Bon Iver, Jamie Foxx, Chief Keef, Hudson Mohawk, and now, Paul McCartney. That's just a partial list of Kanye West collaborators. Ever since the Chi-Town don rapped "call him Kwah-li or Kwey-li, I put him on songs with Jay Z," fans have known to expect left-field musical partnerships, and that's part of the rapper/producer's charm.
His latest effort, "Only One," with the former Beatle, is soulful, uplifting, and reflective. We expected a proper duet, but what we got is an auto-tuned Kanye set to McCartney's keys. Still, we're loving it.
As we digest the tune, we can't help thinking about strange pairings. Some not so successful. And others oddly heartwarming.
See also: Bey Z and the Five Greatest Pop Power Couples Ever
Kanye West and Paul McCartney's "Only One"
The press release for this tune tells a strange story. Turns out, "Only One" emerged while McCartney churned random riffs and West freestyled. Listening back, they discovered the melody and the basic premise, but Kanye couldn't remember singing the lines. He claims his mother, the late Donda West, was speaking through him. That's either adorable or spooky as shit. In any case, we think the song is nice.
Lou Reed and Metallica's Lulu
This pairing, on the other hand, is really fucking weird. Why does Lou Reed sound like Bob Dylan on this track? Anyway, the man who made Metal Machine Music got together with the guys who made metal mainstream for a complete collaboration album in 2011. It was the Velvet Underground frontman's last recorded LP before passing away in 2013.
See also: Ten Worst Celebrity Rappers
Jack White and Insane Clown Posse's "Leck Mich Im Arsch"
Detroit in this bitch! But we bet you never thought you'd see D-town like this. Jack White is rock 'n' roll personified. And Insane Clown Posse are two face-painted rapping demons from the Dark Carnival. Nothing about this could have been expected. They wrote a song called "Leck Mich Im Arsch," which means "lick my ass" in German. It revolves mostly around a Mozart sample dating from 1782. The weirdest part is it's kind of amazing. Hunt for the seven-inch vinyl, released on White's Third Man Records, if you dare.
The Jonas Brothers and Common's "Don't Charge Me For The Crime"
Common is known for his lyrically driven and politically conscious rap career. The Jonas Brothers are known for nice haircuts and hand-holding your little sister through puberty. It's only right the two should merge their musical worlds and pen a strange song about guilt by association, no? This team-up makes no sense. Worse, it's not a very good song at all. We are totally charging them for this crap.
DMX and Marilyn Manson's "The Omen"
DMX is fighting his inner demons on "The Omen," and everyone knows Marilyn Manson is your go-to guy for evil vibes. This track is spooky dooky, and that intro is downright horrifying. Unfortunately, it's not very good. Oh well. They can't all be winners. At least DMX dared to be different.
Crossfade's Top Blogs
-Six Worst Pop Star Siblings to Ever Suck
-Music's Five Dumbest Marketing Trends
-"Twerking," "Dubstep," and Other Dumb Music Words in the Dictionary
Follow Kat Bein on Twitter @KatSaysKill.
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.
