By Jamil Weeks

When a rapper is paired with the right producer, the magic created can capture a moment in time. Timeless music that ultimately reflects the times when it was recorded. In the 50 years since the birth of hip hop, we have witnessed collaborations so brilliant it was if destiny manifested itself in real time. On the flip side of that coin is the desperate sense of curiosity over what could have been if more stars had been in alignment at the right time. Unfortunately, there were some rapper/producer connections that could have changed the trajectory of rap music that were never meant to be. Instead, the universe had other plans and these potentially legendary links remained disconnected. But what if? What if you could assemble your top five rapper/producers mash-ups? Who would you choose and why? Imaginations run wild with the possibilities of our favorite rappers locked in with our favorite beat makers. The following will shed light on which artists I would select in my top five rapper/producer wish list.

Biggie x Just Blaze

Out of all the emcees that ever existed, Biggie Smalls was the nicest. The murder of Biggie remains as one of the biggest tragedies in hip hop. Unlike 2Pac, Biggie did not leave behind a ton of unreleased material. If Biggie had not been killed, it would have been interesting to hear his vocals laid over beats from producers like Swizz Beats, The Neptunes, Timbaland, etc. However, at his core, Biggie was a hardcore rapper who represented the Brooklyn streets. I feel like the perfect producer that could have laced Biggie with those head-nodding instrumentals that blended the radio and street styles beautifully was Just Blaze. Just Blaze is partially responsible for the signature style of The Roc and Dip Set in the 2000s. Just became a dual threat as a producer, capable of producing hit records that got heavy spins at clubs and parties as well as street flood the block with street anthems. Just's style was a blend of old school influences with contemporary techniques. The drum patterns on his beats would have been the perfect backdrop for Biggie to hit those pockets with his off-beat flow. With Biggie's range, I could definitely envision Just supplying Big with radio-friendly beats like "Breath", "Girls, Girls, Girls" or "Oh Boy". When Biggie wanted to get gully, I could imagine him rapping over beats like "Just Fire (The Roc)" or "U Don't Know". The commanding pitch of Biggie's voice combined with his naturally witty charm would have sounded like Heaven over Just Blaze's energetic beats with blaring horns and chipmunk-sounding samples. Biggie’s cinematic storytelling fits perfectly over Just Blaze production like butter on toast. Given Big's ties to Jay when he was alive, there is no doubt in my mind we would have heard that Biggie and Just Blaze song at some point. Rest in Peace to Christopher Wallace.

2Pac x DJ Premier

Biggie's arch-nemesis, 2Pac, is the subject of my next dream team-up. One of Pac's strongest qualities was his ability to make you feel the message he was conveying on wax. Despite aligning himself with the West Coast and beefing with New York City before his tragic passing, a producer Pac never got a chance to work with that I feel could have been a game changer was ironically one of the key producers that helped to shape 90’s East Coast boom bap. The producer in question is arguably the greatest beat maker and DJ ever in hip hop, the hip hop giant, DJ Premier. I feel Premo would have allowed Pac to tap back into the science of the five boroughs and ignite a different kind of beast in Pac. Perhaps even elevating Pac's lyricism in the process. Pac's fiery vocals over Premo's hard-slapping beats and thunderous drums would have been the modern day equivalent to mankind discovering fire for the first time. Picture Pac's rebellious street revolutionary manifesto sprinkled over aggressive piano jazz samples and head-jerking beats. You cannot tell me when you heard Gang Starr's "Betrayal" or Nas's "2nd Childhood" that a Pac verse over those instrumentals would not have sounded anything other than God status. Pac poetical lyrics would have been the perfect for for a mid-tempo Premier beat, like the modern-day version of the blues. Rest in peace Tupac Shakur.

Nas x J Dilla

Nas has always been that true artist going against the grain. Point in case, his beat selection made him somewhat of a polarizing figure in rap. When he has found chemistry with a producer, such as DJ Premier or Havoc, the end results yielded songs that were revered on a biblical level. One producer Nas could have formed a similar creative bond with was the late J Dilla. Both are highly influential artists on their own. Together, fans would have been catered to the conceptual brilliance of Nas over Dilla’s signature “swing” production that elevated hip hop production. Dilla played a heavy role in creating the style that influenced hip hop sub-genres like lofi and neo-soul. Nas was known for hopping on unique production that does not overshadow the vocals so the listener can focus on what he is saying. With Dilla’s unconventional but evolutionary style of blending rhythmic feels with repurposed sample chops, it would have raised the bar of Nas’s songwriting with a fresh, inventive sound. Nas was no stranger to jazz and funk-inspired beats, having previously worked with producers like Large Professor and L.E.S. Dilla’s genius way of meshing different genres with hip hop would have complimented Nas’s ability to wear his emotion on his sleeve with his introspective lyricism. Both Nas and Dilla have demonstrated a profound respect for music outside of hip hop. Dilla was capable of diversifying Nas’s sound palette with a fresh sound and a more universal appeal. We did get to hear some posthumous collabs between the two. “The Season” where Nas rapped over an unreleased Dilla beat, and Dilla’s “The Sickness”, produced by Madlib. However, to hear original songs from real studio sessions between the two would have been monumental. “Rest in peace James Dewitt Yancey.

Andre 3000 x Q-Tip

We actually may have come close to hearing Andre 3000 over a Q-Tip beat. A once-in-a-lifetime collaboration was in the plans between A Tribe Called Quest and OutKast before the tragic passing of Phife Dawg. Both artists chose a similar direction to making music with their individual sense of expression. The dream pair are champions of innovation and creating music that involves a deeper level of critical thinking on the human condition. If the two had locked in together, fans would have been treated to a progressive merging of southern slang over New York-influenced instrumentals. Imagine the crisp, precise delivery of Andre 3000’s complex bars over obscure jazz samples and swing drums. With Tip being a perfectionist behind the boards and Andre’s uncanny ability to marry his flow with the rhythm of the beat, Dre and Tip would have made beautiful music that stood the test of time. Who knows what kind of impact the two could have had with their imaginative talent joining forces for a full length album or even a trilogy of albums with an “Electronic Relaxation” vibe. With Andre retired from rap choosing the flute over the microphone, any future collaboration between the two seems unlikely. One can only dream.

Big L x The Alchemist

Big L was a future star-in-the-making. As part of the legendary DITC, his sound was shaped by Uptown producers like Buckwild, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, and Showbiz. However, an unlikely pairing with one of the architects of the modern-day East Coast sound could have shaken up the rap industry. Ironically, that East Coast architect is the California native, The Alchemist. Uncle Al is one of those producers that tailors beats to fit within a particular artist’s style. Alchemist’s chameleon-like production abilities enabled him to work with a diverse range of artists. Alchemist has been known to work with witty artists, like Freddie Gibbs and Action Bronson, as well as street lyricists, like Mobb Deep. Big L’s natural humor and charisma could have shined with Alchemist behind the boards. Both artists have an unpredictable quality to their music. Just like you never know what what brash punchline L is going to spit, you never know what sort of unexpected sounds Alchemist is going to cook up. Big L is known for delivering clever punchlines with shock value. L’s style of rapping combined with Alchemist’s sample-driven, gritty atmospheric beats could have inspired a sort of dark humor brand of rap. I envision their music with 70’s blaxploitation, Uptown New York-inspired production with meticulously delivered bars from Big L. With the sudden passing of Big L occurred as Alchemist’s career was just getting started, sadly we were robbed of a potential match made in Heaven. Rest in peace Lamont Coleman.

Although these dream collaborations will never happen, it is fun to imagine what they would have sounded like. The closest we got to any of these dream scenarios is either through blended mixtapes or posthumous projects. For example, you can go on YouTube right now and find a mixtape by DJ Tiger where he took 2Pac vocals and put them on DJ Premier instrumentals. We also technically got to hear Biggie on a Just Blaze beat (“Living in Pain”) on the posthumous Duets: The Final Chapter album. While it may not be as good as the two artists working together, you can get an idea of what some of these rappers would have sounded like on some of these producers’ beats. At the end of the day, I am grateful for all the great music these artists gave us and, in some cases, continue to give. No telling how different hip hop music would be today if these collabs happened. All these artists have influenced the music tremendously, which is what causes me to often daydream of the possibilities in some of these artists getting together to make magic.