Spinner

Kanye West's Best (and Worst) Non-Rap Collaborations

Kayne WestAP Photo, Jason DeCrow

As much as Kanye West's success rests on his grandiose rhymes and hit singles, he's also based his career on clever collaborations by readily sharing his own spotlight with other artists and dropping verses on everyone else's songs.

But this week's release of 'Watch the Throne,' West's epic, album-length collaboration with Jay-Z got us thinking about Kanye's unprecedented partnerships outside the hip-hop sphere. So we dug up Kanye's 10 best (and one worst) non-rap collaborators.
Kanye West (Samples Daft Punk's 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger') -- 'Stronger'
Rapping over the French duo's 2001 hit 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,' West fused hip-hop and electronic music to create this influential No. 1 off his third record, 'Graduation.' Though perhaps not a true collaboration since 'Ye used a prexisting sample, Daft Punk's robot suits (worn by their cinematic dopplegangers from 'Electroma') did appear in the music video and the electro heroes themselves performed with West at the 2008 Grammys, where the song nabbed Best Rap Solo Performance (solo because Daft Punk only claimed a songwriting credit).
Watch 'Stronger' Video
La Roux Ft. Kanye West -- 'In for the Kill (Remix)'
A year after La Roux released the single for 'In for the Kill' off their 2009 self-titled debut, West jumped on an official remix and added his star power to the Brit's breakthrough. They've since collaborated on another song, this time with Jay-Z on 'That's My Bitch', which will appear on 'Watch the Throne.' Oh, and if you listen very, very carefully to West's all-star single 'All of the Lights' -- also featuring Rihanna, Elton John, Fergie, Alicia Keys and John Legend -- you might recognize the voice of La Roux singer Elly Jackson, too. Though even Jackson admits it's hard to make herself out.
Listen to 'In for the Kill'
N.A.S.A. Ft. Kanye West, Lykke Li and Santogold -- 'Gifted'
Only a duo like N.A.S.A (Brazil's DJ Zegon and Spike Jonze's little brother Squeak E. Clean) could bring together a bunch as eclectic as this and make it work. Even on a record like 'The Spirit of Apollo' which includes contributions from heavyweights such as David Byrne, M.I.A., and Tom Waits, the single 'Gifted' stands out. With Kanye's signature flow, Lykke Li's sweet choruses and since-renamed Santigold's whimsical verse all thrown together, the end result is a spacey, futuristic dance anthem.
Watch the Video for 'Gifted'
Kanye West Ft. Bon Iver -- 'Lost in the World'
When word got out that Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon was working with Kanye on the rapper's latest album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' it came as a surprise to pretty much everyone. Initially calling Vernon up for permission to sample his song 'Woods' (off 2009's 'Blood Bank'), Kanye managed to convince Vernon to lend his voice to a handful of tracks, including the epic 'Lost in the World,' which West hypes up as his powerhouse "festival closer." The pair performed together at Kanye's epic SXSW secret show in an abandoned power plant earlier this year.
Listen to 'Lost in the World'
Katy Perry Ft. Kanye West -- 'E.T.'
The radio single version of Katy Perry's 'E.T.' (off her 2010 smash album, 'Teenage Dream') became Perry's fourth No. 1 single, at least in part thanks to West's additional verses about bars out in Mars and spaceships instead of cars. Plus, who else can coin the phrase "alien sex" and insert it into a successful pop hit? No one. Not that many people have tried, of course. Oh, and if this hit didn't totally erase the line between hip-hop and pop, the pair finished the job with a joint performance on 'American Idol.'
Watch Video for 'E.T.'
Estelle Ft. Kanye West -- 'American Boy'
On British R&B singer Estelle's second record, 'Shine,' she enlists the help of many well-known North Americans, including John Legend (as executive producer), will.i.am, Kardinal Offishall and Cee-Lo, but none proved as successful as this Kanye collab. Hitting No. 1 in the UK and garnering a Grammy win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, 'American Boy' is definitely one of West's best team-ups. Award show freak-outs and weird sunglasses aside, Kanye's self-made success (and self-aggrandizing attitude) really does make him a textbook American boy.
Listen to 'American Boy'
Justin Bieber Ft. Kanye West and Raekwon -- 'Runaway Love'
Proof that Twitter does bring people together! After exchanging a couple of tweets to each other where Kanye suggested, "Maybe we can do something together. Me, you and Raekwon," the Wu-Tang legend and Canadian pop sensation agreed to a collaboration, remixing Bieber's 'Runaway Love.' Rumour has it the pair will team up once again on Bieber's next album, which will also include cameos from Drake and Chris Brown.
Listen to 'Runaway Love'
Patti LaBelle Ft. Kanye West -- 'Anything'
On the iconic crooner's 2006 gospel record, 'The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle', she enlists the help of West (along with Mary Mary and Consequence) for her second single, 'Anything.' The result is a surprisingly catchy, soulful jam in which the 'Jesus Walks' rapper drops rhymes about God and miracles while reassuring you that LaBelle's tale is indeed a "true story." It topped Billboard's gospel charts for a miraculous 17 weeks.
Listen to 'Anything'
Madonna Ft. Kayne West -- 'Beat Goes On'
Even though Madonna, of all people, has complained that West is "a bit impulsive" and "needs to put a lid on it" that didn't stop the pop icon from tapping him for a guest appearance on the Pharrell-produced tune 'Beat Goes On,' featured on 2008's 'Hard Candy.'
Listen to 'Beat Goes On'
Kanye West Ft. Chris Martin -- 'Homecoming'
After meeting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin at an impromptu recording session at Abbey Road Studios, West replaced his former go-to guy John Legend with the Brit rocker for this cut from 2008's 'Graduation.' Some sensed a rivalry between West and Jay-Z since Martin also worked with Jay on his 2006 comeback record, 'Kingdom Come.' But fear not, all three put any rumours of animosity aside when they performed the song live at a New Year's Eve gig in Las Vegas. The very definition of a power trio.
Watch the Video for 'Homecoming'
Worst Collaboration: 30 Seconds to Mars Ft. Kanye West -- 'Hurricane'
Not everything West touches turns to gold. Word on a 30 Seconds to Mars-Kanye West collaboration spread when West posted a photo of himself, lead singer Jared Leto and the Killers' Brandon Flowers back in 2009 -- and 'Hurricane' was the result. The track came with its own epic 13-minute long video, too, complete with motorcycle crashes, naked women and no logical plotline to speak of -- in other words, the very antithesis of Leto's '90s TV classic 'My So-Called Life.' Kanye, we hope you've learned your lesson. We'd even take another John Mayer collaboration over this.
Listen to 'Hurricane'

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

1 Comment

Filter by:
Bernard Stanton

I just paid $24,31 for an iPad2-64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic GF 1 Camera that we got for $34,26 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 42 inch LED TV to my boss for $678 which only cost me $68,18 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, CentSpace.com

August 09 2011 at 10:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply