Nine performances where the lead voice depends on someone standing just off mic — a choir, a duet partner, a talkbox hook — doing work the credits barely mention.
Kanye West - Two Words ft. Mos Def, Freeway, The Boys Choir Of Harlem
KanyeWestVEVO
a full boys choir carries the hook, not the rappers
Kendrick Lamar - These Walls (Live on Ellen) ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat
KendrickLamarVEVO
anna wise and bilal make the walls close in
Kendrick Lamar - Father Time ft. Sampha (Live on SNL)
KendrickLamarVEVO
sampha's hook does more than father time's verse
Kendrick Lamar - LOYALTY. ft. Rihanna
KendrickLamarVEVO
rihanna sings the chorus like she wrote the song
YE - ALL THE LOVE (feat. ANDRÉ TROUTMAN)
Kanye West
andré troutman's talkbox is the actual hook here
YE - FATHER (feat. TRAVIS SCOTT)
Kanye West
travis scott's ad-libs are load-bearing, not decoration
Lido Pimienta: Tiny Desk Concert
NPR Music
a chorus of women turns the desk into a choir loft
Miguel: Tiny Desk Concert
NPR Music
miguel's backing singers hold the falsetto up
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign - Vultures (Havoc Version) feat. Bump J & Lil Durk
Kanye West
ty dolla sign hums the melody ye forgot to write
1–9 SELECT · ARROWS ROAM · SPACE PLAY · ↵ THEATER · ESC STOP · S SHUFFLE · ? KEYS
