Collaborations in the music industry are pivotal for most artists, especially for up and coming ones! Some collaborations, whether it is by two unknown artists, or with an A-list one, have proven that it could create a huge ball of impact to the public.
We've listed five of what we think are the most iconic collaborations of the year when it comes to music!
Calm Down - Rema ft. Selena Gomez
Afrobeats has had a huge year this 2023. With Rema and Selena Gomez's "Calm Down," afrobeats have taken the center stage in the American scene, with the track leading the charge. It's currently Rema's highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, peaking at No. 3. For 52 weeks, the song has not left the top spot on the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart.
Although the song was surprisingly snubbed at the 2024 Grammy Awards, the record won at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Afrobeats Video.
Creepin' - Metro Boomin' ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage
Released as the sole single of Metro Boomin's Grammy-nominated album "Heroes & Villains," "Creepin'" is the masterful partnership of Metro, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage.
The song was wildly raved by critics, with publications praising Metro Boomin's out of the box thinking "without sacrificing the foundation of what makes his music so appealing in the first place"
It has since been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and peaked at the No. 3 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
TQG - Karol G ft. Shakira
"TQG," which when loosely translated to English meant "Too Much For You Too Handle," is perhaps the biggest collaboration in Latin music this year. The partnership between Colombian superstars Shakira at Karol G has proven that they're too much for everyone!
The song won the 2023 MTV Video Music Award and MTV Europe Music Award for Best Collaboration and it has been nominated thrice at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards. The song also debuted at the No. 7 of the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest debut of a Spanish female track in Billboard history.
Barbie World - Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua
"Barbie" has been a worldwide phenomenon. Aiding its release is the Mark Ronson-produced album, "Barbie: The Album." One of its biggest tracks is "Barbie World," a reimagined and remixed version of Rap's biggest names this year - Queen Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice.
The track sparked huge nostalgia among Barbie fans because it sampled the iconic Aqua track "Barbie Girl," making it the highest-charting single from the album at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It also earned two Grammy Award nominations - Best Song from Visual Media and Best Rap Song at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Boys A Liar Pt. 2 - PinkPantheress ft. Ice Spice
The last record on this list is also a collaboration with Ice Spice. UK's bedroom pop princess PinkPantheress linked up with Ice Spice in "Boys A Liar Pt. 2," which ultimately became one of the biggest sounds of 2023. The song, despite not being snubbed for any Grammy nominations, has been iconic.
The song essentially put both PinkPantheress and Ice Spice on the map, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a huge feat especially huge newcomers like them without any assists.
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