Musicians combining their ideas and talents is one of the most win-win situations the industry has to offer. The artists play off one another to create new sounds and reach new fans through their collaborators’ respective audiences, and music fans get new jams that would never been possible by a solo artist.
Can you even imagine what Usher’s club smash “Yeah!” would have been like without Lil Jon’s production and signature screams? Would hip hop have gained a mainstream following if it weren’t for Run-D.M.C. enlisting Aerosmith to remix “Walk This Way”? Would Pitbull even have a career?
Collaboration is important, and we could use even more of it. Whether or not they’re plausible, these collaborations would be pumping through my headphones if they ever existed:
Danny Brown and Action Bronson
These MCs have collaborated in the past via back-to-back verses on A$AP Rocky’s cypher “1Train” and a Grand Theft Auto re-release track titled “Bad News.” Judging by their equivalent ability to spit over dark beats, their penchant for over-the-top lyrics, and the sheer contrast of their voices, these two are prime candidates to make a rap project following in the footsteps of Run the Jewels.
Probability of Ever Happening:
79%
Purity Ring and Pusha T
With the prominent synths and snappy percussion of Corin Roddick’s beats and the soothing voice of Megan James, Purity Ring makes music that seems wholly conducive to gritty rap verses. While the best-known of their hip hop collaborations center around Danny Brown, I think Pusha would revel in going into the studio and murdering any beat Roddick throws at him.
Probability of Ever Happening:
73%
Miley Cyrus and Sleater-Kinney
Country starlet-turned-pop icon Miley Cyrus has been called “Punk as Fuck.” If that doesn’t display musical range, I don’t know what does. Cyrus has worked with Nelly, The Flaming Lips, Future, Britney Spears and, most recently, Joan Jett and Laura Jane Grace. If Cyrus wanted to move toward more Punk-influenced music, the reunited Riot Grrl godmothers of Sleater-Kinney would be a great choice. Sleater-Kinney might perceive working with Cyrus to be selling out, but I couldn’t care less if it meant seeing Cyrus being animated for another Bob’s Burgers music video.
Probability of Ever Happening:
65%
Mike D, Ad-Rock, Bun B
The remnants of two classic hip hop groups, UGK’s Bun B and the Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock and Mike D each have quite distinctive voices. Collaborating would only amp up their individual talents, but the clash of the Bun B’s southern style and the Beasties’ east coast style may not pan out in terms of creating beats and bouncing flows off of one another. We’d hate to see anything forced here.
Probability of Ever Happening:
10%
Bonobo and Kid Cudi
Both of these artists epitomize “chill” in their respective genres. Cudi has done a lot of his own production across the past few years, but it hasn’t all been well-received. An electronic artist that plays bass guitar in his live band sets, Bonobo has a sound that could reinvigorate the trippy vibes Cudi’s fan base loves him for.
Probability of Ever Happening:
42%
Layne Staley and Metallica
I know, I know, Metallica collaborated with Lou Reed for a whole album and it was not the best. But hear me out: Metallica recorded a lot of great covers for their double album Garage Inc., one of which featured a collaborative extravaganza in their Lynyrd Skynyrd cover of “Tuesday’s Gone.” Layne Staley was also one of Metallica’s biggest inspirations for their most recent album Death Magnetic, particularly the B-side “Just a Bullet Away.” All things considered, I believe Metallica could slow down their thrash for a ballad with the Alice in Chains singer on vocals, and it would be just as good as “The Unforgiven.”
Probability of Ever Happening:
0%
Stevie Wonder and Tyler, The Creator
As Tyler continues to be influenced by jazz and works the classic genre into his own music, there’s at least one legendary musician the growing MC has yet to work with: Stevie Wonder. Tyler has dropped his name in past lyrics, and even Tweeted that he wanted Wonder featured on the silky “FIND YOUR WINGS.” If Tyler could get Stevie to buy in to him as a musician, it would be interesting to see whether the virtuoso would contribute his vocal and keyboard talents (like he did for his Grammy performance with Daft Punk and Pharrell), his signature harmonica sound (like he did for the intro to Mark Ronson’s Uptown Special), or both.
Probability of Ever Happening:
48%
Run the Jewels and Trash Talk
Run the Jewels duo Killer Mike and El-P have been one of the greatest collaborative musical acts we have seen in recent years. It also may have been one of the most unlikely before the two met to work on Killer Mike’s 2012 solo release, R.A.P. Music. Even with the two MCs taking turns setting tracks ablaze, they have still managed to collaborate with other artists on their music, most notably Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zach de la Rocha. Some of RTJ’s tracks are so hard that I swear they have some influence from the heavier subgenres of rock. To prove this theory, who would be better to team up with Mike and El-P than the hardcore punk outfit Trash Talk? The Sacramento band signed with Odd Future Records back in 2012, so their relationship with Tyler, the Creator shows at least some inkling of respect for hip hop. I envision this collaboration as one where Trash Talk has mad respect for the lyricism of RTJ’s veteran MCs. After hearing the raw speed and power of Trash Talk, Killer Mike and El-P would find a new energy to continue serving up hot verses to the masses.
Probability of Ever Happening:
29%
Ezra Koenig and Kanye West
Vampire Weekend released a remix of “Step” with Danny Brown, Heems and Despot back in 2013, and lead singer Ezra Koenig worked with iLoveMakonnen about six months ago. Kanye West has collaborated with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon (“one of the baddest white boys on the planet”) multiple times. With tidbits on their collaborative résumés, it seems that Koenig and West are simply meant to work together at some point. Their music is both critically acclaimed and appreciated by overlapping audiences. Plus, lately West has been generous with his verses, collaborating with the likes of Big Sean, Tyler, The Creator and A$AP Rocky. All things considered, it wouldn’t be completely ridiculous to hope for Kanye to spit on one of Vampire Weekend’s preppy indie tracks.
Probability of Ever Happening:
50%
Did I miss an obvious pair? Let us know which collaborations you’re dying to see.