50 Collaborations You've Got to Hear

Travel
by Matt Huntington Feb 22, 2010
If you’re looking for top notch examples of what happens when artists combine talent and sounds, look no further.
Anthrax and Public Enemy

Bring The Noise
Something about being at work for way too long right now but listening to this song makes everything ok.

Jurassic 5 and Nelly Furtado

Thin Line
I like that this happened before she blew up…Canadian Maneater.

Kylie Minogue & Nick Cave

Where The Wild Roses Grow
If you’ve ever fantasized about western romance.

Kid Cudi, MGMT, Ratatat

Pursuit of Happiness
They are all on the moon.

MSTRKRFT featuring John Legend

Heartbreaker
I expected a train wreck but it’s really, really nice actually.

Santigold, Strokes, Pharrell (Converse)

My Drive Thru
I dance to this by myself.  Frequently.

Dizzee Rascal + Calvin Harris

Dance Wiv Me and Holiday
If you fancy Brits.

Propeller Heads + Shirley Bassey

History Repeating
You might recognize her voice.

N.A.S.A. featuring David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip

Money DJ/producer duo, N.A.S.A., put together an entire of album of original tracks with a star studded line up. This is just a glimpse.

Massive Attack+Tracy Thorn

You might cry.

Robert Plant and Alison Kraus

It won 5 Grammys.  You and your parents can agree on something to listen to.

Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Nothing Else Matters
This one made me cry.

George Michael and Aretha Franklin

Knew You Were Waiting for Me
Two queens of pop?

George Michael & Mary J Blige

As
Two queens of pop covering a king of pop (Stevie Wonder)?! Bad joke.

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney

The Girl is Mine
“The doggone girl is mine.”

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson

Scream
RIP MJ; Janet looks hot in the video.  Wrong to say those things in the same sentence?

David Bowie and Queen

Under Pressure
Bowie’s first released collaboration, it debuted on Queen’s album and Vanilla Ice got rich off it.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby

Little Drummer Boy
What the hell did they talk about when they weren’t on set?

Mick Jagger and David Bowie

I know what they talked about off set.

Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger

Walk And Don’t Look Back
Please check out Mick’s moves in this video.

Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg

My Medicine
These guys had plenty in common backstage too.

Beck & Charlotte Gainsbourg

Heaven Can Wait
Great artist + great artist = Great song.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Gainsbourg

Constipation Blues
Happens to everyone.

Loretta Lynn & Jack White

Portland, Oregon
Just cool.

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash

Girl From The North Country Fair
Nothing to say here.

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman

Shady Grove
Phenomenal album.

Jimi Hendrix and BB King

Slow Blues
Album – The Kings Jam

Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate

Kala Djula
Two African musical legends on one album, In the Heart of the Moon

Toumani Diabaté & Björk

If you find a good recording of this please post a response with it.

Otis Redding and Carla Thomas

Tramp
I’d rather be “country” than a tramp.

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach

God Give Me Strength
You’d be surprised how many people told me about this duo.

Pete Rock & C. L. Smooth

They Reminisce Over You
T.R.O.Y.

Amy Winehouse and Ghostface

You Know I’m No Good
He is way more well behaved than her.

Mark Ronson and Santogold

Pretty Green
Ronson’s album Version is full of these.

Nickodemus and Jay Rodriguez

Funky in the Middle
Shake a leg.

Kelis featuring Andre 3000

Millionaire
I say this to mom a lot…

Major Lazer

Pon de Floor
Super producer duo Diplo and Switch = Major Lazer.  Vybz Kartel gets in on this one too.


Aerosmith and Run DMC

Walk This Way
Know it. Love it.

Brand New Heavies and Guru

It’s Gettin’ Hectic
Heavy Rhyme Experience was the mid 90’s jammer.

Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
American, feel good combo.

Beck and The Dust Brothers

Black Tambourine
Dust Brothers helped Beck craft his albums Odelay, Midnite Vultures and Guero.  They can also take credit for Beastie Boys album Paul’s Boutique.

Jaylib

The Red
Madlib and J Dilla (RIP) combine as “Jaylib” to make the album “Champion of Sound.”

Madvillain

Accordion
Madlib and MF DOOM come together as “Madvillain,” album appropriately titled “Madvillainy.”

Madlib and Blue Note Records

Slims Return
Check out the video to get a glimpse of Madlib’s chops.  Madlib remixes a load of classic Blue Note tunes, album titled Shades of Blue.

Dangermouse and MF Doom

The Mask
Album is called “The Mouse and The Mask”.  This track is extra spicy courtesy of Ghostface.

Broken Bells

Vaporize
Dangermouse and James Mercer from The Shins create this new indie rock sound.  Album out soon.

Black Keys featuring Raekwon

Stay Off The Fuckin Flowers
Damon Dash brings together the Black Keys and eleven mcs such as Mos Def, GZA and Jim Jones for project Blak Roc.

Black Lips and GZA

Stuff That Went Down at SXSW Last Year
Don’t get that last one confused with this one, because then you will just sound like a dork.

The Chemical Brothers and Fat Lip from Pharcyde

The Salmon Dance
What it do?

Cut Chemist feat. Hymnal

What’s the Altitude
Keep the beats + rhymes thing going.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Summertime
That just happened!

Judgement Night Soundtrack

A compilation treasure chest that changed my little 6th grade life, it’s one of the first (and actually good) ventures into this rap + rock arena.  Eat your heart out Linkin Park and Jay Z.

Hard to pick one track off the whole album, but Fallin’ with De La Soul and Teenage Fan Club. is definitely a fave.

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