Top 10 WORST Collaborations in Music History

#10: “Eenie Meenie” (2010)

Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber

On paper, having two rising stars on one track is a great idea. At the end of the 2000s, both Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber were enjoying immense commercial success, leading to this inescapable 2010 hit. “Eenie Meenie” is all about coping with a choosy partner, which is restated three different times in the first two lines of the initial verse alone. The uninspired lyricism doesn't end there, with the two stars relying on a nursery rhyme to sell the message. It’s all sung over a generic dance instrumental, creating a cookie-cutter tune that didn’t do much to highlight their individual talents. While it does its job of being a constant earworm, whether it’s a song people actually enjoy hearing is still up for debate.

#9: “With Love (Play-N-Skillz Remix)” (2007)

Hilary Duff feat. Slim Thug

There are some tracks that benefit from having a rap added to them. “With Love” by Hilary Duff, however, is not one of them. With the tune taking her in a more adult direction, it seemed that partnering with Slim Thug would add to that maturity. He opened the piece well, but was then relegated to a recurring ad-lib once her part kicked in. He remained in the background until the bridge ended, where he then swooped in to drop a generic verse that sounded as though it could’ve been tacked onto any pop song. Besides his contributions coming across like an afterthought rather than an actual collaboration, it didn’t have close to the same impact as the original.

#8: “Play Me” (2003)

Korn feat. Nas

One of the most respected rappers in the genre joining forces with one of the most well known metal bands should’ve easily resulted in a banger. Instead, we got “Play Me,” a track that takes the talent of both artists and waters it down. It consists of Nas spitting over a heavy rock instrumental, with only a bridge from Korn letting fans know they're even listening to one of their songs. The result is a song that sounds like two separate ones spliced together, with the best parts cut out of both. The fact that this came just five years after “All in the Family,” Korn’s collaborative flop with Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, made it clear that they should stay away from features altogether.

#7: “Make It Right” (2017)

Foo Fighters feat. Justin Timberlake (uncredited)

Imagine working with one of the most famous stars on the planet, just to banish him to a background vocal. That was what the Foo Fighters did in 2017 after Justin Timberlake asked to work with them. They said yes, and the monkey's paw curled. When listening to “Make It Right,” you may immediately notice all the trademarks of the band, complete with Dave Grohl's legendary vocals. However, Justin's vocals are all but nonexistent…unless you happen to listen closely enough to catch his faint backing harmonies during the chorus. Needless to say, those that were expecting a verse from him were left disappointed. A proper track featuring both artists would've been iconic, but this one left listeners wondering what could've been.

#6: “The View” (2011)

Lou Reed & Metallica

What do you get when you combine intense thrash metal with wordy, poetic verses? If your answer is one of the most misguided collaborations in history, then you’d be spot on. “The View” is proof that not all rock music sounds good together. Lou Reed’s lyricism sounds disjointed and off-rhythm compared to Metallica’s fast-paced instrumental, causing the two to clash. It took aspects of their musicianship that were usually lauded, and cheapened them to the point of near-parody. James Hetfield's ridiculous chorus was the cherry on top, making listeners wish that they could also be the table, and avoid listening to this altogether. Had one of the two adjusted their styles to better fit the other, it could’ve had the impact they were hoping for.

#5: “Dancing in the Street” (1985)

David Bowie & Mick Jagger

It may have been done for a good cause, but that still doesn't forgive its sins. Music legends David Bowie and Mick Jagger united to record a song that would help Live Aid rake in even more donations. They covered a Martha and the Vandellas R&B classic, “Dancing in the Street,” morphing it into a pop rock nightmare. It didn't elevate the original, and even their combined talent wasn't enough to distract from how quickly they’d thrown it together. It was reportedly finished in just two takes, which comes through in the final product. It doesn't help that it was released alongside a video that was campy even by 1980s standards, creating a whiff of a collaboration that should've been instantly iconic.

#4: “Can’t Stop Partying” (2009)

Weezer feat. Lil Wayne

Some songs were only meant to be fun tracks to dance to, and going against that grain can ruin them. Weezer’s “Can't Stop Partying” is a prime example. Originally written to be more upbeat, lead singer Rivers Cuomo adapted it with a darker instrumental, taking the happy lyrics and converting them into a critique on party culture itself. Lil Wayne was eventually recruited to supply a rap verse with a similar message. Both artists' delivery was lackluster and stagnant, even for the lesson they were attempting to teach. Considering both have released comparatively fun work, it was a rare miss for them not to lean into that instead of preaching a moral that has been done more effectively by others.

#3: “Birthday Cake (Remix)” (2012)

Rihanna feat. Chris Brown

When Rihanna announced an extended version of the interlude with a special guest, fans immediately began to speculate who that might be. Rather than the originally theorized Christina Aguilera, it ended up being Rihanna’s physically abusive ex, Chris Brown. The two had broken up a few years prior, after he’d injured her during an argument, leading many to assume they were done personally and professionally. That all changed when he was featured on the remix of “Birthday Cake.” His sexually charged verse was uncomfortable at best, given the context, making it impossible to listen to without recalling the incident. The pairing opened Rihanna up to scrutiny and ruined what had been a fan favorite track with excessive shock value.

#2: “Come With Me” (1998)

Puff Daddy feat. Jimmy Page

The movie monster wasn't the scariest part of 1998's “Godzilla.” That distinction goes to “Come With Me,” a song on its soundtrack featuring P. Diddy and Jimmy Page. Besides the fact that the piece is heavily carried by its Led Zeppelin sample, specifically the song Kashmir, it has aged like milk since its initial release. Both artists featured on it have been accused of heinous crimes. From Page’s established relationship with a then-underaged Lori Mattix and affinity for younger groupies to the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and worse made against Diddy, it's hard not to listen to this without thinking about their accused or confirmed transgressions. What could’ve been a great fusion of rock and rap is now forever tainted – and rightfully so.

#1: “Accidental Racist” (2013)

Brad Paisley feat. LL Cool J

It's been said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. The same can be said for Brad Paisley and LL Cool J’s 2013 flop, “Accidental Racist.” It's tone-deaf from top to bottom, with the former justifying wearing a shirt depicting the Confederate flag and bemoaning the South's reputation. The latter adds fuel to the fire by bringing up instances of actual subjugation and prejudice, before saying that both sides are guilty. The cringe cherry on top was the final chorus, where the rapper implied he'd forget slavery in exchange for his jewelry not being scrutinized. It's akin to a band-aid being used on a bullet hole, and was rightfully dragged for its performative activism by fans and casual listeners alike.

Which of these songs do you think had the most potential prior to being recorded? Let us know in the comments below!