Photo:
Some mash-ups are God awful, aren't they? They can often be slimy combinations of wildly different genres that simply don't belong together.
Due to the simplicity of being able to combine a rapper's acapella track with a brand new instrumental, producers and Dj's can be incredibly inventive with the way they combine vocals and music, creating mind bending and (most importantly) ear pleasing tracks for hip-hop heads and rock n' roll fans alike.
From combining The Beatles' White Album and Jay Z's black album to seamlessly mixing cult groups like Fugazi and Wu-Tang, here are the best hip-hop mashup projects of all time.
Dangermouse: The Grey Album - The Beatles Vs Jay Z
Renowned producer and James Mercer collaborator, (Broken Bells) Danger Mouse mashed up two iconic albums back in the early 2000’s, The Beatles’ White album and Jay Z’s black album. The resulting album shouldn’t work, but it really does, the project working best during its more understated moments. Listen to his version of ‘What More Can I say’, the talented artist with his first foray into producing melding Jay’s Z’s direct rhyming style with The Beatles’ timeless classic ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.
Cecil Otter & Swiss Andy: Wugazi - Fugazi Vs Wu-Tang
In a daring and provocative mash-up, two cult groups from wildly different genres blend together in a seamless cocktail of dark, melancholic sludge and ferocious lyricism and street life story telling. ‘Sleep Rules Everything Around Me’ is a particular highlight, Raekwon and Inspectah Deck’s tales charting the struggles of hustling matching perfectly with ‘I’m So Tired’s ominous piano and pained chorus.
The Juicy XX - Notorious BIG Vs The XX
This intriguing mash up adds a new dimension to Biggy’s direct and uncompromising story telling style, giving even his most juvenile and bragodocious rhymes more depth and punch. The project’s highlight, ‘Islands Is The Limit’ combines The XX’s dreamy ‘Islands’ with ‘Sky Is The Limit’, the final verse culminating in stirring and atmospheric fashion. “If the game shakes me or breaks me / I hope it makes me a better man.”
Team Teamwork: Ocarina of rhyme - Zelda Vs Various Hip Hop Artists
This beautifully inventive project samples a sea of sounds and songs from the classic N64 game, The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, creating instrumentals for hip hop legends like Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes that are layered with pan-flutes, strange synths and atmospheric tones. Busta’s track ‘Don’t Touch Me’ is ridiculously over the top and sounds like the ultimate boss battle on crack.
Max Tannone: Jaydiohead - Radiohead Vs Jay Z
Good enough to make the list purely for the project’s name, but thankfully this Radiohead and Jay Z mashup stands tall based on its music alone. On ‘Reckoner’s Encore’, the relentless momentum of Radiohead’s track matches Hov’s breathless rapping style, making for a hip-hop, alternative rock creative concoction of epic and uncompromising proportions.
Psycosis: Neutral Bling Hotel: In My G4 Over The sea - Neutral Milk Hotel Vs Various Hip Hop Artists
While actually a pretty terrible hip hop mash up, this makes the list purely for the audacity of somebody actually doing it. Also, the title and artwork are absolutely freaking awesome, making the whole ridiculous project a little more bearable for all.
Tor - Illinoize: Sufjan Stevens Vs Various Hip Hop Artists
Created by Vancouver based producer Tor, the innovative Illinoize project samples music from multi-instrumentalist and indie hero Sufjan Stevens, melding it seamlessly with a number of hip-hop heavyweights like Outkast, Big Daddy Kane and Aesop Rock. For just a taste of the smooth as silk record, listen to the mash up of Stevens’ ‘Dumb I sound’ and Outkast’s ATliens, the cut soaked in cinematic and epic instrumentation.
