Pop Culture | Music

10 Songs We Only Listened To Because Of The Guest Singer

Musicians will bring guests onto their songs for a number of reasons. Sometimes they need someone to add a dimension to the song that they cannot, while other times they want to give a shoutout to someone they find talented. Sometimes, like in the case of these 10 songs, the guest artist turns out to be so good that they overshadow the main.

Missy Elliot ft. Ludacris, Trina - "One Minute Man"

Ludacris is basically the King Midas of hip-hop; every track he touches turns to gold. This Missy Elliott track is no exception.

Jay-Z ft. Eminem - "Renegade"

The first of many rap duets we'll see on this list where the headlining performer get completely outclassed by the featured artist, Eminem had some pretty big shoes to fill when it came time to appear on Jay-Z's The Blueprint. He delivered, and then some.

Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg - "Nuthin' But A G Thang"

Dr. Dre was well-established thanks to his work with N.W.A. and founding Death Row Records, and one of the first bits of talent he scouted was one of the best. Snoop went on to arguably as successful a rapper as Dre, if not moreso.

Craig Mack ft. Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Rampage, & LL Cool J - "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)"

A song containing a veritable who's-who of rap, Mack unfortunately became best-remembered as the man who introduced the world to Biggie Smalls, AKA The Notorious B.I.G.

These next few artists really do get outshined by their guests...

Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink - "Lady Marmalade"

This song is more of a group effort than really "featuring" anybody, but Christina's pipes absolutely steal the show from the rest throughout the song.

The Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"

Merry Clayton, the singer hired for the song's chorus, is so good you can actually hear Mick Jagger exclaim in surprise in the background of the song!

Queens of the Stone Age - "In The Fade"

Singer/songwriter Mark Lanegan has frequently collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age, and in the case of songs like "In The Fade," his deep, gravelly vocals often completely overshadow singer Josh Homme.

Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood"

Damon Albarn is no slouch of a singer, so it's always a surprise at just how good he is at getting guest artists for Gorillaz that steal the entire show. The band's first big hit established this firmly, thanks to Del Tha Funky Homosapien's rap verses that comprise most of the song!

Heart - Ring Them Bells

Heart is a powerhouse of a band, but when you add in the haunting vocals of the late Alice in Chains frontman, Layne Staley, their music takes on entirely new dimensions.

Nas ft. A.Z. - "Life's A B****"

The name "A.Z." isn't super well-known today, but he absolutely destroys one of the singularly most talented rappers in the genre on this track. Respect.

Know any songs where you think the guest artist was even better? Let us know in the comments!