Ever since his breakthrough appearance on YG’s Toot It and Boot It in 2010, Ty Dolla $ign has built a huge career around working with other artists. The dude would have to be a first choice team member for those flimsy group assignments everyone gets caught short with at Uni, because time and time again he gets results!
With the TD$ album Free TC out now, we figured it’s time to take a look at the best of his studio pow—wows with like minded collaborators.
“Drop that Kitty” with Charli XCX and Tinashe.
Out earlier in 2015, Drop that Kitty features one of Ty’s least likely collaborators in the form of the British songstress Charli XCX on chorus duties. This unique appearance is ultimately what makes the song work, giving it a grimey catch-cry reminiscent of a Lady Sovereign banger. The additional vocals by Tinashe and the cat motif throughout the music video make this track quite the earworm. Or rather, earkitty.
"Ratchet In My Benz” with Juicy J.
Nearly two years later and this is still on heavy rotation in our office playlist. Juicy J turning up is just something that’s too good too let fade away and his verse oozes that southern stop/start flow we love. Couple that unique delivery with Ty’s unique crooning and this track absolutely drips with flavour. Get it cranking.
Papoose - “Michael Jackson” with Ty Dolla $ign & Remy Ma.
The opening lines of this track are a command to “don’t speak” and that’s pretty much the response we had to it. Ty proves here that he’s just as valuable in a straight up rap track as he is on his usual RnB cut. Producer Ron Browz uses the smooth Ty vocals through the chorus to harmonise with Papoose, bringing a bit more depth to this already fun track.
“Or Nah” with The Weeknd, Wiz Khalifa & DJ Mustard.
With a minimalist beat and hyper sexual lyrics, this is probably the best Ty song to bring to the bedroom. It’s no surprise, then, that king of seduction The Weeknd is all over the song and he brings along some of his dirtiest lines to date. When looking at the number of views on Youtube and plays on Spotify (over 150 million) it becomes clear that Ty and crew are definitely responsible for a TONNE of babies being made.
Wiz Khalifa - “Post Up”, produced by Ty Dolla $ign.
Showing that he’s a versatile all rounder, Ty steps up and produces this trap-heavy Khalifa cut. It’s massive tracks like this on which Ty has gained the skills an abilities as a producer on to go forth and produce a bunch of his own stuff on the new album Free TC.
There’s no denying that with collabs from Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Fetty Wap, R. Kelly, Rae Sremmurd, Future, Wiz Khalifa, Brandy and Babyface to name a few, Free TC is Ty $’s LARGEST release yet!
Hey TD$! If the rap game was a primary school then your report card would definitely be getting a big fat “works well with others”.
-Henry
Ty Dolla $ign's Free TC is available now where all good records are sold | streamed.
