Hip hop has come a long way since the early ’70s when the artform was still bubbling up as an underground movement and viewed by some as a passing trend.
Over the past few decades, the culture has exploded across the world and become a commercial staple in the music industry. We can see the ever-growing importance of hip hop’s role in pop music by looking at how many of the genre’s superstars – from Taylor and Maroon 5 to Justin Bieber to Mariah Carey – have often tapped rappers to bolster their songs.
Iconic collaborations like Jay-Z and Beyonce on “Crazy in Love” to Young Thug and Camilla Cabello’s “Havana have brought together some of the biggest names in pop and rap and helped to shape the landscape of contemporary music.
From Drake and Rihanna on “Work” to Jennifer Lopez calling on The LOX for “Jenny from the Block,” here are the top 50 best pop songs with rap features of all time.
50. Snakehips ft. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper – “All My Friends”
Released: October 21, 2015
Album: All My Friends EP
Producer: Snakehips, Cass Lowe
49. Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You”
Released: May 30, 2018
Album: Red Pill Blues
Producer: Cirkut, Jason Evigan
48. Justin Bieber ft. Quavo – “Intentions”
Released: February 7, 2020
Album: Changes
Producer: Poo Bear, The Audibles
47. Usher ft. Jay-Z – “Hot Tottie”
Released: August 9, 2010
Album: Versus (EP)
Producer: Polow da Don
46. Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj – “Swish Swish”
Released: May 19, 2017
Album: Witness
Producer: Duke Dumont
45. Selena Gomez ft. A$AP Rocky – “Good for You”
Released: June 22, 2015
Album: Revival
Producer: Nick Monson, Sir Nolan
44. Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood”
Released: May 17, 2015
Album: 1989
Producer: Max Martin, Shellback, Ilya
43. Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse”
Released: January 4, 2018
Album: 24K Magic
Producer: Shampoo Press & Curl, The Stereotypes
42. Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj – “Beauty and a Beat”
Released: October 24, 2012
Album: Believe
Producer: Max Martin, Zedd
41. Mariah Carey ft. Wale – “You Don’t Know What to Do”
Released: June 30, 2014
Album: Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse
Producer: Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox
40. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – “Talk That Talk”
Released: January 17, 2012
Album: Talk That Talk
Producer: Stargate, Kuk Harrell
39. Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean – “As Long as You Love Me”
Released: July 10, 2012
Album: Believe
Producer: Darkchild, Andre Lindal
38. Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
Released: August 3, 2017
Album: Camila
Producer: Frank Dukes
37. Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne – “Down”
Released: May 31, 2009
Album: All or Nothing
Producer: J-Remy, Bobby Bass
36. Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule & Caddillac Tah – “Ain’t It Funny (Murder Remix)”
Released: January 7, 2002
Album:
Producer: Irv Gotti, 7, Cory Rooney
35. Rihanna ft. Drake – “What’s My Name?”
Released: October 25, 2010
Album: Loud
Producer: Stargate, Kuk Harrell
34. Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock You Down”
Released: April 7, 2009
Album: In a Perfect World…
Producer: Danja, Keri Hilson
33. Chris Brown ft. Juelz Santana – “Run It!”
Released: June 30, 2005
Album: Chris Brown
Producer: Scott Storch
32. Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris – “Baby”
Released: January 18, 2010
Album: My World 2.0
Producer: Tricky Stewart, The-Dream
31. Jennifer Lopez ft. LL Cool J – “All I Have”
Released: December 14, 2002
Album: This Is Me… Then
Producer: Cory Rooney, Ron G, Dave McPherson
30. Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z – “Crazy in Love”
Released: May 14, 2003
Album: Dangerously in Love
Producer: Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles
29. Lloyd ft. Lil Wayne – “You”
Released: October 23, 2006
Album: Street Love
Producer: Big Reese, Jasper Cameron
28. Fergie ft. Ludacris – “Glamorous”
Released: January 23, 2007
Album: The Dutchess
Producer: Polow da Don
27. Janet Jackson with Nelly – “Call on Me”
Released: June 19, 2006
Album: 20 Y.O.
Producer: Jermaine Dupri, LRoc, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson
26. Jeremih ft. 50 Cent – “Down on Me”
Released: September 28, 2010
Album: All About You
Producer: Mick Schultz, Keith James
25. Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work”
Released: January 27, 2016
Album: Anti
Producer: Boi-1da
24. Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller – “The Way”
Released: March 26, 2013
Album: Yours Truly
Producer: Harmony Samuels
23. Jagged Edge ft. Nelly – “Where the Party At”
Released: May 15, 2001
Album: Jagged Little Thrill
Producer: Jermaine Dupri
22. Mariah Carey ft. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Fantasy (Remix)”
Released: August 23, 1995
Album: Daydream
Producer: Mariah Carey, Dave Hall
21. Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris – “Yeah!”
Released: January 27, 2004
Album: Confessions
Producer: Lil Jon
20. Melanie C ft. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – “Never Be the Same Again”
Released: March 20, 2000
Album: Northern Star
Producer: Rhett Lawrence
19. Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”
Released: December 17, 2013
Album: Prism
Producer: Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut
18. Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z – “Drunk in Love”
Released: December 17, 2013
Album: Beyoncé
Producer: Details, Timbaland, J-Roc, Boots, Dre Moon, Soko, Rasool Diaz
17. The-Dream ft. Fabolous – “Shawty Is Da Shit”
Released: July 10, 2007
Album: Love/Hate
Producer: Los Da Mystro, The-Dream
16. Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule – “I’m Real (Murder Remix)”
Released: June 19, 2001
Album: J.Lo
Producer: Troy Oliver, Cory Rooney, L.E.S.
15. Usher ft. Lil Wayne & Beyoncé – “Love in This Club Part II”
Released: April 28, 2008
Album: Here I Stand
Producer: DJ Toomp, Darkchild
14. Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – “E.T.”
Released: February 11, 2011
Album: Teenage Dream
Producer: Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Ammo
13. Justin Timberlake ft. T.I. – “My Love”
Released: October 24, 2006
Album: FutureSex/LoveSounds
Producer: Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Nate “Danja” Hills
12. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”
Released: February 1, 2011
Album: F.A.M.E.
Producer: Diplo, Afrojack, Free School
11. Mariah Carey ft. Jay-Z – “Heartbreaker”
Released: August 23, 1999
Album: Rainbow
Producer: Mariah Carey, DJ Clue, Ken “Duro” Ifill
10. Christina Aguilera ft. Redman – “Dirrty”
Released: September 3, 2002
Album: Stripped
Producer: Dana Stinson, Christina Aguilera, Balewa Muhammad, Jasper Cameron
9. Rihanna ft. Kanye West – “Diamonds (Remix)”
Released: September 26, 2012
Album: Unapologetic
Producer: Benny Blanco, Stargate
8. Destiny’s Child ft. T.I. & Lil Wayne – “Soldier”
Released: November 9, 2004
Album: Destiny Fulfilled
Producer: Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles
7. Janet Jackson ft. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell – “Got ’til It’s Gone”
Released: September 22, 1997
Album: The Velvet Rope
Producer: Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
6. Justin Timberlake ft. Clipse – “Like I Love You”
Released: September 16, 2002
Album: Justified
Producer: The Neptunes
5. Trey Songz ft. Nicki Minaj – “Bottoms Up”
Released: July 27, 2010
Album: Passion, Pain & Pleasure
Producer: Kane Beatz
Nicki Minaj’s 2010 feature run was absolutely legendary. Not counting her classic “Monster” verse, the Queens MC also went in on Ludacris’ “My Chick Bad” and this track right here. Nicki is full of wild energy and is as dynamic as a rapper can get on “Bottoms Up” and this track solidified her as a certified features killer.
4. Jennifer Lopez ft. Jadakiss & Styles P – “Jenny from the Block”
Released: September 26, 2002
Album: This Is Me… Then
Producer: Troy Oliver, Cory Rooney, Poke and Tone
“Jenny from the Block” was Jennifer Lopez’s tribute to her hometown in The Bronx, so what better way to do this than sample Boogie Down Productions’ “South Bronx” and enlist hardcore spitters Jadakiss and Styles P to help her out?
3. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – “Umbrella”
Released: March 29, 2007
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
Producer: Tricky Stewart
An absolute monster of a hit single, “Umbrella” turned Rihanna, who was already a superstar, into a next-level pop icon. While the singer puts on one of her best vocal performances on this song, and Hov is typically solid, the real MVPs are the producers and songwriters – The-Dream and Tricky Stewart.
2. Estelle ft. Kanye West – “American Boy”
Released: March 31, 2008
Album: Shine
Producer: will.i.am
One of Kanye’s best guest verses ever, the Chicago rapper-producer simply floats over the shimmering disco-funk courtesy of will.i.am. While Estelle soulfully sings about meeting a man from the US, Kanye takes the opportunity to flex his global reach.
1. Usher ft. Young Jeezy – “Love in This Club”
Released: February 22, 2008
Album: Here I Stand
Producer: Polow da Don
A timeless club banger that showcases the best of both worlds, “Love in This Club” was an inescapable hit when it dropped early 2008. A perfect blend of Polow da Don’s majestic, synth-driven production, Usher’s seductive vocals and Young Jeezy’s growling guest verse, how could it not be a smash?
