Favorite Collaboration of 2014
                                                    

Sometimes the music world needs more than singles and albums by bands and solo acts. Collaborations between musicians add a flavor that has previously been unheard of. We saw this recently with The New Basement Tapes and with many more throughout the year. Here are our favorite collaborations of 2014. 

Ben Lowden - What So Not (Flume + Emoh Instead)

The DJ duo What So Not really took off this year with their release of “Tell Me”, collaborating with RL Grime for the track. What So Not is comprised of fellow Sydney DJs Flume and Emoh Instead. Before this year they were making waves with some awesome remixes (for example Major Lazer’s “Get Free”) and some originals as well, such as “Jaguar”. But 2015 is looking even better. They have an EP on the way for the beginning of the year, and it will include a collaboration with Dillon Francis, and another with Skrillex. Keep an eye out for these guys, and in the mean time rage to what they have already gifted to us.

Ben Schechter - “I’m Not The Only One” by Sam Smith w/ A$AP Rocky

You may have heard of A$AP Rocky in the past, and you may have thought that he is one of the many not-so talented rappers out there who swear every other word. Once hearing his addition to Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One”, any previous negative notions you had about the guy surely would be proved wrong. When Smith released this remix version of “I’m Not The Only One”, no one saw it coming. A$AP showed off the best of what he is capable of with a smooth and delicate rap beginning the track off. A flow like Kanye’s in “Gold Digger”, A$AP came in at the beginning of the track and referenced Beyonce and all the other ladies in his life. Towards the end, the last verse was A$AP’s and he touched on cheating and the relationship mistakes that he has made in the past.  Hands down one of the weirdest and best collaborations of the year, exposing two extremely talented musicians doing what they are great at.

Gabi Schwartz - "Hero" by Frank Ocean, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Diplo 

The song "Hero" by Frank Ocean, Diplo, and Mick Jones and Paul Simonon from The Clash is short but sweet, only 2:46. The collaboration came about from Converse’s musical effort called “Three Artists. One Song”, which puts together artists from different genres to create a song.

Collaborations between drastically different genres of music can either be really good or really bad, and "Hero" is really good. It encompasses the best of Frank Ocean’s R&B voice, Jones and Simonon’s rock guitar/bass, and Diplo’s beats. The guitar riffs don’t overpower Ocean’s voice, and Diplo’s beats are there but you don’t feel like you’re listening to electronic music at all, more like a subtle Ratatat beat. "Hero" is truly something unique. You won’t regret listening to it. Download it for free here.

David Cooper - “Make the World Go Round” by DJ Cassidy + R. Kelly

Just an absolute banger, makes you want to slap some serious air bass.