14 Unique Music Collaborations That Created Unforgettable Hits

Most hits come from established artists playing in the pocket, carving out increasingly scarce space in their chosen genre and perfecting it for mass appeal. Some of the biggest hits, however, come out of left field. These songs often take tried and true musical standards and flip them on their heads, pairing wildly different artists for collaborations that shift the paradigm. Not all hits are safe. Some are unique and unforgettable hits that cross genres.

Even when it comes to pop songs, real artistry requires innovation and the unexpected. All the artists on this list took a chance and stepped outside of their comfort zone to create unexpected, even revolutionary, musical hits. In theory, many of these songs shouldn't work. In practice, however, they broaden musical horizons and capture the public's attention. Let's explore 14 unique music collaborations that created unforgettable hits.

Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney may have scored a huge hit with "Ebony and Ivory," but the best cross-genre collaboration between a pop star and this former Beatle was "Say Say Say." Slow-burning and melodic, the two stars' radically different musical styles ended up complementing each other perfectly on this 1983 number one hit.

Though they didn't play different genres, both David Bowie and Queen took different dramatic approaches to pop/stadium rock. Their huge hit "Under Pressure" captured the best of both worlds with its thrumming beat and crescendo-like poignancy. It also charted in the Top 10 in over 10 countries.

A true cross-genre collaboration, "Numb/Encore" by nu-metal kingpins Linkin Park and hip-hop legend Jay-Z found a sweet spot between radically different types of music. Miraculously, Linkin Park's angsty hard rock provided a nice bed for Jay-Z's lyrical swagger. It charted well and won the collaborators a 2006 Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

A song from the biggest name in pop music and the most respected name in hip-hop seemed hard to pull off. Yet, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar did just that with "Bad Blood." It's high-energy, full of Lamar's venomously delivered rap lyrics that pair nicely with Swift's soaring vocal hooks. It's exciting, empowering, and hits all the right collaborative marks. "Bad Blood" even earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Considering their catalogues, Chicago rapper Lil Durk and pop country sweetheart Morgan Wallen couldn't be more different. Nevertheless, their hit "Broadway Girls" lets both artists shine. It offers Durk's surprisingly introspective lyrics before Wallen sings the chorus with a smooth Country melody. Not only was "Broadway Girls" a viral TikTok hit, but it reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Another unlikely pairing that resulted in a huge hit was Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott's "Antisocial." While Sheeran typically plays sunny pop love ballads, he leaned into Travis Scott's signature moody, atmospheric style. For what's considered a pop song, "Antisocial" is filled with tension and malaise. It charted globally, reaching number 11 in Australia.

In the mid-aughts, both Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk were on top of the music world. What better way to celebrate it than joining forces? This cross-genre collaboration, "Get Lucky," combined elements of disco, house, and hip-hop to create an earworm of a track. It reached number one in several countries and earned the team a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2014.

One of the more interesting cross-genre collaborative tracks is "Cold Heart" by pop princess Dua Lipa and living legend Elton John. It weaves a medley of several John hits, including "Rocket Man," "Kiss the Bride," and "Sacrifice." This made it familiar, but Dua Lipa's layered vocals made it refreshing. "Cold Heart" ended up reaching number one on the charts in several countries.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Eminem was on a historic run. He changed hip-hop and constantly outdid himself with each successive release. His collaboration with British singer Dido on his track "Stan" fit nicely in that framework. The song is dark, tragic, and made all the more emotional by Dido's haunting hook. It topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

No matter how you slice it, Run DMC and Aerosmith's cross-genre hit "Walk This Way" was historic, infectious, and paved the way for all the unexpected collaborations that came after it. Originally a conventional Aerosmith song, Run DMC covered it in 1986. Instead of shying away from the unexpected crossover, Aerosmith leaned into the experiment. This resulted in a huge hit, a cultural innovation, and a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single.

When Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus' cross-genre track "Old Town Road" hit the airwaves, it seemed like a gimmick. Imagine the public's surprise when they couldn't get it out of their heads. "Old Town Road" helped introduce country rap to the world and lingered in the public imagination thanks to its buttery, twangy melodies. It reached number one on the charts and stayed there for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks.

After the success of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind," the West Coast answered in the form of "California Gurls" by Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg. Viby and melodic, the song had instant summer anthem appeal. Its subtle blending of disco, pop, and hip hop provided a refreshing sound and helped it reach number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

With the runaway success of pop punker Avril Lavigne's song "Girlfriend," a remix was in order. To accomplish this unique genre crossover, Lavigne employed rapper Lil Mama. This gave the song's infectious melody a harder, but refreshing edge. Ultimately, it became one of the top-selling songs of 2007-2008.

While Selena Gomez made her name as a Disney Channel star, ASAP Rocky gained fame through his hard-edged, but hit-making, New York rap appeal. When they joined forces, it resulted in "Good For You," a slow-burning jam with Gomez's breathy vocals, Rocky's braggadocious bars, and a Dirty South-style rap beat. "Good For You" endeared itself to critics and fans alike. Though originally composed in under an hour, the song reached the top 10 of the Billboard charts.