Rappers and R&B singers weren’t always requisite bedfellows. While singers like Bobby Brown faced little to no backlash when sprinkling bars between notes, rap listeners initially weren’t as forgiving. Simply put, in a genre obsessed with street credibility and hardcore imagery, dabbling in R&B equaled selling out.
Back in 1989, Eric B. & Rakim’s guest appearance on Jody Watley’s friends—one of rap’s first forays into R&B territory— didn’t go over so well; perhaps because Rakim—an MC revered for his superior lyricism on tracks like “I Ain’t No Joke” and “Microphone Fiend”— delivered two watered down verses on the track. “When Rakim did [‘Friends,’ with Jody Watley], we were all confused…” legendary mixtape DJ, Ron G, told XXL in the August 2009 issue (The Hip-Hop Soul Issue). I was like, “How do you go from hard edge to soft edge and you’re a hard artist?”
By the early 1990s, Rap and R&B collaborations were commonplace. The Notorious B.I.G. dropped eight bars on Mary J Blige’s “Real Love” Remix and Wu-Tang Clan’s Old Dirty Bastard, Method Man and U-God made an appearance on SWV’s “Anything” Remix.
Now 20 years after Rakim plunged into uncharted waters, the line between rap and R&B has become significantly blurry. Still, MCs like Fabolous, who has become R&B’s go-to guest collaborator over the years, spits lyrical verses whether working with The-Dream or Jay-Z. “I’m one of the few artists that is able to do that and still hold his credibility and also not lose his edge as far as being creative and lyrical,” Fab told XXL during the behind the scenes shoot for the August 2009 cover. “At the same time too ’cause when I attack a joint even R&B-wise, I go at it the same way I would go at a hip-hop joint but just more stay in the subject of the R&B song.”
Fab’s not alone. MCs like Jay-Z, Ludacris and Jadakiss have consistently recorded stellar verses on R&B tracks throughout their careers. Here, XXLMag.com ranks the Top 25 best rap performances on an R&B song.—Compiled by Matt Barone, Carl Chery, Mike Delfin, Kamaria A. Gboro, Clover Hope, John Kennedy, Rob Markman, Patresha Williams and Taiia Smart Young
25. Keith Murray on R. Kelly’s “Home Alone,” R. (1998)
24. Heavy D on Monifah’s “I Miss You,” Moods…Moments (1996)
23. Styles P on Akon’s “Locked Up,” Trouble (2004)
22. Big Boi on Missy Elliot’s “All N My Grill,” Da Real World (1999)
21. Skillz on Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” Remix, Are You That Somebody Remix 12″ (1998)
20. Lil Wayne on Destiny’s Child’s Soldier,” Destiny’s Fulfilled (2004)
19. Mase on 112’s “Love Me,” Room 112 (1998)
18. LL Cool J on Mary J Blige’s “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” Remix, Mary Jane (All Night Long) 12″ (1995)
17. Ludacris on Ciara’s “Ohh,” Goodies (2004)
16. Jadakiss on Usher’s “Throwback” Remix, Confessions Special Edition CD (2004)
15. Kanye West on Dwele’s “Hold On” Remix, Hold On Promo 12″ (2004)
14. Common on Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop),” Brown Sugar (Original Soundtrack) (2002)
13. Big Pun on Brandy’s “Top of the World Part II,” Top of the World Part II CD Single (1998)
12. Lil’ Kim on Mary J Blige’s “I Can Love You,” Share My World (1997)
11. Nas on Allure’s “Head Over Heels,” Allure (1997)
10. Andre 3000 on Lloyd’s “You” Remix, You 12″ (2007)
9. Fabolous on Lil’ Mo’s “Superwoman Pt.II,” Based on a True Story (2001)
8. Rakim on Truth Hurts’ “Addictive,” Truthfully Speaking (2002)
7. Smiff-N-Wessun on Mary J Blige’s “I Love You” Remix, I Love You 12″ (1995)
6. Foxy Brown on Case’s “Touch Me, Tease Me,” Case (1996)
5. AZ on D’Angelo’s “Lady,” Lady 12″ (1996)
4. The Notorious B.I.G. on Mary J Blige’s “Real Love,” What’s the 411? (Remixes) (1993)
3. Jay-Z on Mya’s “The Best of Me Part 2,” Best of Me 12″ & DJ Clue-Presents: Backstage-Mixtape (Music Inspired By The Film (2000)
2. Raekwon & Ghostface on Jodeci’s “Freak’n You,” Get On Up 7″ CD Single (1995)
1. The Notorious B.I.G. on Total’s “Can’t You See,” Total (1995)
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DIRECTORIES
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July 29th, 2009
at 9:39 am
Dangerous B says:
Ain’t you heard Luda’s verse on Usher’s Yeah… He killed that and made the song into a worldwide hit!!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 8:21 pm
cano says:
Mase and Biggie on Only You by 112
Mase on Brandys sittin on top of the world
Take that MAd Skills out
Reply
July 31st, 2009
at 1:17 am
Big Voltron says:
What about Montel Jordan on Montel Jordan’s “This is How We Do It”?? How about Bobby Brown on Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative”??? Al B. Sure on his own tracks as well
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:43 am
Pierzy says:
Great list - some verses on here I always thought were pretty underrated [Mase on 112 when he took shots at Jay; NaS on the Allure track] BUT I have one glaring omission:
Lil’ Kim, Fox Brown & Da Brat on Total’s “No One Else” (Remix). That shit is classic!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:48 am
Pierzy says:
What about Nas on Mary J’s “Love Is All We Need”?
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 4:47 pm
white boy says:
What about “What about us” by Brandy and Nas. Was kinda nice imo.
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Reply here
July 29th, 2009
at 7:27 pm
miles archer says:
This list is fugasi, son.
How you gonna leave off Biggie & Mase from 112’s “Only You”??????
Ol’ Dirty Bastard on Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”???????
Dr. Dre & Queen Pen on Blackstreet’s
“No Diggedy”?????
Jay-Z on “Fiesta”????????
Grand Puba on Mary’s “What’s the 411″???? (I love Biggie, but it’s the same verse from “Dreams” on the remix)
Just off the top of my head I can think of shit better than what you got on this list.
Alicia Keys “Streets Of New York” ft. Nas & Rakim
Amerie ft. Nas “Man Up”
Missy Elliot “one minute man”(remix)
ft. Jay-Z
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:56 pm
King Joffy Joe says:
@ miles archer, CO-SIGN that opinion HEAVY, sir.
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Reply here
July 30th, 2009
at 12:53 pm
jb says:
U rite! Dat Ol Dirty and Mariah joint gotta be there.
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Reply here
July 29th, 2009
at 9:51 am
BeerGangsta says:
This is about the best thing that XXL every put out. Lot of good music then. I like that one with Andre 3000 and Lyold. That was the hook up. I wish these dam new Rappres would learn how 2 make good music.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:04 am
Connoisseur says:
What about Luda’s verse on Lovers and Friends?
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:14 am
chillin mayne says:
i dont care wat none of yas say, but dat Ja Rule verse on the mary j blige song, “rainy days” was off da dayum CHAIN!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 2:36 pm
RiZob says:
THANK YOU!!! HOW CAN THIS LIST EXIST WITH NO JA RULE!…
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:15 am
nessnice says:
nice list… honerable mentions… shai ft. jay-z “i dont want to be alone” horace brown ft.jay-z “things we do for love” gina thompson ft. missy “the things you do” changing faces ft. jay-z “all of my days”
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:20 am
Bobo D says:
ODB on Mariah Careys Fantasy, “Me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers”.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:36 am
yoprince says:
excellence!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:35 am
the dmi chi says:
Slick Rick on Al B Sure’s “If I’m Not Your Lover” rmx
Missy on Gina Thompson’s “The Things You Do”
Wu-Tang on SWV’s “Anything” rmx
Damn near all of Luda’s cameos
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:03 am
Pierzy says:
Good call on Wu!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:41 am
cramzy says:
Kanye on Talk About Our Love by Brandy
Here’s a couple of things I can’t honor, man
How you listen to a girl that still wanna man?
Tell me the truth is that a man or Juwanna Mann?
I’m wonderin’ why she “ret to go” like Wanda then?
When we met you was a V like Madonna, man
Now you in the field runnin’ plays like Donovan
McNabb before you get in a cab
I’ll trade in my cab
Just to take you back to last summer, man
You don’t remember when you was my sweetest?
You don’t remember when I called you Reese’s Pieces?
Cause it’s no wrong way to do you know what
She turned around and giggle said; “You so nuts!”
But nowadays we actin’ way too grown up
Like how ya ex girl get the new numba
The rumors was so numerous
For stickin’ by me, I had to give you two thumbs up
And that’s why
and 3 STACKS on I Cant Wait by Sleepy Brown
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 10:41 am
jt says:
u forgot about shyne and carl thomas he killed that
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:00 am
T REX says:
come on xxl how r u gonna leave meth’s an mary’s all i need.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 1:00 pm
murK says:
EXACTLY!! that shit won a grammy, man!
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:01 am
Curtis75Black says:
Damn !!, No Allure and LL - No Question, Carl Thomas and LL - I wish remix, Montell Jordan and LL - Get It On Remix ? Come on XXL, if you’re gonna try and rep this at least do it with songs when the verse is compatable, not just another Hot artist spitting BullShit on a R&B track just to get extra spins.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:04 am
Dstarr says:
IT MUST BE THE ASS
that got me like damn it ever get any fatter man the rule gone have to get at ‘er
how is the rule not on this list thats some bullsht
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:15 am
Curtis75Black says:
Big Daddy Kane & Patti LaBelle - Feels like another one.
LL Cool J & Keith Sweat - Why me Baby and Remix
Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte and LL & LSG- Serious
Brandy ft. Latifah, YoYo and MC Lyte - I wanna be down remix
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:32 am
built4NC says:
on the real, someone needs to come out with a mixtape with these tracks. oh yea. AZ and D’angleo should be top 3 IMO. dope list nonetheless
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:49 am
chronwell says:
My two favorites are Biggie on 112’s Only U and the Luda verse on OHH.U forget Dres of Black Sheep on Vanessa Williams’ Work TO do.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 11:55 am
wtf??? says:
JA RULE should have been on this list
Damn shame
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 12:09 pm
Tyrrell Wilson says:
How about the the bad boy remix to Mariah Carey’s honey when mase and the lox killed
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 12:11 pm
blaktwan says:
Wut about Biggie on 112’s “Only You”.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 1:08 pm
McFly says:
Method man on Mary J Blige “You’re All I Need”…Ain’t that a classic?????
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 1:57 pm
LightsOut says:
Beyonce feat Jay-Z - Upgrade You
Mariah feat Bone - Breakdown
SWV feat WuTang - Anything remix
Marcus Houston feat Joe Budden - Clubbin (maybe I’m reachin on this one, but I like it)
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 2:35 pm
THE won says:
PAC ON JON B “ARE YOU STILL DOWN”
Reply
August 9th, 2009
at 10:24 pm
Rwayne says:
man these new york publications don’t give Pac the love he deserves…..the claim him as one of the best because they know people wouldnt take em serious as a hip hop publication without mentioning him….but when it comes down to best verses and shit like that THEY ALWAYS GOING WITH THE HOME TEAM….Biggie’s and Total’s Joint was Hot….BUT NUMBER 1???? HELL NAW…
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 3:07 pm
conni says:
Are You Still Down, Jon B featuring Tupac
112’s Anywhere featuring Lil Zane
Missy’s One Minute Man featuring Jay-Z on the remix
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 5:34 pm
JayRight says:
Mariah Carey - Thank God I Found You ft/ Nas, Joe (remix)
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 5:41 pm
David HussleSoft says:
Niggaz is slippin how about Lil Zane wit 112 “Any Where” Zane is wack but that verse was fire
Nas and R.Kelly “Did You Ever Think”
Gina Thompson and Missy “The Things You Do”
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 5:45 pm
David HussleSoft says:
Yall should flip this though and do best collabos rappers featuring r&b artist there are a lot of hits on that end to.
I almost forgot Jadakiss on the original Best of Me with Mya
“And im do this just like Tony did it to Frank” -Jada
David HussleSoft cuz I stay on Ye Watch
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 5:51 pm
NESTO says:
You can’t have a Top 25 List without Wu Tang on the SWV track,(Anything). And #2 on your list should have been 112 feat. B.I.G. & Mase,(Only U).
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 6:17 pm
Dstarr says:
nas on j-lo’s song i’m gonna be alri shud be on it aswell
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 7:00 pm
*BLOCK* says:
BLOCK BITCH!!!!!!!!!!
THIS LIST DOES NOT GET THE BLOCK STAMP OF APPROVAL!!!
ITS SO MANY SONGS THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST ABOVE SOME OF THE ONES ON HERE…IN MY OPINION AND FROM THE LOOKS OF IT EVERYBODY ELSE ABOVE ME
*BLOCK*
~FRONT LINE ALLIANCE~
CAROLINA SURVIVOR
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 7:43 pm
Tyrrell Wilson says:
Good question how is Ja Rule not on this list. every R&B callabo he did was fire.he made Lil Mo, Ashanti and Jennifer Lopez hot and haven’t benn since they stopped collaborating with him
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 8:10 pm
Jerm says:
Luda is does pretty well on R&B features
like Alicia Keys - Like Ill Never See You Again Remix, he made that probably better than the original.
and on Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable as well
amd 3 Stacks murked Lloyd’s You Remix too
but thats a solid list though.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 8:28 pm
BrocktonPatriot says:
Luda’s verse on Shereefa’s “I need a boss”
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:23 pm
three2sixCubed says:
This list is compiled of rapper artist droppn a verse on R&B songs. “All I Need” was by Methodman FEATURING Mary J. Blige. The list is okay but they missin’ some shit. I’m sure a R&B song featuring Ja Rule should’ve made the list. But yall did fuck up and leave off Fantasy tho. That shit jammed. LOL @ some of these songs were cd singles damn that goes back.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:37 pm
MB says:
What about Pac’s verse on Jon B’s “Are U Still Down”, Face on Lloyd’s “Southside”, Snoop on John Legend’s “I Can Change”, Meth on Mary J’s “All I Need”, Outkast on Sleepy Brown’s “I Can’t Wait”. I think a lot of these songs are better than some on the list, but hey, it’s not my list. No hate for the music that is on the list, just my opinion.
Reply
July 29th, 2009
at 9:45 pm
Curtis75Black says:
If Heavy D is gonna be on this list, what’s up with Janet Jackson & Heavy D - Alright or Micheal Jackson @ Heavy D - Jam ?
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 12:30 am
Cory says:
Yo Luda verses on Ameries why cant we fall in love gotta be top 3
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 1:34 am
GO-Getta' says:
Damn better late than never.Off the top!!!!
Touch me, tease me > Case ft FB & MJB
Fantasy > MC ft OBD
Only u > 112 ft Biggie
R u still down > JB ft Pac
Check on it > B ft Pim C
Home alone > RK ft KM
No Diggity > BS ft Qeen Pen
I’m gone………..
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 1:56 am
hh93 says:
can’t forget Grandmaster Mele Mel on Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You”
Chaka on the vocals, written by Prince, harmonica solo from Stevie, session work from The System and Mele Mel’s classic verse…damn, what more do you want? :-)
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 4:04 am
fettah says:
what about meth n mary J yall ppl at xxl mag ARE fallin off what us this the source mag hahahahahahah
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 5:00 am
rza says:
Man y’al trippimg.how on earth do you not mention ll cool j on dat join with lyfe jennings - freeze
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 7:16 am
Blake6000 says:
Two things that render this list invalid:
1) Mary J Blige-Your all i need Featuring MethodMan SHOULD be number 1
2) Jon B- Are you still down featuring Tupac is not on the list.
Stop making lists that are not properly researched.Shame on you XXL
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 8:35 am
SOUTHSIDE A-TOWN says:
the only other one i can think of that didn’t get mentioned was Green Light ft. Andre 3stax. he killed that shit.
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 8:36 am
Curtis75Black says:
XXL, how long did it take your staff to come up with this list. I know ya’ll have your biases toward certain emcee’s in general and we know that you have to keep up with that image, whatever that is today and we all know you can forget certain songs but how in the Hell we remembered all the songs that was omitted ? We as fans blazed at least 50 tracks that are better than your list. No Jon b and 2pac which I think is the ultimate collaboration straight up !! Feels like they was in the booth together. Robin Thicke and Lil Wayne were you have to admit set it off. Clipse with Justin Timberlake as odd as it was they blazed it. TI and Justin, same results. This is where ya’ll should’ve said ‘Fuck Radio spins and based it on who put it down and killed it.
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 8:52 am
s dot says:
surely, crazy in love beyonce feat. jay
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 9:06 am
Keyboard K says:
SMH@ cats still sleeping on G Rap’s verse on the Brown Sugar Beatminerz Remix
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 11:16 am
Enlightened says:
If you gon’ say Biggie is #1 on that total track, Keith Murray has to fit somewhere in the top 25 with his verse on the remix version of that same song
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 11:49 am
Jay Clyde says:
you forgot to add “Mase on Only You - 112 Remix” you xxl idiots.. staff is horrible
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 1:12 pm
Collegiate says:
What about Jay on Aaliyahs “Missin You Remix”? that shit gave me chills
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 1:53 pm
Fab’s Album “Loso’s Way” Expected To Sell 100K First Week - DopeStarz says:
[...] Soul Issue along with “Throw it in the Bag” partner The-Dream. Loso’s Way boasts several rap-and-b songs, including collaborations with Ne-Yo, Ryan Leslie, Jeremih, Trey Songz, Keri Hilson and Marsha [...]
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 4:05 pm
Saxxx says:
NO 2PACOGRAPHY?????
where’s HOW DO YOU WANT IT???????
TOSS IT UP????
I AINT MAD AT YA??????
AND ALL THAT RECYCLED B-S THAT EVERYBODY IS MAKING $$$ OFF OF THE LAST 10 YEARS???????
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 5:34 pm
jayman says:
Shaquille O’Neal’s verse on New Edition - hit me off remix was fire
Reply
July 30th, 2009
at 6:00 pm
Saxxx says:
NO 2PACOGRAPHY?????
WHERE’S “HOW DO YOU WANT IT”?????
TOSS IT UP????
ARE YOU STILL DOWN?????
CALIFORNIA LOVE!!! (WITH ROGER TROUTMAN)!!!!????
ALL ABOUT YOU (WITH NATE DOGG)???
GET REAL!!!!!
Reply
July 31st, 2009
at 11:03 am
John Cauner says:
Seems like a good list. I gotta look up that Nas/Allure track. Never heard it. Actually I haven’t heard 17 of those 25 tracks. I gotta catch up.
Reply
July 31st, 2009
at 11:21 am
goldfromthe49 says:
This list gets an L…How is Mary and Method not on that list. Its featured in your magazine but its not good enough for your website?
Reply
July 31st, 2009
at 12:32 pm
Pablo says:
raekwon and davina ” so good ” !!!!
Reply
August 1st, 2009
at 7:31 pm
Matic & Ill says:
Nas on J-Lo’s - Be Alright
very nice track
Reply
August 2nd, 2009
at 5:46 pm
ShamGudda says:
You gotta have that MJB wit Smif-n-Wessun “I Love You” remix “This is how we do…This is how we do everyday all day”. Also that 112 ft. Big and that Mariah Carey and ODB. Those are my top three honestly. IDK how they wadn’t on the list.
Reply
August 2nd, 2009
at 9:49 pm
amy says:
oh my god, after see this , i want to suggest u that there is a place —-biguklove.com—-u want to go in ur whole life,so exciting !!!!!Go to have a try, you may find your love or friendship there. see more celebrities’ sexy photo, video………….charge for free!!!! come on search me sunlly0015 there, more surprise, waiting u
Reply
August 4th, 2009
at 4:31 pm
Dee2007 says:
As much as I hate Ja rule with a damn passion he deserve at least one spot up there. All them Ashanti assisted songs and no spot.
Tupac and Jon B still bangs in my car
Method Man and Mary J. Blidge really??
Y’all need to apologize to us for this redo this List. This was worser than the best or rapper on MTV in 07.
Reply
August 5th, 2009
at 12:33 pm
L BOOGS says:
How can yall not put Kanye’s verse from john Legend’s album on there. i think it’s called promise not do it again. That song made me really appreciate Kanye spit game and everything he said was real.
Reply
August 5th, 2009
at 12:35 pm
L Boogs says:
correction the song is called number one
Reply
August 6th, 2009
at 10:34 pm
ThingAlec says:
Major props for putting that Top of the World remix. Pun flows on that track.
Encima del mundo
Follow the squad we never segundo
Tell el mundo, telling vatos of every remover
Word chula we packing men like Lollapalooza
From here to Havana, Cuba then Puerto Rico en scooter
Getting mula
Sitting on top of the world like A Buddha
Who the first Latin to go platinum without the basura
Big Pun the caputera with cheddar
Never settle for second best cause I’m primera, which forever
Reply
August 9th, 2009
at 9:38 am
Ty says:
Jay-z on Mya’s best of me remix. He was spittin
Reply