When making amazing music, sometimes it’s great to bring others along for the party. From full on spectacular verses to standout hooks, collaborations did a fine job of displaying Hip Hop’s notion of unity despite various beefs and feuds. Even the year’s biggest joint project was birth through a feature. On a creative level, 2015 could be considered the year lines between R&B and Hip Hop blurred significantly which also lent itself to interesting collaborations. Without further delay, here are several of HipHopDX’s best group efforts.
Future Featuring Drake – “Where Ya At”
The sole DS2 feature solidified Hip Hop’s current bromance between Future and Drake following some turbulent time between both of them. Out of the many features Drizzy did this year, “Where Ya At” felt more like an accompaniment than an overwhelming guest cameo. Future gave OVO the best alley-oop on the Metro Boomin production. This would serve as a great kickoff to what eventually became What A Time To Be Alive.
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Kendrick Lamar Featuring Pharrell – “Alright”
The most commercially appreciable To Pimp A Butterflytrack, Pharrell’s “We gon be alright” has become the chant heard on everything including radio dials and protest. Jazz/trap hybrids don’t sound as good as when K.Dot spits his heart in giving hope through turbulent hours of despair. In a year full of police brutality and Black Lives Matter, “Alright” became the quintessential soundtrack to it all.
Ty Dolla $ign Featuring Future & Rae Sremmurd – “Blase´”
Probably one of the year’s biggest Trap & B club anthems, Free TC single “Blase´ is great for two reasons. Bringing Future and Rae Sremmurd along only enhances the Atlanta-based sound past infinity first and foremost. Second, Ty Dolla $ign’s vocal delivery is as top notch as ever. There’s a reason why Free TC was known as one of the year’s best R&B albums as the West Coast artists does a fine job of exploring the many angles of the genre effortlessly.
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Talib Kweli & 9th Wonder f. Eric G, Problem & Bad Lucc “Pay Ya Dues”
There’s a reason why Problem, Bad Lucc and Diamond Lane’s relationship with Jamla goes back. Both West Coast emcees spit just as hard as their local contemporaries and all while remaining completely independent. Makes absolute sense as to why a Diamond Lane / Jamla project is in the works. Indie 500jam “Pay Ya Dues” sounds like amazing possibilities. And closing out the amazing Eric G production is Talib Kweli with pure bars of aggression relating to the results of hard work.
Meek Mill f. Nicki Minaj & Chris Brown – “All Eyes On You”
Dreams Worth More Than Moneysingle “All Eyes On You” was a pure play on the romance between Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj. And yes, it worked fairly well. Both compliment each other’s lyrical ability while being honest about their love for each other. Add Chris Brown on the hook and it’s a sure fire winner. If Mill took multiple losses this year, at least, this could be viewed as a win.
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Action Bronson f. Chance The Rapper – “Baby Blue”
One of the year’s most hilarious music videos belongs to Action Bronson for “Baby Blue” featuring Chance The Rapper. For heaven’s sakes, Coming To America parodies don’t get this good. Thankfully, Bronson lyrical ability is as clever as ever. However, Chance’s verse is ungodly great in terms of his feelings toward an ex-romance. Production wise, Mark Ronson provides his best production since “Uptown Funk.”
Travi$ Scott f. 2 Chainz & Future “3500”
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https://youtu.be/0Upq28OWQJM
“Antidote” may be Travi$ Scott’s breakout single but “3500” is the romp that took him over the top. Besides the all-star production lineup including Scott, Metro Boomin, Mike Dean and Zaytoven among others, 2 Chainz’s guest appearance becomes the proverbial cherry on top. “I was born with nappy hair drinking breast milk out a lean cup” may be one of the year’s most comical insight into Mr. Titty 2 Necklaces.
Dr. Dre Featuring Anderson .Paak – “Animals”
Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre wasn’t just the final album from the legendary West Coast producer. It also served as a way to introduce the next crop of artists within the Aftermath stable. Out of the new mainstream introductions from the likes of Justus and King Mez, the story seemed to always find its way back to Anderson .Paak. Featured on several tracks, the best example was the DJ Premier assisted “Animals.”
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Erykah Badu Featuring Andre 3000 – “Hello”
The most unexpected feature of the year, Erykah Badu got Andre 3000 to provide a guest verse for You Can’t Use My Phone mixtape jam “Hello.” Watching Badu and 3 Stacks together considered their history together was shocking in itself. Second, it’s probably worth the price of admission on its own for a fairly solid project.
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Fetty Wap Featuring Drake – “My Way (Remix)”
https://youtu.be/Cvu0Q4Cl7pU
Following “Trap Queen,” it was safe to say that many dismissed Fetty Wap as a one-hit wonder that would eventually disappear. Then hit after hit made him the first artists in Hip Hop since Eminem to have charting singles back-to-back. One would come in the form of “My Way” featuring Monty. Having Drake on the remix only added to Zoo Wap’s star power in the most significant way possible.
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