5 of the Best Hip-Hop and Pop Collaborations of 2017 So Far

The Grammy Awards ceremony is known for mashing up music genres of all sorts to create memorable performances and renditions of popular songs. However, the Grammys isn't the only time you'll see a rap artist work with someone from a different genre. In fact, the last couple of years, the world of pop, EDM and rock have embraced and acknowledged the popularity of hip-hop, and have even tapped some of the biggest artists from the rap world to collaborate on their respective tracks.

This year, it's been no different, as 2017 has already seen five collaborations between hip-hop's finest and the pop world. Most recently, popular American pop rock band Maroon 5 unveiled their latest single, “Cold,” featuring Atlanta rapper Future. Another record from this year in which the world of pop mashes with hip-hop, comes from the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack and features Nick Jonas alongside Nicki Minaj on the track "Bom Bidi Bom."

One of the more surprising odd collabs of the year so far comes from national nationwide retailer Target. Pairing up 2016 XXL Freshman Lil Yachty with songstress Carly Rae Jepsen, the duo give a refreshing twist on the the hip-hop classic cut, "It Takes Two."

With 2017 already pairing up the biggest artists of different genres for collective songs and records, hip-hop's presence will be surely felt everywhere. With that said, XXL looks back at the best pop and rap collabs of 2017 thus far.