The 10 Best Odd Future Guest Features

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With the recent release of DJ Drama’s Quality Street Music, we (finally) got to hear what happens when Waka Flocka and Tyler, the Creator link up “I’ma Hata.” There was quite a bit of commentary regarding how well Tyler meshed with Drama and Waka. We’d known Tyler was a fan of Waka for a while now, but the resulting song had us asking: does that appreciation make for a great pairing? How does the Odd Future camp, who collaborates internally more often than with artists outside of their circle, stack up when it comes to guest appearances? Take a look at the 10 best examples of OFWGKTA members stepping outside of their campsite and attempting to play nice.

Click “next” or click the pictures to read/listen…

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10. Kanye West & Jay-Z ft. Frank Ocean – “Made In America”

While Frank‘s hook on “No Church In The Wild” trumps this one, his chorus on “Made In America” ties the bars from Kanye and Jay together beautifully. He bares his soul on this track, passionately exposing the achievements of those who at one time were thought to not deserve a place at the table. Now they’re rejoicing over banana pudding and the successes attributed to achieving the American Dream.

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9. Charlie XCX – “You’re The One (The Internet Remix ft. Mike G)”

Charlie XCX’s “You’re The One” had already been getting the remix treatment, and out of left field word came that The Internet (aka Syd tha Kyd & Matt Martians) were tapped to cook up their own version. They brought the synths out, adding a vibrant bop to the original. Mike G, possibly one of the most underrated MCs out of OF, was tapped to add a verse to this one, and he maintains his smooth, cool aura while chatting up the women. For those who judge Odd Future based on Tyler’s lyrical content, this helps showcase the diversity within the crew.

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8. Smoke DZA ft. Domo Genesis & ScHoolboy Q – “Ashtray”

Domo and DZA had collaborated on “SWV” from Sweet Baby Kushed God, but there’s something about his verse on this Rugby Thompson track. Maybe it’s the Harry Fraud instrumental. Damier has always been nice, and has been easily written off as being the “stoner” of the crew, but he’s got bars when he wants, and he definitely holds his own on this one. There’s a certain fury that’s found here, with Domo aiming his darts at those who might have been sleeping on him.

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7. Pusha T ft. Hodgy Beats, Liva Don & Tyler, The Creator – “Oooh”

Taken from the Play Cloths Holiday 2011 tape, “Oooh” finds Hodgy and Tyler bookending the track. Yup, the Re-Up Gang boys let the Odd Future wolves lead-off and clean-up on this one, bigging them up during their shared 16! No one would say that this is the best Hodgy or Tyler has spit, but the fact that they’re on someone else’s tape, taking over a track? Kind of reminiscent about how they took over the summer of 2011.

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6. M.E.D. ft. Hodgy Beats – “Outta Control”

One of the more interesting developments since Odd Future has gotten popular has been Hodgy‘s dealings with Stones Throw. The biggest collaboration from those two entities was Hodgy trading verses with M.E.D. on this Madlib-produced banger. Hodgy’s known for abstract rhymes at times, but it feels like he’s very focused on this one. Makes you think/wish/hope that Madlib and Hodgy would link up for more work – even if it just means we get more zany videos like this:

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5. Lykke Li – “I Follow Rivers (I Follow You Tyler, the Creator Remix)”

Tyler‘s let it be known on a number of occasions that outside of Odd Future, The Neptunes, Waka Flocka and Lil B, he doesn’t listen to a lot of rap. People who got caught up on the MURDERDEATHKILL fantasies that plagued much of the OF output were put off when he’d mention being into Lykke Li and artists of her ilk. We figure many were shocked when he got the official nod to remix her “I Follow Rivers,” turning it into a dark, dreary MURDERDEATHKILL fantasy. It starts out sounding great, then he just takes the whole thing into a different direction before coming back up for air – life preserver(s) in hand.

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4. The Game ft. Tyler, the Creator & Lil’ Wayne – “Martians vs. Goblins”

You know how infectious Tyler‘s aura is? Game called Tyler for a feature and totally jacked his style. The 666 talk? Abusing celebrities? Hell, Tyler even dissed Game ON HIS OWN TRACK! Tyler really shows how well he can flow when he’s not worrying about creating a psychotic playground to express his inner demons in.

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3. Flying Lotus ft. Earl Sweatshirt & Captain Murphy – “Between Friends”

One thing we hope changes is that as he gets more of a feel for the music industry, Earl gets more features on non-Odd Future projects. He’s easily the most critically acclaimed rapper within Odd Future, and he’s only got one full album to his credit. When word hit the ‘Net that Earl had a new track with Flying Lotus, everyone knew that it’d be just as mesmerizing as it ended up being. FlyLo cooked up some hypnotic space loops and Earl kicked some fierce bars with the (still mysterious) Captain Murphy. Voice is deeper, but the pen is just as sharp.

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2. Pusha T ft. Tyler, the Creator – “Trouble On My Mind”

For such a huge fan of the Neptunes, we have to imagine Tyler almost shed a tear (or shit his pants) when he got the call to be featured on a track with Pusha T over some slick Neptunes production. And it’s damn-near flawless. Both MCs get to be themselves, Tyler “gets ’em” at Pharrell’s behest but doesn’t outshine Pusha T – which is what a good feature does. And the video played well on the opposite sides of the game that Push and Tyler operate on.

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1. Kanye West & Jay-Z ft. Frank Ocean – “No Church In The Wild”

Human beings in a mob

What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a God?

What’s a God to a non-believer who don’t believe in anything?

Will he make it out alive? Alright, alright, no church in the wild

Talk about an awesome way to start off one of 2011’s most captivating albums, Watch The Throne. This was a huge, ominous track to open the album with, and while many dismissed the album for being too much about flashing cash, they missed the undertones in “No Church In The Wild,” which is as much about the pandemonium that is caused by the chasing of those riches. Plus that warped guitar is intoxicating. Why do you think umpteen movie trailers and commercials have used it? And in the middle, it’s Frank, summing up the tale with his poetry. Beautiful track that just so happens to be the biggest and best OF feature out there.

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