Miguel isn't the most prolific artist in R&B, but he's one of the most inimitable. As he's become an undeniable fashion icon and sex-symbol, he's still managed to evolve his sound with each subsequent record, sounding like the second-coming of Prince-- less dancey, but more sexy. He's an artist of his own breed, which is why we don't see him on features as much as most R&B artists, who get more hype off their guest appearances on rap albums than on their solo work.
When he does lend out his vocals, though, they're a welcome breath into a genre that, today, struggles to churn out slow jams without serious help from its friendly neighbor, rhythm & blues. In anticipation of Miguel's upcoming album, which sadly (or maybe not), only includes one rapping feature, we've rounded up Miguel's best forays into the hip-hop world.
"Power Trip" (J. Cole)
J. Cole can rap his ass off, but he's no romantic. Enter Miguel, who separates Cole's two verses on "Power Trip" with some love-drunk vocals that tell us how Cole's really feeling. We expect rappers to epitomize masculinity, yet we still ask for the slow jams, and the results often do little to set the mood. That can all be changed if a little Miguel, who's mastered both the languages of love and lust, is carefully worked into the mix.
"Everyday" (ASAP Rocky)
It was shocking to see Rod Stewart listed on an ASAP Rocky song-- we soon learned it was just a sample, though Rocky probably paid him enough to go ahead and list him as a feature. But the real star of the collaboration was Miguel, who re-sang Stewart's lyrics to perfection. Rod Stewart's famously cheesy lyrics, about drinking wine and listening to the birds chirp, don't, by themselves, match what Rocky was going for-- a song about escaping the constant swirl of media hype-- especially as Flacko spends much of his time rapping about how pretty he is (enough to have lesbians reorient themselves). Luckily, Miguel supplies the song's most powerful moments, repeating the same words, but with enough pain to give the lyrics their necessary tone of irony.
"Lotus Flower Bomb" (Wale)
The lead single off Ambition, Wale's first album after signing to Maybach was sexier than anything he'd over done. The production is slow and intoxicating, with background electronics fluttering just enough to pick up the pulse. Wale is more romantic than he usually manages to be, but Miguel's hook and backing vocals are what stay with you-- and the reason for the song's appearance on so many get-lucky playlists.
"How Many Drinks (Remix)" (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
One of Miguel's many beauties of his sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Dream, "How Many Drinks" didn't need a remix, but his label probably wanted to give the featureless album an entry point into the hip-hop world. We got a remix of "Adorn" with Wiz Khalifa, but the real memorable rap feature came from Kendrick Lamar, who just released a stirring meditation on the effect's of alcohol that would soon appear on GKMC.
"How Many Drinks" is much more timid than "Swimming Pools," though, dipping its toes into pools of liquor instead of diving right in. They depict a situation we've all seen before-- why are we loitering at the bar when we all know the end game? In the wrong hands, the subject matter could come across as predatory, but with Miguel at the mic, I'm sure the lady in question wouldn't need much persuasion to let him close out her tab.
"NWA" (feat. Kurupt)
Going off the WILDHEART tracklist we got today, "NWA" will be the only rapper-featuring track on Miguel's upcoming LP; "Coffee" was re-released as a single with Wale last month, but we don't see his name anywhere on the tracklist-- let's hope it stays that way. "NWA," as well as "Coffee," first appeared on a three-track release that Miguel gave out at the end of last year. The song-- the most West Coast piece the L.A. singer's ever written-- was the best of the bunch, and over six months later, we're still glad to see its inclusion on WILDHEART.
Indeed, it's odd to see Kurupt, who hasn't released an album since 2010, as the sole rapper on the tracklist. His placement felt strange when the song surfaced, but as Miguel sang, "This is somethin' for my OGs," we soon recognized that's exactly what he still is. We even get a sample of Ice Cube's signature "gangsta, gangsta" to kick things off. I've spent much of this list trying to pen Miguel as antidote to what's lacking in hip-hop-- the romance, the vulnerability-- but on "NWA," he's pure man power, singing with a gangsta lean that helps harden Kurupt's already sinister attempts at sweet-talkin'. Many rappers probably think to themselves, "I should make her pay for that." Very few can say it with a straight face.