Collaboration, in all forms, has the power to unite people, spark conversation, and create a great product. When two talented artists collaborate, it has made music better in the past. But when these artists are rappers, the collaboration becomes an explosive force.
What A Time To Be Alive – Drake & Future
2015 was a year full of classic rap albums and mix tapes. It was a time when two of the genre’s most influential artists, Drake and Future, joined forces to create What A Time To Be Alive. This powerhouse collaboration gave us an album that was the perfect follow up to their respective 2015 solo projects. The result was a captivating mix of hard-hitting tracks that left listeners sad knowing we won’t get WATBA 2. The producer lineup of Metro Boomin, Southside, Boi-1da, amongst others credited, made this project the best it could be at the time.
Watch the Throne – Jay-Z & Kanye West
Big and Little Brother got together to make an album and the result is nothing short of spectactular. Watch the Throne, the joint effort by Jay-Z and Kanye West in 2011, was just that. An album that paired Jay-Z’s lyrical brilliance and Kanye’s innovative production. Just like the good old days of Kanye producing tracks for The Blueprint and other Jay-Z albums. Watch the Throne showcased the unique synergy between the two as they lit the music world on fire. They wasted no time with a track like No Church in the Wild as the intro and Otis the music video. This album not only elevated the standard for rap collaborations but also cemented Jay-Z and Kanye’s status as undisputed titans of the genre.
Without Warning – 21 Savage & Offset
When darkness meets the uncanny, the result is an album like Without Warning. Released on Halloween night in 2017, this joint album by 21 Savage and Offset, produced by Metro Boomin. This is the pairing I didn’t think we needed. From the sinister Ghostface Killers to the hit Ric Flair Drip, this album was a thrilling journey into the darker versions of rap music. It also showed that Offset has the ability to stand on his own without the Migos. If you remember in 2017 they were on fire after releasing their album Culture and Offset kept the good times rolling. Shoutout to Metro Boomin for creating this pairing and showcasing himself as a dominate producer in the genre.
Friday On Elm Street – Fabolous & Jadakiss
Few collaborations have managed to capture the essence of storytelling as effectively as Friday On Elm Street, the joint album by Fabolous and Jadakiss. Released in 2017, this album alone might make me try gang violence. Drawing inspiration from ‘Friday the 13th‘ and A Nightmare on Elm Street, Fabolous and Jadakiss put together a murder soundtrack. Right from the get go the F vs J Intro blows you away and sets the tone. These two collaborated and showed they are still elite after years in the rap game.
Her Loss – Drake & 21 Savage
When Drake and 21 Savage reunited in 2022 for their collaborative effort, Her Loss. This album is aging nicely with all the drama going on between Drake and Future. After the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s album We Don’t Trust You, more rumors began to fly. Drake’s collaboration with 21 Savage on the album Her Loss seems to have sparked tensions with Future. Rumors suggest that Future felt sidelined as Drake opted for a project with 21 Savage instead of continuing their collaborative streak. This move is perceived to have made their joint project, What a Time to Be Alive seem less significant. Despite these rumors, it’s important to note that direct comments from the involved parties are scarce, leaving much of the situation to speculation among fans and observers.
Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends – A$AP Mob
In 2016, A$AP Mob came together to release Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends. Featuring contributions from each member of the collective, along with guest appearances from renowned artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Juicy J. This album showed the collective’s unity and shared vision. From the hard-hitting Yamborghini High to Skepta bodying his verse in Put That On My Set. Cozy Tapes Vol. 1 was one of my favorite collaborative albums of the decade. Absolutely smokes the sequel by the way which never resonated with me as much as this work did.
Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D Music
Now talk about an album that was on the high school pregame playlist. When Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label released their compilation album Cruel Summer in 2012, it was loved for its star-studded lineup and innovative sound. Bringing together a diverse roster of artists, including Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and John Legend, among others. This album was another canvas in the artist in which we know Kanye. It was a seamless blend of different styles and showed the type of leader Kanye was. You the anthems like Mercy and Clique, but there are still plenty of tracks that are worth going back and listening to.
We Are Young Money – Young Money
In 2009, Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment label took the rap world by storm with their compilation album We Are Young Money. The roster was stacked. Listen closely and catch them all before they were on top. Artists, most notably include Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga. Lil Wayne put this album together as a showcase of the label’s talent and diversity. From the club anthem Every Girl to the introspective BedRock, YMCMB had the formula to make the hits.
Super Slimey – Future & Young Thug
When two of Atlantas’s most influential trap artists, Future and Young Thug, came together for Super Slimey in 2017, it represented trap music being the rap sub-genre mainstream. Combining Future’s toxic style with Young Thug’s unconventional methods, Super Slimey was so lit. Tracks like Patek Water and All the Smoke showcased the duo’s unique chemistry, proving two heads are indeed better than one.
Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho – Travis Scott & Quavo
In 2017, Travis Scott and Quavo came together to cash in on their latest hot streaks. Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho, a more psychedelic journey into the world of trap. With its trippy production and catchy hooks, this album was an intoxicating blend of Travis and Quavo’s experimental sound. My standout tracks include Motorcycle Patches and Black & Chinese as they had the most replay value to me. Although this album may not be a classic, but the true fans of these two artists is something we will always love.
Collision Course – Jay Z & Linkin Park
This was a Limewire special. When Jay Z and Linkin Park made Collision Course in 2004, it was hailed as a groundbreaking fusion of rap and rock. This album was a genre sonic explosion that shattered boundaries. With its genre-bending tracks like Numb/Encore and Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying From You, Collision Course broke down the door into the mashup world that we hear at parties today.
Mac and Devin Go To High School – Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
You remember the feel-good anthem Young, Wild & Free but there are some bangers here. In 2011, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa collaborated on an album for their movie Mac and Devin Go To High School. I never watched it but I did listen With its catchy hooks and laid-back beats, it was a perfect embodiment of weed culture. The most notable features here are Juicy J & Curren$y who featured on other Wiz Khalifa projects. Definitely a throwback to when I had to carry an iPod to middle school.
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