This month two of raps biggest stars came out with a long-awaited, top secret (zero songs leaked before the release date) collaboration album called Watch the Throne.  Jay-Z and Kanye West produced what is sure to be one of the best albums of 2011, and maybe one of the best rap albums ever.  Each song on the album features verses from both rappers plus some guest stars like Beyonce and Frank Ocean. With the release of Watch the Throne, I have taken an interest in collaboration albums, and why they don’t happen more often.  They seem like a great idea to me, you get two artists for the price of one! But besides being frugal, I also like that you get to listen to two talented people on the same song, feeding off each other, and sharing their creative juices. So, in the spirit of collaboration albums, I’ve come up with my own list of albums that probably won’t, but should happen.  Just FYI, the list doesn’t necessarily include my favorite artists (though some are definitely on there), but more of the most interesting ones as a collaboration.  Enjoy…

• Beyonce and Alicia Keys – I don’t think this one really needs an explanation because both women have undeniable talent.  Their distinctive voices would sound amazing together, plus they pretty much run the music world when they have albums out, it’d be like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James singing a duet.  There would be so much female empowerment in one album I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
• Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj – The two best female rappers of all time.  Sorry Lil Kim. Plus Timbaland is obligated to produce the album just by association to Missy. Imagine how crazy the music videos would be!
• Jay-Z and Eminem – If you don’t already understand why this should happen, then look up the song Renegade.
• Rihanna and Katy Perry – It’d be like Pop music heaven!  Despite both of their questionable singing abilities, I respect both artists because they continuously put out quality, real pop songs, not this new dance/techno BS that seems to have become the radio’s new obsession.  Respect.
• T.I. and Ludacris – Despite the beef that previously existed between these two southern rappers, they really need to get over it and become friends so they can make an album together.  But only if Ludacris raps like he did on Chicken-n-Beer and T.I. stays out of jail.
• Akon and Tinie Tempah – For those of you who don’t know, Tinie Tempah is a new British rapper that is really winning me over.  I love what he raps about, how he raps it, and although it took me a while to get used to his accent, I now like that too.  If you add Akon’s insane, unique voice in between a few verses from Tinie…I think I smell a hit record.
• Amerie and Beyonce – Amerie wins the award for most underrated R&B singer of all time.  She gets no love on the radio or on the charts; however she still has one of the most amazing voices ever.  Her energetic performances and real talent would work in perfect harmony with Queen Bey.


And for the finale: Jay-Z and T-Pain – Not only are these two very different from each other but they don’t even like each other either.  However they share an extraordinary talent and love for what they do, which is why they would work perfectly together!  If both artists brought the same creativity, energy, and effort to one album together that they do separately on their own, it would honestly be the best album ever created, bold statement I know.  It’s time they put their differences behind them, make up a cool nickname for their collaborative efforts like T-Jay, and unite their two super powers.  Let’s do this.