bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch’s grape,” on the menu might go over well.
If you’re having trouble with getting creative on this one, take a note from Common. Recreate his video, “The Light” and you’ll melt your partner’s heart. Real talk. If you’re at a complete loss for words, go old school. Make them a playlist. People love playlists.
Idea: Pick up a bottle of their favorite perfume or cologne and write, “Let me guess, your favorite fragrance?” on the tag.
Prepare to pay for expedited shipping
Take a look at the calendar. You’re playing yourself if you think standard shipping is going to work. You’ll want to make sure everything you need arrives ahead of schedule. Mail can be delayed this time of year due to inclement weather in some places. The last thing you want is to end up in the “I forgot” line at Walmart on the night of the 13th.
You can find great gifts like screen tees, artwork and books online. However, many of the coolest items are made to order. Keep in mind that people are probably seeing an influx of orders for Valentine’s Day. Be prepared to put up a few extra dollars to move your order to the top of the list.
Idea: If there’s no rush option at checkout, slide in the shop owner’s DMs to see if there’s any way you can hurry things along.
It’s not as hard as it seems to make a dope person smile. By now, you should have an idea of what you’re going to do to fill their day with love and hip-hop (I had to). Comment and let us know how you plan to win this Valentine’s Day.
Have any other Valentine’s Day ideas for your hip-hop head honey? Sound off in the comments!
