There was no video, but Slick Rick did perform the song with Al on multiple televised occasions. We were only about a year deep into the world of R&B and Rap collaborations but they were about to become more frequent between spring and summer 1989. Surprising no one, the single peaked at number two on the Hot Black Singles charts in May 1989 but again failed to cross over to the Hot 100. His final single off In Effect Mode was “If I’m Not Your Lover," the remix featured Slick Rick whose voice he imitated on “Off On Your Own (Girl).” On the single cover you practically needed a magnifying glass to see Slick Rick’s name as the featured artist. Sure! had come off the 1988-89 Heart Break Tour with New Edition and Bobby Brown, a bonafide superstar. Sure and Slick Rick's 1989 single "If I'm Not Your Lover" Source: Warner Music GroupĪl B. Sure! featuring Slick Rick - “If I’m Not Your Lover (Remix)” (1989)Ĭover of Al B. More importantly, Hev appeared in the video and performed the song live with Levert on multiple occasions.Īl B. If anything, “Just Coolin’” didn’t sound too far off from the Eddie F, Teddy Riley or Marley Marl production Hev would’ve rapped on for one of his own singles.Īs to be expected, “Just Coolin’” hit number one on the Hot Black Singles charts in March 1989 but never crossed over to the Hot 100, further cementing the inevitability of R&B acts doing more organic collaborations with rappers or raps groups. Heavy D wasn’t placed on here as an afterthought and no A&Rs or executives had to force Levert into collaborating with him. In fact, Levert was adept at making hits as the sound of R&B shifted (their 1987 jam “Casanova” being proof of this.) Just Coolin’ is the album-defining cut, the titular song. In the case of Levert, both Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon were young enough to have grown up with Rap. Levert featuring Heavy D - “Just Coolin’” (1988/89)Ĭover of Levert and Heavy D's single, "Just Coolin'" Source: Atlantic Records This ensured that more established Black music acts would employ a rapper in hopes of securing a hit as the sound of R&B switched over to New Jack Swing. As a result, “Don’t Rock The Boat” peaked at number three on the Hot Black Singles chart in November 1988 but never cracked the Hot 100. Further proven by the fact they didn’t give Ecstacy’s name the small type treatment on the single cover. In this particular case, Ecstacy wasn’t going to alienate their core fan base or make consumers or radio DJ’s shy away from a Midnight Star song. The success of this experiment ensured there’d be more collaborations with rappers in the future. Sadly enough, he never once acknowledged Roxanne Shante’s role in making the song a hit. In August 1988, “Loosey’s Rap” hit number one on the Hot Black Singles and would be the last number one of Rick James’ music career. Inexplicably, Roxanne Shante was nowhere to be seen in the video once it hit BET and MTV. On the single sleeve, both Roxanne Shante & Big Daddy Kane are credited in small type so as to not deter rap-hating radio programmers/DJ’s or older music fans from playing or purchasing it. Cold Chillin’ was on Warner Bros, and because of the success of Big Daddy Kane-penned albums for people like Biz Markie, a collabo seemed like a definite home run. Rick hadn’t had a hit since his 1985 project Glow, so Warner paired him with Roxanne Shante of the Juice Crew. Rick James left Motown after the failure of his 1986 LP The Flag, and signed with Reprise/Warner for his 1988 offering Wonderful. Rick James featuring Roxanne Shante - “Loosey’s Rap” (1988)Ĭover of Rick James, Roxanne Shante and Big Daddy Kane's 1988 single, "Loosey's Rap." Source: Reprise Records With that being said, here are the first 10 R&B/Rap collaborations on record. Chaka hated it and it didn’t lead to more pairings of the sort. I'm also leaving out early forced collaborations, like Chaka Khan’s cover of Prince’s “I Feel For You” with Grandmaster Melle Mel. Very few were organic, but the success of these early pairings ensured they’d become standard as the years passed.Ī couple of things to note: I won’t be including songs where the artist themselves rapped either part of or an entire verse themselves (example: Bobby Brown on “Don’t Be Cruel” or Vanessa Williams on “The Right Stuff”). Most early R&B/rap collaborations were either forced or orchestrated by record executives. Older Black music executives never embraced the genre, but when they saw how many rap singles and rap albums topped the chart in 1988 they began to suggest established R&B acts collaborate with rappers to stay relevant and make hits on black radio both old and young fans could enjoy. Many of black music’s gatekeepers weren’t fond of rap, including Don Cornelius, Frankie Crocker, and Donnie Simpson. This sea change opened the door to R&B artists finally doing collaborations with rappers.
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