As much as solo artists are great there’s something particularly special about two people collaborating that a solo artist cannot provide. A duo allows two individuals to combine the best of their talents to create something which neither one as an individual can create by themselves. These days rap duos are not as commonplace as before. I mean sure people collaborate on songs but very few actually take time to build the organic relationship outside the music such that when they get on record together the chemistry continues. Those that do have the chemistry rarely go on to release a full length project. In this article I discuss rap duos that have that chemistry and have made an impact of some sort.
Mobb Deep
I don’t know if there’s any duo which has made a bigger impression on me personally than Mobb Deep. Havoc and Prodigy got into the rap game early and released a good project in the form of Infamy but the best was yet to come. They grew and released a string of albums that elevated them into the forefront of east coast rap in the mid nineties and early 2000s. Havoc’s haunting beats provided the perfect backdrop for the group’s rhymes which were mafia-influenced. They often referenced gangster movies such as Scarface, The Godfather and Goodfellas.
Notable albums: The Infamous, Hell on Earth, Murda Muzik
Gang Starr
Guru and DJ Premier are the epitome of a producer-rapper duo. The two were masters at their craft. Premo as a producer is arguably the greatest hip hop producer since the genre was birthed. Guru’s voice and rap style is instantly recognizable and he often rapped on topics that many rappers strayed from and when he did rap about the same topics as other people he’d put his own view on it that you couldn’t get from anyone else. They released a lot of projects together, and although the group had problems towards the end of their time together they made a mark that cannot be forgotten in hip hop.
Notable albums: Moment of Truth
MOP
MOP spent most of their career in the underground scene but amassed a strong following. They, in a similar fashion to Mobb Deep, ended up being signed to G-Unit Records by which time they’d already released their best material. If there’s one word to describe Lil Fame and Billy Danze it’s ‘aggressive’. These guys had a level of aggression on the mic that made you believe every violent word they said. They had a few hits with the most popular one being the anthemic Ante Up which ended up getting a remix with Bsta Rhymes.
Notable albums: Warriorz
Little Brother
Little Brother started out as a trio which consisted of rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh with 9th Wonder as the third member and group’s producer. Their first two albums The Listening and The Minstrel Show are works that I consider classics. 9th Wonder eventually left, forcing the group to become a duo. The magic was sort of lost on the production end coz 9th is just one of those people who can’t be easily swapped out. But the duo continued to put out music and collaborate on group as well as solo projects. Little Brother is notable for their down-to-earth and everyman views on things. They rapped about topics such as baby mommas, seeking acceptance from family members, peer pressure, repeating mistakes of parents, etc.
Notable albums: The Listening, The Minstrel Show
Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall is a Chicago-based duo which consists of rapper Naledge and producer Double-O. They made some noise in the early to mid 2000s with their single Wheels Fall Off and they’ve been releasing good music since. They came out at a time when Chicago rap was red hot, thanks in large to Kanye West, Common and Twista. These guys came out strong straight from the jump and promoted proudly acknowledged the fact that they are college educated and they’re not street cats which was and still is refreshing. Over the years they’ve made a lot of story-telling songs that speak of struggle in everyday situations as well as various other topics.
Notable albums: School Was My Hustle
PRhyme
Following the death of Guru many people thought DJ Premier will never be able to recapture the magic that was manifested between him and Guru. And that is indeed the case. However, Premo did manage to move onto another duo with long time collaborator and one of hip hop’s top lyricists Royce Da 5’9”. The two made the decision to release a full-length project a few years ago under the name PRhyme and boy the final outcome was lit! The album showed a different side to Premo as a beat-smith. He produced tracks which had all the elements that make him great; the head-nodding bounce, dope basslines, scratches and a certain magic on the samples. Royce being newly sober lay down some of his most mind-boggling raps to date. The duo has hinted at releasing another project in the future. I can’t wait for it. One word to
Notable (and only) album: PRhyme
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels much like the aforementioned PRhyme is another example of the magic that can happen when an established artist in his prime meets an established producer also in his prime. The outspoken Killa Mike hooked up with El-P to form the crew some years ago and have since released two critically acclaimed albums and have amassed a huge following. They’re scheduled to release their third album together in a few weeks’ time.
Notable albums: RTJ2
Black Star
Talib Kweli and Mos Def, collectively known as Black Star released only one full length eponymous project many years ago but it still knocks till today. They released one of the most intelligent, pro-black, socially conscious albums in hip hop and music at large. The album not only introduced us to Mos and Talib but also producer Hi-Tek, who would later form another awesome rap duo with Talib called Reflection Eternal.
Notable (and only) album: Black Star
Dead Prez
This is one group I’d forgotten about because they had been quiet for so long. But then I watched the BET Hip Hop Awards 2016 a few weeks ago and I instantly remembered why they are one of the best rap duos ever. Save for Public Enemy no other group is more politically charged and anti-establishment than DP. The group took the BET stage and covered the topics of black power, social injustice and empowerment of the people in a way that only they can. M-1 and Stic Man have covered many topics over the years and have released individual projects too but none more potent than Let’s Get Free.
Notable album(s): Let’s Get Free
Of course this is not an exhaustive list. I know that there are many groups which can be added such as Outkast, EPMD, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Eric B and Rakim, Foreign Exchange, Rae Sremmurd, Bad Meets Evil. You can add further to the list in the comments section.
