Music, like science, is all about experimentation. Artists have to decide if they want their music to safely blend in with everything else that we hear on Top 40 or if they want to be different and take risks with their music. Many artists and producers know the algorithm that it takes to get their song on the Billboard charts. With that in mind, some songs sound generic, and while catchy, there isn't anything that sets them apart from other pieces of art.
Then, you have those songs that sound like nothing else on the radio. Sometimes, this is due to two completely different music genres attempting to merge on one track or two musicians that seem worlds apart in the music industry trying to harmonize or fit together. Some of these songs were epic and a pleasure to hear, while others completely missed the mark. Here are 10 of some of the most unlikely duets in pop music.
10 Nelly And Tim McGraw - "All In My Head" (2004)
Before there was "Old Town Road," we had this country-hip-hop crossover track. We expect fun hip-hop tracks like "Ride Wit Me" from Nelly or singsong crossover R&B tracks like "Dilemma," but no one expected him to dabble in country music. Then again, with him growing up in St. Louis, it makes sense. Is this song cheesy? Absolutely. But most people are not mad for Nelly experimenting with seasoned country singer Tim McGraw.
9 Brad Paisley And LL Cool J - "Accidental Racist" (2013)
Yes, this song exists, unfortunately. Paisley details an incident where he wears a t-shirt with a confederate flag, claiming that he didn't mean to offend the Starbucks worker. He only wears it apparently because he likes Lynyrd Skynyrd, a rock group known for their confederate flag paraphernalia. To make the collaboration even more questionable, LL Cool J says, "If you don't judge my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains."
8 Carrie Underwood And Ludacris - "The Champion" (2018)
Once again, we have another instance where country and hip-hop works well together. By 2018, music lovers weren't surprised that hip-hop or rap artists could come together on a track and make magic. What's "unlikely" about this duet is that Carrie never featured a rapper on her songs until this song. This track has a throbbing baseline and motivates you. Carrie's powerhouse vocals coupled with Ludacris' hard-hitting bars is the formula for the perfect triumph record. What made these two collaborate? The Super Bowl was the reason.
7 Billie Ray Cyrus And Lil Nas X - "Old Town Road Remix" (2019)
This track is the most epic hip-hop country crossover to date. Billy Ray Cyrus has a few songs on the Billboard chart, but none of them surpassed Achy Breaky Heart until the "Old Town Road" Remix came along. Not only has Cyrus never collaborated with rap or hip-hop artists before, but this would be the first of his songs in many moons that landed on more than the country charts. Conversely, Cyrus would help Lil Nas X's song qualify as a country song.
6 Rihanna, Kanye West, And Paul McCartney - "FourFiveSeconds" (2015)
Both Kanye West and Rihanna are famous for their experiments with sounds from songs with Europop, EDM, rock, gospel influences, and everything in between. Paul McCartney is also no stranger to being open to collaborations. He worked with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, George Michael, Tony Bennet, and Johnny Cash. Nonetheless, this folk-pop song was a pleasant surprise. Rihanna's gritty vocal stylings and McCartney's acoustic guitar, and Kanye's production skills make for a toe-tapping track.
5 Michael Bublé And Reese Witherspoon - "Somethin' Stupid" (2013)
This duet comes as a surprise because no one knew that the Legally Blonde actress could sing, let alone attempt to cover a Frank Sinatra classic. Some covers try way too hard and are too production-heavy. However, this cover is an earnest, sonically-pleasing song that doesn't stray too far from the original version. These two sound perfectly sweet and adorable together.
4 Run-DMC And Aerosmith - "Walk This Way" (1986)
This record is one of the greatest hip-hop and rock fusions of all time. What makes this duet so interestingly unlikely is that at the time, no producer had mixed rock and rap in this way. During the 80s, there seemed to be a limit to what you could do in pop and punk music, but that wasn't necessarily the case in rap music, which intrigued Rick Rubin, the producer of this track. Where else have you heard Rick Rubin's masterful production? Jay-Z's 99 Problems.
3 Linkin Park And Jay-Z- "Numb/Encore"
Once again, it's rare that we hear such brilliant rock and rap blends in the mainstream, but these collaborations tend to change music forever when they happen. Danger Mouse took Jay-Z's The Black Album and The Beatles' The White Album, mashed them up for fun, and called it The Grey Album, which went viral. MTV loved this idea, knowing it would make them a lot of money, and decided to create a mash-up series, reaching out to the hottest rap stars and the biggest bands of the time, and the rest was history.
2 Ozzy Osbourne And Miss Piggy - "Born to Be Wild" (2005)
Yes, this song exists as well, unfortunately. Ozzy Osbourne covering "Born To Be Wild" does make sense. It's a rock classic, but why did Miss Piggy, a Muppet, appear on the track? The song was a part of a comedy album called Kermit Unpigged, where the Muppets perform cover songs with singers such as country singer Vince Gill and the former lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne. What makes this song strange is that no one would check off the "kid-friendly" box next to Ozzy's name.
1 Eddie Murphy And Michael Jackson - "Watzupwithu" (1993)
Comedian Eddie Murphy and pop king Michael Jackson are both iconic legends in their respective fields. However, "Watzupwithu" is a song that many people try to forget. The song was not well-received by critics, and it's rare that you hear musician-comic collaborations, unless, of course, it's Saturday Night Live.