ON KEY WITH RYAN

Over the years, collaborative albums have become some of the most anticipated releases in music. Fans eagerly await these projects, which bring together their favorite artists. The past has given us many standout examples, including albums from Linkin Park and Jay-Z, Future and Drake, Jay-Z and Kanye, Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA, Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, among many others.

One of the main problems with collaborative albums is that after the early 2010s, they have seemingly become less of a collaborative work of art. True, cohesive collaborations are now few and far between. It often feels as if these projects aren’t a genuine meeting of two artists, but rather a collection of solo songs thrown together with only a few joint tracks, simply in the hope that it will be successful. Even worse, some albums are not a true 50-50 partnership, but a lopsided effort where one artist makes little more than a brief appearance.

Before we get into the best and worst collaborative albums, it’s important to acknowledge one of the biggest changes in music in recent years: the rise of the producer as a co-star. Producers like The Alchemist and Metro Boomin are no longer just listed in the credits; their names are now part of the album title. In my opinion, this is a fantastic development that gives proper respect to producers, who are often the creative backbone of a project and deserve much more public recognition.

When it comes to good collaborative albums, I have a few personal favorites that I believe exemplify what a joint project should be. Standout examples include Scaring the Hoes Vol. 1 by Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA, Collision Course by Linkin Park and Jay-Z, Watch the Throne by Kanye and Jay-Z, What a Time to Be Alive by Future and Drake, and Kaytramine by Kaytranada and Aminé.

The reason these albums are so successful is the undeniable chemistry between the artists. From the production to their complementary styles and the overall energy, it’s obvious these collaborations were destined to happen. When you listen to these records, you never feel like one artist is carrying the other; instead, there is a perfect balance. This creative synergy often leads to more than just one album, as many of these artists have become frequent collaborators.

Jay-Z is a prime example. While he’s known for being picky, he has arguably the most successful collaborations on this list. For a truly great collaborative album, it should never feel like a solo project. The mark of a true joint effort is that you have to mention both artists by name.

This now leads to collaborative albums that, while not bad, had a flawed execution and could have had better results. These include Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, Chris Brown and Young Thug’s Slime & B, Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 1 and 2, and Lil Durk and Lil Baby’s The Voice of the Heroes.

The key issue with these albums is that they were ultimately underwhelming. In some cases, like with Slime & B and The Voice of the Heroes, the artists simply lacked the creative chemistry needed for a cohesive project. In others, such as $ome $exy $ongs, Her Loss, and Vultures, the problem lies in the unbalanced distribution of the workload.

These albums often feel like solo projects with a guest artist added at the last minute. For example, the Drake albums very much feel like Drake’s own work, with the collaborator given a limited time to shine. Similarly, on the Vultures projects, Kanye appears to have utilized Ty Dolla $ign primarily for hooks while only occasionally giving him full verses. This leads to albums that no longer feel like true collaborations, but rather a solo project with an artist that was added later into the mix.

Ultimately, while collaborative albums have been a bit hit-or-miss in recent years, I wouldn’t say they’re a lost art. I’m optimistic about the future of the genre, with many highly anticipated projects on the horizon. These include Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s Alfredo 3 and the untitled project from JID and Metro Boomin. I’m confident these albums will set a new standard for what a collaborative project should be.