2017 was the year of the collaboration. This writer in particular thought we would see a wave similar to this following Drake and Future's What a Time to Be Alive, but the muted reception to that effort may have delayed the trend for a few months. However, now it's as if artists have finally realized that in the age of social media, it may sometimes behoove them to join forces rather than stay in their own respective lanes. This ideology was adapted by countless acts over these past 12 months and has lead to over half a dozen exciting - and sometimes just downright confusing - pairings. And while Metro Boomin rightfully deserves his props for producing an album for damn near everyone (Gucci Mane, Nav, 21 Savage & Offset, Big Sean - the list is truly endless), it's the genuine chemistry between two different rappers that we wish to highlight for this list.
Because, let's face it, while some of these recent projects looked fantastic on paper, fans soon realized that "on paper" is where the idea should've remained. Since the iconic release of Watch the Throne back in 2011, no single collaboration between two otherwise disparate rappers has garnered nearly as much critical acclaim. The closest, for those paying attention, may have been Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug with their cult classic, Rich Gang: Tha Tour, pt. 1. But that was lightning in a bottle, caught by the most uniquely talented A&R in the game, Birdman; nowadays, it's as if execs are scrambling to reverse engineer what should be a natural phenomenon.
But it's not all bad - for all the middling efforts we've received, there are quite a few projects we've all been guilty of letting slip under our radars. Check out the list below for our seven most underrated collab tapes of 2017, and make sure to let us know which others from this prolific year top your list!
7. Trippie Redd & Lil Wop's "Angels & Demons"
Both Trippie and Wop have had a breakout year. The former garnered much praise for his soaring melodies while the latter is sure to scare the bejesus outta your children with his often gutteral, demonic delivery. These disparate styles are exactly why Angels & Demons works so goddamn well.
6. Fabolous & Jadakiss' "Friday On Elm Street"
We'd be more okay with artists teasing us with their collab projects for an extended period of time, if they always delivered as well as Friday On Elm Street. There's genuine synergy on here, with Fab stepping up his bar game and Kiss flipping through flows with surprising ease. The fact that neither sounds out of place in the current climate is a testament to their craft.
5. Young Thug & Future's "SUPER SLIMEY"
Even we slightly underrated the staying power of this long-awaited collaboration. Sometimes when you imagine and play with an idea in your mind for so long, the actual product may seem too familiar, too "just not what I expected." However, a few months removed from its release, it's clear that SUPER SLIMEY is a slick, well-crafted introduction to this newly minted duo. Initial standouts like "All Da Smoke" and "Patek Water" have now been joined by the likes of "200" and "Mink Flow," while initially dismissed joints like "Three" only get more impressive upon closer inspection. These two can rap circles around most of their counterparts and exhibit genuine chemistry that they can build on moving forward.
4. Starlito & Don Trip - "Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage)" & "Step Brothers THREE"
Starlito & Don Trip aren't new to this collab game; these two have been holding it down for over half a decade with their bar-heavy Step Brothers series. This past March, they not only gave us the third official installment, the first since 2013, they made sure to keep our hunger satiated by first giving us a brief 6 song EP the month before. Across both projects, Lito and Trip sound as hungry as ever, supplying their core fans with their trademark wit and wordplay.
3. Gunplay & Mozzy's "Dreadlocks & Headshots"
Mozzy may be the hardest working rapper alive (he's dropped over a dozen projects in the past two years) and people always forget how good at rapping Gunplay really is (he damn near outrapped Kendrick back in 2012). We're not sure who could have seen this collab coming but we couldn't be happier that it exists. If you're unfamiliar with either rapper's gripping storytelling or vicious lyricism, just stop reading this now and press play.
2. Kodak Black & Plies' "F.E.M.A"
Listening to Plies really gives you a sense of Kodak Black's stylistic lineage. Beyond just their delivery or regional slang, it's the gritty content, the snarky sense of humor, the ability to actually rap. No one saw this tape coming and not enough people gave it a fair shake. With all the underwhelming collab projects to drop this year, it would be a disservice to the culture not to highlight the gold these two have mined with F.E.M.A.
1. Lil Durk & Tee Grizzley's "Bloodas"
As unexpected as it is great, Bloodas is a near-flawless record, no cap. From the ferocity of "What Yo City Like" to bops like "Ratchet Ass" or "Ohhwee," this meeting of minds seems to be operating at the highest level of synergy. Durk, continuing to learn from his mentor Future, hits every melodic pocket with ease he's never before exhibited, while Grizzley continues to sharpen and hone the pen that blew him up this past year. What we're left with is an endlessly enjoyable project where every single cut surprisingly exceeds expectations. It's time to give these two the credit they're due.