The delicate matters of the heart have inspired some of the greatest songs ever made.
To love hard is to expose oneself to the possibility of hurting hard. This crushing feeling has inspired several musicians to craft timeless records that continue to cater to heartbreak and its varying complex emotions.
These classic records capture the pain of unrequited love, of romance gone sour, and of love that held promise but faltered to the challenges of everyday life.
Whether it’s genre-fusing Afrobeats records, hard-hitting hip hop tracks, or soul-wrenching R&B songs, there’s a plethora of heartbreak songs to help sooth an aching heart.
Best heartbreak songs of all time
Best Afrobeats Heartbreak Song
For generations, Nigerian stars have crafted era-defining songs that tell the story of love gone sour.
From Styl Plus‘s iconic smash hit ‘Imagine That’ to Burna Boy‘s global hit ‘Last Last,’ Afrobeats is filled with a plethora of heartbreak songs.
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Burna Boy — Last Last
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P Square — Omoge Mi
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Omah Lay — Understand
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Arya Starr, Ckay — beggie biggie
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Djnee – Ego
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Style Plus – Imagine That
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Darey Art Alade – girl I used to know
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Asa — Bibanke
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Banky W — Don’t break my heart
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Kizz Daniel — Fuck you
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Niyola – Toh Bad
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Ric Hassani — Thunder Fire You
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P Square — Am I Still That Man
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P Square — Say Your Love
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Arya Starr, Giveon – Last Heartbreak Anniversary.
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Show Dem Camp — WYW
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Chike – Out of Love
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Omah Lay — Soso
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BNXN – Pidgin and English
Best Hip Hop Heart Break Songs
While Rappers often put up a tough exterior, they also sometimes have their hearts broken like everyone else.
Heartbreak has inspired rappers to craft songs with poignant lyrics and moving delivery. Here are some of the best hip-hop heartbreak songs.
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Kanye West – Heartless
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Tupac – do for love
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Cardi B – Be careful with me
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Big Sean – I don’t fuck with you
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J Cole – Nothing Lasts Forever
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XXXTentacion – Remedy For a Broken Heart
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Wale – The breakup song
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D ‘D’Angelo – Breakups to makeups
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Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
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Drake – Marvins Room
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Juice Wrld – Lucid Dreams
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Eminem – Space Bound
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Kanye West – Blame Game
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Immortal Technique – You never know
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Nas – undying love
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Kendrick Lamar – Opposite Attracts
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Tyler, the Creator – IFHY
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Nicki Minaj – Bed of Lies
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Kanye West – Runaway
Best R&B Heartbreak Songs
Nobody tells the story of love and heartbreak quite like R&B stars, who deploy soulful melodies and colourful lyrics to craft emotionally charged songs. Here are some classic R&B heartbreak songs.
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Whitney Houston – I’ll Always Love You
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Adele – Someone like You
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Whitney Houston – I have nothing
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Adele – Hello
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Rihnanna – Take a Bow
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Beyonce – If I were a boy
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BoysIIMen – To the end of the road
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Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart
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Usher – Burn
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Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
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Erykah Badu – Tyrone
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Olivia Rodriguez – Drivers License
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The Smiths – I know it’s over
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Beyonce – Irreplaceable
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Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man
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Frank Ocean – Ivy
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Chris Brown – Please Don’t Judge Me
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Lewis Capaldi – Bruises
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Jordin Sparks feat Chris Brown – No Air
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Halsey – Without Me
REAL ALSO: 10 Notable Feats By Nigerian Female Artists
Best Heartbreak Pop/Country/ soft Rock/ songs
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Taylor Swift – Bad Blood
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Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice. Its Alright
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Zach Bryan — I remember everything
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Bill Withers — Ain’t No Sunshine
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Al green— How can you mend a broken heart
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Leonar Cohen — Hallelujah
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Bonnie Wraith — Can’t make you love me
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Lizzo– Truth Hurts
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Carole King — It’s Too Late
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No Doubt – Don’t Speak
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NYSNC — ByeByeBye
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Eykah Badu — Tyrone
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Taylor Swift – Death By A Thousand Cuts