Collaborations / co-labs / collabos: call them what you want, they’re the cocktails of the electronic music world. A chance for two artists to come together and create something beyond their usual creative spectrum, when done right, they hit the spot like no other production.
In the week that the ultimate collaborative force Bad Company confirmed that new music is en route in a matter of weeks, we thought we’d celebrate with 10 of the best/strangest/most unique collaborations in recent years. From the guaranteed fit (Zomboy & MUST DIE, Noisia & Calyx & Teebee) to the out-right leftfield (Kendrick Lamar & Flying Lotus, A$AP Rocky & Gesaffelstein), here are 10 (of many) reminders why two/three/four heads are often better than one…
Skrillex & Wolfgang Gartner – The Devil’s Den
In 2011, Skrillex cooked up this monster collaboration with Wolfgang Gartner that still gets thoroughly rinsed to this day. One of the highlights on Bangarang (which also featured collabs with 12th Planet, Kill The Noise, The Doors and Ellie Goulding), this is one of the most memorable Skrillex collabs out there. That second drop though…
Baauer & RL Grime – Infinite Daps
In 2012, two kings of trap joined forces resulting in this floor shaker that remains some of their finest works to date. Still amped for Baauer’s album next month, too…
Noisia & Calyx & Teebee – Hyenas
Serial collaborators, no matter who they invite to their studio, Noisia always kill it. Their only collaboration with both Calyx & Teebee to date (although they did make Moon Palace with Teebee a few years before) Hyenas is stylish, atmospheric track that blends their two sounds together with elegance.
Zomboy & MUST DIE! – Survivors
How could we not include this one? Zomboy enlisted the talents of MUST DIE! for this banging cut from his 2014 album The Outbreak. Pure madness.
Flux Pavilion & Childish Gambino – Do Or Die
We’ll admit, rap and dubstep don’t always play well together. But when they do…
Rustie & Danny Brown – Attak
Whilst Rustie has technically been credited with production for Danny Brown, their first and only ‘true’ collab is the mighty Attak. Lock your largest sub down. This knocks!
Flying Lotus & Kendrick Lamar – Never Catch Me
One of the most out-there producers collaborating with one of the most celebrated modern rappers. Featured on Fly-Lo’s 2014 album You’re Dead! this track gets crazier and crazier to the very end.
A$AP Rocky & Gesaffelstein – In Distress
Here’s another rap/electronic collab. Gesaffelstein’s dark, industrial stylings seamlessly blend with ASAP Rocky’s moody flow, resulting in this seriously under-appreciated track.
Dimension & Kove – Feel Love Again
Sometimes you hear a collab that sounds so right that you wonder why the two artists don’t team up more often. This is definitely a prime example of that, with both Kove & Dimension’s distinct sounds merging together to create a drum and bass tune that’s impossible to remove from your head…
SKisM & DC Breaks – Killer
Skism & DC Breaks smashed the worlds of dubstep and drum and bass in 2012 with this old school dubstep smasher. Still slays to this day…
