15 Iconic Music Collaborations That Redefined the Industry

Music of all genres has been part of pop culture for decades. From pop to hip-hop, rap, country, folk, and bluegrass, music has continued to evolve. 

One of the biggest things that has reshaped music history has been iconic collaborations between artists. Collaborations not only allow specific songs and artists to cross genres, but they also allow artists to bring their own unique giftings to the table. For example, “FourFiveSeconds” may have been written by Kanye West and Paul McCartney, but it was Rihanna’s soulful vocals that made both her and the song shine. 

Additionally, music collaborations are just as powerful and helpful as any other professional partnership. It can help each artist on their rise to fame, open doors to more knowledge, and provide networking opportunities. When Michael Jackson began collaborating with Paul McCartney on their single “Say Say Say” it was McCartney who was able to offer career advice to Jackson as he began shooting up the charts. 

From hits like “Under Pressure” by UK artists Queen and David Bowie to hip hop crossovers like “Still D.R.E.,” each song on this list marks a time in musical history when these collaborations reshaped what we knew about music. A few songs on our list also make the list for unexpected musical collaborations that really worked. 

To create this list of the most iconic music collaborations, 24/7 Tempo consulted music and entertainment sources from across the web. These include USA Today, Rolling Stone, and Billboard. Here are 15 of the most iconic collaborations that reshaped music. 

“Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie

• Release Date: October 26, 1981

While the exact details of how this song came to be aren’t clear, legend has it that both Queen and David Bowie were recording music at the same studio in Montreux, Switzerland. After running into each other at the studio, all 5 artists put their heads together to create this iconic song which marries both rock and pop sounds. The single reached the top of the UK Singles Chart and hit top 10 lists in several other countries. Additionally, while the song was first released as a single, it was later added to Queen’s album “Hot Space” which was released in 1982. 

“A Gift of Song” by Various Artists

• Release Date: January 9, 1979

“A Gift of Song” became the soundtrack to the “The Music for UNICEF” concert. This musical event took place in January of 1979 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. This song was performed not only to celebrate the International Year of the Child but also in an effort to raise funds for children everywhere through the UNICEF foundation. Artists included in this iconic collaboration were ABBA, The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind and Fire, and John Denver, among many others. It was originally televised before becoming an album available for purchase. Funds from the album were then donated back to UNICEF. 

“Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

• Release Date: October 3, 1983

At a time when both artists were hugely popular, their collaborative song “Say Say Say” was released as the first single on McCartney’s album “Pipes of Peace.” This song reached the top ten list, making it Jackson’s 7th top ten song in a year. Additionally, this song is what created a friendship between the two artists. It also led them to work together on other musical pieces later on. McCartney later wrote a book where he remembers how much the two artists truly enjoyed working together on this collaboration. 

“What Now My Love” by Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin 

• Release Date: November 2, 1993

While “What Now My Love” was originally recorded by Sinatra himself on his 1966 album “That’s Life,” the song was reprised in 1993. As Sinatra worked to make a new album called “Duets,” his goal was to collaborate with other artists on some of his old classics. This song brought forth the iconic collaboration between Sinatra and Franklin. The two artists bring their own unique sound to the song, marrying two different styles that listeners love. 

“We Are the World” by Various Artists 

• Release Date: March 7, 1985

Similar to “A Gift of Song,” “We Are the World” was recorded by numerous powerhouse musicians to raise funds for charity. The song was originally written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie but was recorded with some help from other musicians, dubbing their group name U.S.A. for Africa. These artists included Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, and Tina Turner, among others. Funds from the song were then used to support famine efforts in Africa. Additionally, the song went on to see its own commercial success by becoming a chart-topping hit in numerous countries around the world. Apple TV also went on to release a documentary about how the song came to be calling it “We Are the World The Story Behind The Song.” 

“Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith

• Release Date: July 4, 1986

Like “What Now My Love,” “Walk this Way” was a song originally released in 1966 by the rock band Aerosmith. However, Rick Rubin convinced the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. to cover the song and invite Aerosmith in on the recording. While both groups weren’t sure how this mashup would be received, the song went on to mark the beginning of Rock/Rap collaborations. It also launched Aerosmith back into pop culture after the group had struggled over recent years. 

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John and George Michael

• Release Date: November 1991

Elton John originally recorded “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” for his 1974 album “Caribou.” Released as a single, John saw marginal success with the song. But it really took off as a duet with his friend George Michael. The duo performed the song live in 1985 at the Live Aid concert. After many years of Michael covering the song himself, the song was officially released as a recording in 1991. Surprising everyone, Classic Rock and Culture reports that it hit No. 1 on February 1, 1992. 

“Numb/Encore” by Linkin Park and Jay-Z

• Release Date: December 13, 2004

At the time of this song’s release, Linkin Park was known as a rock band, while Jay-Z was a rapper. Many collaborations include two artists coming together to create something new, but these artists did something different with “Numb/Encore.” They created a “mash-up” where each artist used portions from their original songs (“Numb” was recorded by Linkin Park and “Encore” by Jay-Z) to create a new sound. “Numb/Encore” reached the top 20 in the U.S. when it was released in 2004. It also went on to be a chart-topping hit in several other countries, including 3 weeks at No. 1 in Ireland. 

“FourFiveSeconds” by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney

• Release Date: January 24, 2015

In 2014, West and McCartney worked together to create the single “Only One,” a song dedicated to West’s new daughter. But the two continued to work together and eventually pulled Rihanna in on their new song “FourFiveSeconds.” As Kanye and McCartney worked together on lyrics and music, McCartney recalls the two simply telling each other stories while he played around with his guitar. After Rihanna’s vocals were added, the song became a hit. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015. 

“Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake 

• Release Date: November 4, 2015

Though this collaboration has never been recorded in a studio, it was performed live at the Country Music Association Awards in November of 2015. The duo also went on to cover Timberlake’s song “Drink You Away” during the awards show. This collaboration created a massive crossover between pop and country. Taste of Country recounts the event, noting the crowd who was present for the live performance, and those watching at home, went wild for the performance. Today, Timberlake still makes guest appearances at Stapleton’s concert to perform the song together. 

“Still D.R.E.” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

• Release Date: November 2, 1999

Before this song was released, hip-hop artist Dr. Dre was beginning to fall off the charts. It had been 7 years since his last album had been released, and while he was working to produce albums for others, he was ready to make his own music again. Dr. Dre has reportedly said that Jay-Z wrote the lyrics, but it was the collaboration of Snoop Dogg’s vocals with Dre that made the song an iconic hit. 

“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, and Nile Rodgers 

• Release Date: April 19, 2013

“Get Lucky” was another unlikely collaboration in the music industry. The duo known as Daft Punk was known for their house, electric, and disco sound. While they were already well-versed with Nile Rodgers’ guitar talent, Pharrell Williams supposedly suggested they worked together after meeting the duo at a party. While it took some time to get the song together, it saw instant critical acclaim. Rolling Stone even named it the best track of 2013. 

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

• Release Date: April 20, 1967

This classic soul song became the first of many duets between husband and wife duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. At the time of its release, it only ever peeked at No. 19 on the Billboard charts. It also went on to be covered by the Supremes and Temptations, as well as Diana Ross herself. However, it was the original 1967 version that was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. This song has also gone on to be used in numerous blockbuster hit movies like “Remember the Titans” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” 

“Despacito” by Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi, and Daddy Yankee

• Release Date: April 17, 2017

“Despacito” was a song originally released entirely in Spanish by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. However, a remix was made in 2017 that included pop singer Justin Bieber. It was this collaboration that allowed the song to cross between genres. It also helped the song crawl higher on numerous charts reportedly hitting charts in nearly 50 different countries. Additionally, Bieber had to learn to sing Spanish, making this song as unique for the listeners as it was for the artists. 

“Over and Over” by Nelly and Tim McGraw

• Release Date: September 12, 2004

Originally written by rapper Nelly, “Over and Over” features the soulful vocals of country music icon Tim McGraw. With this crossover between musical genres, the song went on to reach No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the No. 1 spot in many other countries. Additionally, Nelly released the song on his 2004 album “Suit” before McGraw released it on his 2006 greatest hits album. This crossover allowed a larger listening audience to fall in love with the song. For similar content, click here to check out the biggest comebacks in music history.