Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter John Legend plays well with others. In addition to his numerous solo hits, the Ohio native has been spreading his vocals across the hip-hop landscape for over a decade completing some great collaborations. This Saturday, John will prove (not that he still has to) just why they call him Legend during the one hour special of InterludesLIVE on TV One.
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With his fourth studio album “Love In The Future” in stores now, we felt it was right to take a look back at some good songs he helped make great.
Dilated Peoples, “This Way” from “Neighborhood Watch” (2004)
Produced by Kanye West
You can file his uncredited contribution to this cut by Dilated Peoples under “paying dues”. While the chorus is handled by a collective, Legend comes in at the end to bring the entire song into church with his signature wails and he even makes a cameo in the video.
Slum Village, “Selfish” from “Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)” (2004)
Produced by Kanye West
In 2004, Legend was just beginning to get his name out there. While he had sung on plenty of Kanye West productions before Slum Village’s hit single, this was probably the first time audiences committed his name to memory. The hook was too infectious not to wonder who sang it. See, just reading this has you humming the melody.
Common, “They Say” from “Be” (2005)
Produced by Kanye West
John Legend helped Common secure his first classic album as he crooned over the keys from Ahmad Jamal’s “Ghetto Child” to lay the smack down on gossip mongers.
Common & Bilal, “Faithful” from “Be” (2005)
Produced by Kanye West
When Common returned to the music he became famous for in 2005, he brought along his G.O.O.D. Music comrade John Legend. After recruiting Bilal, Common and John Legend wonder about how life would be different if God were a woman in human form. The verses Common spits are great, as usual. However, the best part of the song comes at the end when Legend’s gruff vocals blend seamlessly with the smooth falsetto of Bilal. That outro made me want to lay down the pimping and step my love game up. Sidebar: if you know John Legend’s songs, you should know where that last sentence came from.
“Do U Wanna Ride?” by Jay Z from “Kingdom Come” (2006)
Produced by Kanye West
While “Encore” may be the more popular collab with Hov, this track is dripping with John Legend signature style as he let the ladies know that there were some places they could go and invited them to ride with him (and Jay-Z) .
“Slide Show” by T.I. from “Paper Trail” (2008)
Produced by Blac Elvis
On an album full of hit singles Legend gave T.I. chance to pause and reflect on his pending jail sentence.
Rick Ross, “Magnificent” from “Deeper Than Rap” (2009)
Produced By J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Legend was “Swimmin in women, champagne sipping” with the biggest bawse that you’ve seen thus far. Legends vocals tip toe over a sample of Angela Bofill’s “Gotta Make It Up To You.”
“Let’s Stop Playin,” by Ghostface from Ghostidini: Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City (2009)
Produced by Sean C and LV
A sleeper track from a totally under appreciated album by the Wallabee Champ features John Legend doing his best Marvin Gaye impression over a sample of “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”
MSTRKRFT, “Heartbreaker” from “Fist of God” (2009)
Produced by MSTRKRFT
Although John Legend has legions of devoted fans, many don’t know about his appearance on the Canadian EDM (electronic dance music) duo. We wouldn’t have heard the song if it weren’t for a choreographer using the song for a performance on the reality competition show “So You Think You Can Dance.” You better get your two-step on!
Al Green, “Stay With Me (By The Sea) from “Lay It Down” (2009)
Produced by Ahmir ‘?uestlove’ Thompson, Al Green, James Poyser
Around 2008, Legend began to push the boundaries on what R&B could sound like with his album “Evolver.” While he began to experiment musically on that project, he put his traditional R&B cloak on when he sang a breezy duet with Al Green. The song was so dope to music fans it won a Grammy in 2009 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group. Two years after they won the award, the category was discontinued.
Kanye West & Chris Rock, “Blame Game” from “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010)
Produced by Kanye West, DJ E Frank & Mike Dean
Kanye West was still in a dark place in his life when he dropped his fifth album. He called on Legend to help him fully exorcise the demon that was his relationship with Amber Rose. Legend took a broader approach to his verse where he sings somberly, “I’ll call you b***h for short. You’ll call me mother**ker for long.” Kanye decided he was going to go in the opposite direction and describe in detail about how neither he nor Amber wanted to take the blame for their failed relationship. It’s a good thing Kanye West and Amber Rose are each happy in other relationships. Well, Amber is. We don’t exactly know about Kanye because he doesn’t want the press to ever speak to him or just in general.
Hit-Boy, “WYW” from “HITstory” (2012)
Produced by Hit-Boy & Friends
Popular producer Hit-Boy made the transition from behind the boards to behind the mic with his mixtape “HITstory.” One of the best songs on the entire project was the John Legend assisted “WYW,” which stands for what ever you want. Over a hard-knocking beat and sampled jazz horns, Legend sings about doing whatever his woman wants. That means if she just wanted to kick it or just roll up some weed, John Legend was down.
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