I can help you with that

The Specialist
Written by JusHH

The collabo is such a delicate tool, it can really make or break an album. The thing is, not every rapper is a good collabo rapper. Jay-Z is arguably the best ever but he just isn’t as great when he’s featured on other people’s stuff. So what makes a great collabo artist? For one, you have to know how to make an instant impact. You don’t have 3 verses and a hook to draw us in so you have to get busy with the 8 – 16 bars that you’re given. You also have to be versatile. Every song is different and has different topics and you have to be able to change it up when needed. And finally, you have to be memorable. You can’t be forgotten the minute you spit your last bar. Usually people with all 3 of these qualities are excellent collabo artists.

But when you need that one great featured verse, who should you call?

There’s a lot of great collabo artists who can get the title. I have 3 honorable mentions. Lil’ Wayne is on just about everyone’s song – I mean everyone’s. Perhaps one day he can get the crown but his body of work really only stretches over the past couple of years. Perhaps the most versatile emcee, Ludacris, can and has gotten on tracks with all different kinds of artists and knows how to rap about any topic but he doesn’t have enough classics under his belt. Last but not least… Busta Rhymes. He has the classics, he knows how to take over a song and has done it forever. But pound for pound, song for song he’s not the best. Because the guy that I would call, the guy that has been the best collabo artist so far is none other than the M-E-T-H-O-D Man.

First off I won’t even bring up the work that he’s done featuring on other Wu-Tang member’s songs because it just won’t be fair. Taking that whole section of his catalogue out, he’s still #1. If anyone knows how to make an impact with one verse its Meth. Remember, “KABOOM guess who stepped in the room? Ticaaallll, hailing from the Shaolin Isle” off SWV’s “Anything (Remix)”? He has so many memorable lines.

He’s one of the few rappers to ever rap along side both Tupac (“Got My Mind Made Up”) and Biggie (“The What”) both are incredible songs on historic albums. You think Lil’ Wayne has rapped with a mix of different artists? Check this list out: Shaquille O’Neal, Missy Elliot, Limp Bizkit, Run-DMC, Usher, EPMD and Cypress Hill.

Method can switch it up with the best of them. He was on the comical but dope song, “Hit em High” off the Space Jam soundtrack. He spit with Eminem and Royce the 5’9 on the DJ Clue Professional 2 album. And if you want to take it underground, he featured on songs with Pharoahe Monch and Heltah Skeltah. When it came to the ladies, he was ready too. The classic “Break Ups to Make Ups” with D’Angelo is still in rotation today and don’t forget the hook he provided Foxy on the “Ill Na Na” track. You need it, he got it.

And if you want a timeless hit, again look no further. Not even mentioning the previous songs, who can forget his performance on “Grand Finale” the lead track on the Belly soundtrack? He and Sticky Fingers went back and forth as Onyx and Wu-Tang clashed on the song “The Worst”. (If you haven’t heard it, do it asap) And you can’t say the words posse cut without mentioning “4,3,2,1” with LL Cool J, Canibus and Redman. Speaking of Red, “How High” is still one of the greatest songs of all time and that song led to the formation of a legendary rap duo.

Please remember that I haven’t even mentioned his Wu-Tang features. His chorus on “Ice Cream” alone can put him in the top spot.

But if you’re still doubting just know that he’s the reason why your favorite rapper looks to get a R&B chick on his song…

“All I Need” featuring Mary J.