One of our favourite things in music is when two or more artists jump on the same track and bring their signature sounds to the table. It's a mash-up of two worlds, and often, the artists are able to elevate each other to a whole new level.
Collaboration is particularly prevalent in hip-hop, with some of the biggest artists in Australia working with each other. We've taken a look at some of the biggest collaborations in Australian hip-hop, and what makes them so huge. Turn up your speakers - you'll want to listen to these tracks LOUD.
OneFour and The Kid Laroi - My City
OneFour have been working with some huge artists in 2020 - A$AP Ferg, Dutchavelli and Headie One, just to name a few. However, it was a collab with a fellow Australian that really turned heads.
Linking up with The Kid Laroi for My City, one of the tracks off OneFour's debut EP My City, both artists proved that they're global stars (as if we didn't know that already).
Laroi compares himself to Drake, while OneFour flex as hard as they've ever flexed before. It's a landmark moment in Australian hip-hop, and we reckon it's going to do very well in this year's Hottest 100 countdown.
Tkay Maidza and JPEGMAFIA - Awake
Tkay Maidza is no stranger to working with American rappers, having already linked up with both Killer Mike and Duckwrth in the past. However, her collab with JPEGMAFIA might just be her biggest moment yet.
Working with the Baltimore rapper on Awake, the pair rap over a pulsating trap beat, and talk about how they're struggling to sleep. If you need to wake up, and a coffee isn't doing the trick, then listen to Awake. You'll be buzzing for the rest of the day.
S1mba, Youngn Lipz, Hooligan Hefs and Hooks - Rover (Remix)
UK rapper S1mba knew exactly what he was doing when he called in Aussie up-and-comers Youngn Lipz, Hooligan Hefs and Hooks to jump on the remix of his track Rover, and they all smashed it out of the park.
Youngn Lipz kicks proceedings off with his now-signature crooning, before Hooligan Hefs and Hooks both take aims at their opps during their verses. Neither of them pull any punches on the track, and they all land. We wouldn't want to step to either of them, that's for sure.
Remi and Sampa The Great - For Good
Before she was cleaning up at the 2020 ARIA Awards, Sampa The Great was one to watch in Australian hip-hop. When she jumped on For Good with Melbourne rapper Remi, her star power was as clear as day - it was only a matter of time before she took the world by storm.
Remi opens up about his infidelity in a past relationship, and Sampa explores both sides of the story with him. Speaking about the track, Remi says it was important to have both perspectives represented. “I was a scandalous prick, and I wanted to outline how it went down and how it affected everyone involved. The best way to do this was to have both the male and female perspective.”
Kerser, Future and Young Buck - Total Concentration
Whoever thought Kerser, Future and Young Buck would ever end up on the same track together? In 2017, that's exactly what happened, and it's a whirlwind of a track.
The song, which is presented by Canberra producer Ghosts In The Room, sees Young Buck, Future and Kerser all trading verses. Kerser is at his rough and tumble best, while Future brings a certain smoothness to the track.
While their styles might not exactly mesh in theory, in practice it all comes together brilliantly. It was a huge moment for Kerser, and put him on the radar of many Americans. Suddenly, Campbelltown doesn't feel so far removed from America.
Hilltop Hoods and Pharaohe Monch - Classic Example
New York rapper Pharoahe Monch brought his A-game when he jumped on the 2009 track Classic Example with Australian legends Hilltop Hoods. It's a throwback to the "golden age" of hip-hop, and you can tell how stoked Suffa and Pressure are to be rapping alongside Pharoahe.
Breaking the track down during a Myspace chat, Suffa says it was an honour to work with NY rap royalty. "It features a man who is Superman-Jesus: Pharoahe Monch. He is one of the best emcees on the planet, if not the best.
"It was our honour to have him on a record with us, and doing a sort of… I guess the track’s sort of a throwback track to classic mid-‘90s hip-hop tracks. Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 fame did the beat for this one, and he sent a beat disc and this just stuck out; it was hardcore."
Pez, 360 and Hailey Cramer - The Festival Song
While it might not exactly sound like the hip-hop Australians are making today, this 2004 track from Pez, 360 and Hailey Cramer is a celebration of the typical Australian festival experience (something we're all missing at the moment).
The song talks about the hot summer days, hanging out with mates, and of course, the parties that go along with an Australian music festival. It put both Pez and 360 on the map as household names in Australian hip-hop, and remains as accurate as ever in 2020. Who else is missing those summer days at a festival with your crew? We definitely are.
READ MORE: Sampa The Great, Tame Impala And Amy Shark All Cleaned Up At This Year's ARIA Awards
Bliss n Eso and Nas - I Am Somebody
When Bliss n Eso called in one of the rap greats in Nas to feature on their 2014 track I Am Somebody, they didn't just get a guest verse - he also featured in the music video for the track. The Sydney skyline features heavily in the music video, and it's a landmark moment in Australian hip-hop. The track is a positive, uplifting song, with Nas coming in at the end of the track. It's all about self-determination, and making things happen.
However, we are left with one question - why is he wearing a neck brace in the film clip? We may never know. Regardless, it's a huge feature, with Bliss n Eso posting on Facebook at the time that they couldn't believe it. “This man right here is one of the reasons why we got into hip hop. 20 years ago he released one of the the all time greatest hip hop albums, Illmatic. It was a true honour to work with Nasty NAS from Queensbridge.”
