Top 20 All Female Collaboration Songs
#20: “Problem” (2014) Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
Making the song of the summer is a tough task, but Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea knew exactly what to do. Following the success of Ari’s album “Yours Truly” and Iggy’s bestseller “Fancy” — more on that in a bit — the two women teamed up to make “Problem”-- otherwise known as the break-up jam of 2014. The jazzy saxophone combined with the infectious beat help set it apart from other singles released around the same time. The music video’s vintage aesthetic also played into its success, and shows a different side of Ariana's artistry. She also took the chance to showcase her impressive range, while Iggy showed off her clever wordplay. The single continued to catapult both of their careers into the stratosphere.
#19: “Black Widow” (2014) Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora
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So we’ve established that in 2014 Iggy Azalea was at the apex of her career. She maintained that achievement by dropping “Black Widow,”featuring Rita Ora. This bop hits different. While “Fancy” was on the poppier side, this single is darker, and shows a different side of the performer. The lyrics focus on themes of revenge and anger, and Ora’s passionate refrain maintains that energy. The anthem also introduced Ora to a broader audience, and helped her land her first top 10 hit in the United States. With all of the star power behind the tune– including Katy Perry, who helped write it– it only makes sense that it became so popular.
#18: “Say So” (2020) Doja Cat feat. Nicki Minaj
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While “Say So” may have made its debut on Doja Cat’s 2019 album “Hot Pink,” we couldn’t be more thankful that she decided to bring it into the new decade. In May of 2020, she teamed up with Nicki Minaj to release a remix. Given its previous virality, to say that people were excited is an understatement. Nicki, of course, is known for her immense talent and attitude, and used the feature as a chance to prove her enduring top skills. Doja’s vocals combined with Minaj’s signature flow help create an amazing song. The combination of their pure talent and ‘70s inspired beat immediately propelled it up the charts.
#17: “Fly” (2010) Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna
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When Nicki first burst onto the scene, she immediately proved she was here to stay. She released multiple singles from her first album, with one of the standouts being “Fly”, featuring Rihanna. Rihanna was at the peak of her own career at the time, following the success of her own iconic album, “Loud.” “Fly” shows a more vulnerable side of Minaj, as she raps about her anxieties and perils of achieving fame. Rihanna belting the chorus also helps sell the emotion of the song. While it may not have had the same reach as her previous single “Super Bass,” it still showcased her versatility as an artist– which has remained apparent in all her work since.
#16: “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” (2001) Eve feat. Gwen Stefani
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Eve and Gwen Stefani were THE duo of the early 2000s. They weren’t afraid to dabble in various genres together, such as their musical theater-inspired hit “Rich Girl”. However, their most popular collab is Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind”. With an infectious, old-school beat and plucky guitar overlay, it immediately makes a mark before the lyrics even get going. Eve effortlessly calls out haters throughout the verses, mocking them for ever having doubted her success. Gwen’s cool, calm delivery of the hook complements the overall vibe, and also makes it impossible to get the tune out of our heads. The success of this banger proved that they both had earned their place at the table.
#15: “Rain on Me” (2020) Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande are both modern pop icons. And they make amazing work together. “Rain on Me” uses house and EDM styles to create an upbeat groove, which shows off their powerful voices perfectly, including Grande’s gorgeous upper register and Gaga’s spoken word delivery. This bop was a glimpse of light in a very dark year, and gave listeners a chance to escape for just a few minutes. The duet was an instant success, and won the artists a slew of rewards– including the Grammy for Best Pop Duo Performance. Plus, who could ever forget their iconic masked performance?
#14: “Whatta Man” (1993) Salt-N-Pepa with. En Vogue
You know a track has made its mark when it still sounds fresh decades after being released. In 1993, rap group Salt-N-Pepa recruited the help of girl group En Vogue to release an updated version of Linda Lyndell’s “What A Man”. En Vogue takes on the chorus, using their impressive harmonies to sell the emotion of the lyrics. The rappers do the verses, where they list all the things they love about their partners. The cover added a modern and seductive edge to the original, and reintroduced it to a whole new generation. It’s a timeless, yet underrated love song that still resonates. “Whatta Man” is still considered a shining example of pure girl power in hip-hop.
#13: “Barbie World” (2023) Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice with Aqua
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Nicki Minaj’s fans have been referred to as Barbz for most of her career, so of course her placement on the “Barbie” soundtrack was essentially a given. She teamed up with Ice Spice– who had a meteoric rise to fame throughout 2023 – to create “Barbie World.” It immediately went viral, with the success of the film making it even more widespread. Sampling Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” plays into fans’ nostalgia in the best way possible, and makes us love it even more. The artists each showcase their distinctive styles, and this awesome jam proved that Nicki still hasn’t been knocked from the top, and that Ice Spice deserves every bit of her success.
#12: “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” (1979) Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
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Talk about a powerhouse team-up! This incredible experience starts off as a classic ballad, before transforming into an upbeat disco number. Streisand and Summer take turns with the verses, highlighting their gorgeous yet distinctive vocals. They come together to create heavenly melodies while warning listeners to leave their toxic situations. Despite the length of the extended remix versions, the production and their sheer talent helps the song never overstay its welcome. With this collaboration, both divas proved exactly why they were considered masters of their craft. This exemplary duet has fully cemented their place in pop culture for good– and it’s easy to hear why.
#11: “Can’t Remember to Forget You” (2013) Shakira feat. Rihanna
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Whoever had the idea for these two to work together is a genius. Shakira and Rihanna are both superstars in their own right, and teaming up only made them shine brighter. The latter joined the Colombian singer on “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” a multi-genre anthem about moving on from a poor relationship. Both stars were at the top at that point, making it an immediate success on the charts, and with fans. Given their individual reputations for creating bops, expectations were high– and they easily cleared them. Their individual styles mesh together perfectly over the guitar-laden chorus. And the video, well, is also iconic.
#10: “Fancy” (2014) Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
More Iggy! You knew this one was coming. Covered by the Killers and - of all people - Gary Oldman, this collaboration helped turn its young performers into household names. The fourth single from Iggy Azalea's debut album, “Fancy” was a huge commercial success and held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. Awarded 2014's most-streamed song on Spotify, as well as a Grammy nod for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, “Fancy”'s infectious chorus and awesome music video, which parodied 1995's “Clueless”, ensured the track was everywhere! Even though XCX had previously landed in the top-ten, both musicians were relatively unknown at the time, which only made Fancy's success even more impressive.
#9: “Give Me All Your Luvin'” (2012) Madonna feat. M.I.A, & Nicki Minaj
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While a mere footnote in Madonna's long and storied career, MDNA's lead single still marked a significant moment in recent music history. Bridging the gap between mainstream pop and rap, Madonna teamed up with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for a high-energy romp filled with football chants and the singer's trademark extravagance. Acting as a commercial for Madonna's upcoming album and her Super Bowl appearance, Minaj and M.I.A. are literally turned into cheerleaders to bask in the Pop Queen's presence. “Give Me All Your Luvin'” definitely makes the most out of its unusual trio.
#8: “Beautiful Liar” (2006) Beyoncé & Shakira
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A collaboration so good, the song needed to be released in multiple languages. A single recorded for the deluxe edition of Beyoncé's B'Day album, “Beautiful Liar” seamlessly blends Queen B's usual contemporary R&B preferences with Shakira's Latin style to create a female empowerment anthem for the ages. After falling in love with the same man, the powerful ladies opt to move on as the guy is not worth the effort. Bringing together two of the industry's greatest singers, unsurprisingly, “Beautiful Liar” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
#7: "Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)" (1997) Lil’ Kim feat. Angie Martinez, Left Eye, Da Brat, & Missy Elliott
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Originally featured on Lil' Kim's 1996 debut album, a year later, “Not Tonight” received a remix version that celebrated gender empowerment and sisterhood. Sampling Kool & the Gang's “Ladies' Night”, the remix surrounded Lil' Kim with some of the biggest women performers of the 90s, mainly: Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Angie Martinez, and Lisa Lopes. While the song formed part of the soundtrack for the Martin Lawrence film “Nothing to Lose”, the music video helped promote a slew of other female celebrities, with the likes of Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige making an appearance.
#6: “Me Against the Music” (2003) Britney Spears feat. Madonna
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What happens when the Pop Queen meets the Pop Princess? If your answer was "Dance Club Magic," then this entry should come as no surprise. The lead single from Britney Spears' fourth studio album, “Me Against the Music” allows the two stars to trade lines before Madonna takes charges for the bridge. While the song peaked at only number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was overshadowed by Spears' other mega hit, “Toxic”, “Me Against the Music” is still an energetic and bombastic club song that finds Madonna and Britney Spears at the height of their powers.
#5: “When You Believe’ (1998) Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey
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Created as the big showstopping number for DreamWorks' animated musical, “The Prince of Egypt”, Stephen Schwartz's “When You Believe '' won an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 1999 Oscars. Commercially and critically, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's pop version was only a modest hit - peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 - but, how often does the industry produce a duet featuring two of the greatest vocalists of all time? With a theme of spiritual devotion, “When You Believe” is just on the right side of cheesy.
#4: “Telephone” (2009) Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
While hardly a substitute for a terrible track, a fantastic music video can elevate a good song to greatness. There are precious few artists capable of going head-to-head with Lady Gaga, but Beyoncé is definitely one of those rare exceptions. A continuation of the “Paparazzi” music video, Telephone finds the icons starring in a pulpy tribute to “Thelma and Louise”, including a high-speed chase and a couple of dead bodies. For the song itself, “Telephone” is actually about Gaga's fear of failing herself by not working hard enough.
#3: “The Boy Is Mine” (1998) Brandy & Monica
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Hey, if a musician is in need of inspiration, they can do much worse than Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Serving as the lead single for both singers' second albums, “The Boy Is Mine” propelled Brandy and Monica to the top of the charts and reigned supreme for a staggering 13-weeks. Centering around two women's mutual interest in the same man, the duet garnered rave reviews and won the duo a Grammy for best R&B performance. As the best selling single of the year, Brandy and Monica's track actually outperformed Jackson and McCartney's “The Girl is Mine”.
#2: “Bang Bang” (2014) Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj
Fiery, sexy, and energetic; this smash hit is the very definition of a triple threat. Partially penned by super songwriter Max Martin, Bang Bang melds the brightest elements from Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj's signature styles to birth a masterpiece of timeless proportions. Launching with Jessie J's bouncy verse before Grande steps in to add a little bit of soul, Bang Bang arguably saves the best for last, as Minaj's rap verse ends the song on an explosive high! Catchy and unforgettable, the music industry would benefit from a couple more Bang Bangs.
#1: “Lady Marmalade” (2001) Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya & P!nk
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The first of two incredible Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim collaborations, Lady Marmalade actually dates back to the mid-'70s and has spawned countless highly-regarded covers. Included as part of “Moulin Rouge!”'s soundtrack, this bombastic 2001 iteration of the song condensed the grandiosity of Baz Luhrmann's musical into a short five-minute window. Bookended by Missy Elliott and multiplying the raunch factor by tenfold, Lady Marmalade threw caution to the wind to allow its charismatic singers to own the stage. Lasting at the top of the U.S. charts for five weeks, “Moulin Rouge!” could not have asked for a better hype track! Which all-female duet songs are your favorite to jam to? Let us know in the comments!
