One of the best genre clashes in music is pop and hip-hop. Here are a collection of pop songs with rap features that just work well. Some you may know, some may be new.
35. Liam Payne ft. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie – Stack It Up
Honestly, because A Boogie Wit da Hoodie has such a distinctive voice, you wouldn’t think it would work well with a pop song. However, his flow blends perfectly with both the beat and Liam Payne’s voice.
34. Justin Beiber ft. Ludacris – Baby
Probably one of the most popular songs of all time, so it had to be included. Despite this, many people don’t even know Ludacris has a verse on this song. Maybe because the chorus is so familiar and catchy.
33. Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – Girls Like You
This song would have felt very monotone and commercial if Cardi B wasn’t on it. Her verse at the end of the song makes it 1000x better.
32. Estelle ft. Kanye West – American Boy
Arguably one of Kanye West’s (ye’s) best features in a song. Knowing Kanye’s verse by heart is expected if your’e a Kanye fan. Estelle’s voice compliments the feature extremelly well. The music video is also pretty good.
31. Rihanna ft. Drake – What’s My Name
With over 1 billion streams, this track is one of the most recognisable one’s of the 2010’s. Rihanna and Drake are always a great duo for a song. Drake’s verse is actually at the beginning of the song.
30. Ed Sheeran ft. Meek Mill & A Boogie Wit da Hoodie – 1000 Nights
Coming from Ed Sheeran’s 2019 No.6 Collaborations Project, 1000 Nights talks about the lifestyle of being an artist and always working, never sleeping. Meek Mill reminisces on the days of his past.
29. Social House ft. Lil Yachty- Magic In The Hamptons
This track feels very nostalgic. Maybe because of the slow and vibey beat? Lil yachty’s voice goes incredibly well with this track. His verse is only short, but makes this song so much better.
28. Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana
Young Thug said on an interview once that he didn’t want to feature on this song because he doesn’t care about clout. He makes music because he enjoys it. He had this song in his email for 6 months before he wrote his verse. It’s a good thing he did.
27. Ed Sheeran ft. Young Thug & J Hus – Feels
Another one from Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations Project. And another Young Thug feature. However, J Hus’ feature also adds something we didn’t know we needed.
26. Maroon 5 ft. Future – Cold
Maroon 5 talk about relationship problems and how they’re confusing. Future goes hard on his verse. As usual.
25. Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar – Don’t Wanna Know
Another chill track from Maroon 5. Kendrick Lamar’s verse is a definite vibe. All the rap features Maroon 5 have seem to work so well. There hasn’t been one that sounds out of place, so far.
24. NEIKED ft. Mae Muller & Polo G – Better Days
Polo G goes for a flow that we don’t usually see from him. It works well with the beat and definitley elevates this track.
23. Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – Talk Dirty
There was a point where Jason Derulo carried pop music for a bit. His singles dominated the charts. This was one of the tracks that was popular all around the world.
22. Ellie Goulding ft. Big Sean – Easy Lover
Despite only being released in 2022, this is probably one of the best Big Sean verses. Big Sean’s whole discography is full of motivational and inspirations words. In this song, I particularly like when he says:
‘And I know they say that
“Everything that’s easy ain’t worth it
And everything that’s worth it ain’t gon’ be easy”‘
21. Snakehips ft.Tinache & Chance the Rapper
This track was a soundtrack of the late 2010’s and definitely is a nostalgic one. It definitely fits the vibe for that decade. If this was released nowadays, I don’t think it would have the same impact on the music world than it did in 2015.
20. Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – Bad Blood (remix)
When Kendrick Lamar delivers an agressive floe, you know the song is going to be good. He does something similar in the Believer Remix by Imagine Dragons. Honestly, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar seems like an unlikely duo. But his verse works perfectly, especially considering the theme of the track. Hopefully they will collaborate again sometime in the future for something similar.
19. Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (remix)
Bruno Mars doesn’t release music very often, especially collaborations with rappers. Despite this rarity, him and Cardi B delivered an incredible track.
18. Post Malone ft. Quavo – Congratulations
One of Post Malone’s most popular songs. Yes, I know he isn’t really a pop artist, however Post Malone delivers more of a pop vibe than a rap one. Quavo’s voice blends well with the whole tone of the track.
17. Why Don’t We ft. Macklemore – I Don’t Belong In This Club
This track touches on the theme of partying and feeling out of place. Why Don’t We build up the hype of the track perfectly in time for Macklemore’s verse. His verse emphasises the whole tone of feeeling uncomfortable in a social environment.
16. Ellie Goulding ft Juice WRLD – Hate Me
Another Ellie Goulding song. But this time with a Juice WRLD feature. Probably one of Juice WRLD’S best released features. His emotional delivery and passion emphasises the message of his struggles with a certain relationship.
15. Halsey ft. Juice WRLD – Without Me (remix)
Halsey and Juice WRLD just work together. Their voices just express a sense of raw emotion. Especially in this song. This is one of the rare cases that without Juice WRLD’s feature, it is still listenable. However, Juice WRLD does make it alot better.
14. Rihanna ft. Eminem – Love The Way You Lie (Part II)
This version of the hit single Love The Way You Lie is definitely underrated. Rihanna leads the majority of the song, and Eminem finishes it off with his verse. The original version looks at the male perspective of a troubled relationship, whereas this one looks at the female perpective.
13. Justin Beiber ft. Chance The Rapper – Holy
Justin Bieber goes into a more softer and intimate vibe for this song. Him and Chance the Rapper perfectly complement each other.
12. Kane Brown ft. Blackbear – Memory
I know Kane Brown is a country singer, but this feature is a bit too good to leave out of the list. This song is a subtle cry for help.
11. The Weeknd ft. Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me
Both The Weeknd pleads for someone to pray for him. Kendrick Lamar offers some inpirational words:
'Who need a hero? (Hero)
You need a hero, look in the mirror, there go your hero'
10. Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar – The Greatest
Kendrick Lamar is a go to if you want to listen to motivational music, especially in this song. However, compared to the rest of the track, his verse is extremely short.
09. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – Strip That Down
One of the most recognisable pop songs of 2017. A definite track to vibe to.
08. Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg – California Gurls
Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry? Surprisingly works very well. This track was inspired by The Beach Boy’s 1965 hit California Gurls.
07. Imagine Dragons ft. JID – Enemy
JID portrays a subtle cry for help when he opens his verse with:
'I'm hopin' that somebody pray for me
I'm prayin' that somebody hope for me'
06. Justin Beiber ft. Travis Scott – Second Emotion
Justin Bieber’s voice goes so well with other rappers. Especially Travis Scott.
05. Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj – Women Like Me
Little Mix and Nicki Minaj collab together for this powerful track. Nicki Minaj’s verse is perfect.
04. Bebe Rexha ft. Doja Cat – Baby, I’m Jealous
Doja Cat’s flow on this song is incredible. Her delivery makes this song 1000x better.
03. Halsey ft. Big Sean & Stefflon Don – Alone
Big Sean always delivers when it comes to a feature. His voice just blends well with both Stefflon Don and Halsey.
02. Calvin Harris ft. Frank Ocean & Migos – Slide
This track is definitely one to vibe to late at night. Along with these 10 songs.
01. Justin Beiber ft. Jaden – Never Say Never
A young Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber collab to create an extremely powerful and nostalgic tune.
Hopefully there are alot more songs you can add to your playlist now. All the pop/rap songs bring out a vibe. There are obviously a lot pop songs with rap features that could have been added to the list, but these are a select favourite. Maybe they’re will be another list in the future.