“Hey Mr. D.J.” — Zhané feat. Fam of Rottin Razkals (1993)
Probably one of the catchiest tunes ever created, “Hey Mr. D.J.” peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It features Fam — a member of the rap group Rottin Razkals — and had crowds saying “Hey Mr. D.J.” long before Lil Wayne’s 2004 hit, “Go DJ.”
“Brenda’s Got a Baby” — 2Pac feat. Dave Hollister and Roniece Levias (1991)
This groundbreaking song took the country by storm. Delivering a raw and gritty track about the struggles many single, black mothers face in poor communities, 2Pac proved that his stint as a solo artist — separate from Digital Underground — was well needed . In this song, he tells a grappling story about the insurmountable odds “Brenda” is facing, and the hook displays passionate vocals to bring home the message.
“Now That We Found Love” — Heavy D & The Boyz feat. Aaron Hall (1991)
Heavy D & The Boyz delivered countless hits and “Now That We’ve Found Love” is absolutely one of them. Featuring R&B superstar Aaron Hall, the single was a cover of the 1973 single of the same name by legendary group, The O’Jays. Produced by Teddy Riley, it peaked at the number two spot on the Billboard Club Dance Songs the year it was released.
“Keep Your Head Up” — 2Pac feat. Dave Hollister (1993)
The success of “Keep Your Head Up” speaks for itself, and still makes heavy rounds on the radio. The motivational track is a staple in 2Pac’s discography due to its dedication to black women and Latasha Harlins, a teenager who was shot and killed in LA in 1991.
“2 Legit 2 Quit” — Hammer feat. Saja (1991)
Does this song really need any introduction? “2 Legit 2 Quit” was that funky, upbeat dance track that made you want to put on baggy dress pants and cut up. Hammer dropped “MC” from his name for this album (titled the same name as the song). At this point, he was a certified superstar, and this song — which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — helped solidify that sentiment.
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What do you think of our list? Share examples of your favorite R&B & Rap collabs below.
