Special Report

Top Musical Collaborations That Hit No. 1

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“Old Town Road,” the western-themed hit song from rapper Lil Nas X feat. country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has been the No. 1 song in the U.S. since April. While the song represents one of the most bizarre musical collaborations in recent memory, it’s far from the first musical partnership to result in a chart-topping tune.

When multiple musicians team up on a song they can draw from one another’s fanbases. They can also work off of one another’s strengths. For instance, pop singers frequently collaborate with rappers to bring an additional dimension to their songs. The results are often enthusiastically embraced by listeners.

24/7 Tempo has identified the top musical collaborations based on Billboard performance. Each song has not only reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart, but also spent multiple weeks in that top position.

Many of the most popular musical collaborations feature two or more of the music industry’s biggest stars working together. Prior to their marriage, Beyoncé and Jay-Z scored a huge hit with “Crazy in Love” in 2003. Twenty years earlier, Beatle Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson sent their collaborative song “Say Say Say” to No. 1, where it stayed for six weeks. These artists are among those with the most No. 1 hits in music history, so it’s unsurprising that they’ve had success working together.

Independent success, however, is not necessary to the release of a popular collaborative song. Singer Halsey hadn’t released a Top 10 single before being featured on The Chainsmoker’s No. 1 hit “Closer.” Houston rapper Slim Thug also had limited success on the pop charts before appearing on Beyoncé’s hit song “Check on It.”

Click here to see the top musical collaborations that hit No. 1.

To identify the top musical collaborations that hit No. 1, 24/7 Tempo identified the songs on which multiple independent musicians perform that spent at least five weeks in the top position on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop music chart. Songs that spent more weeks in the No. 1 position were ranked higher than those that spent fewer. In cases where multiple songs spent the same number of weeks at No. 1, the total number of weeks spent on the Hot 100 in any position was used to determine which song was ranked higher.

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51. Lady Marmalade
> Artist: Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & P!nk
> Date song reached No. 1: June 2, 2001
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20

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50. Check On It
> Artist: Beyoncé feat. Slim Thug
> Date song reached No. 1: February 4, 2006
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28

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49. Lollipop
> Artist: Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
> Date song reached No. 1: May 3, 2008
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28

Jason Kempin / Getty Images

48. Empire State Of Mind
> Artist: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
> Date song reached No. 1: November 28, 2009
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 30

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47. E.T.
> Artist: Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
> Date song reached No. 1: April 9, 2011
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 30

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

46. I’m Real
> Artist: Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
> Date song reached No. 1: September 8, 2001
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 31

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Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

45. Can’t Hold Us
> Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
> Date song reached No. 1: May 18, 2013
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 39

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

44. I’m Your Angel
> Artist: R. Kelly & Celine Dion
> Date song reached No. 1: December 5, 1998
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18

Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images

43. Say Say Say
> Artist: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
> Date song reached No. 1: December 10, 1983
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 22

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Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

42. My Boo
> Artist: Usher and Alicia Keys
> Date song reached No. 1: October 30, 2004
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

41. Promiscuous
> Artist: Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland
> Date song reached No. 1: July 8, 2006
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26

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40. Ain’t It Funny
> Artist: Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
> Date song reached No. 1: March 9, 2002
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

39. California Gurls
> Artist: Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg
> Date song reached No. 1: June 19, 2010
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

38. Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down
> Artist: Puff Daddy feat. Mase
> Date song reached No. 1: March 22, 1997
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

37. Live Your Life
> Artist: T.I. feat. Rihanna
> Date song reached No. 1: October 18, 2008
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

36. We Are Young
> Artist: fun. feat. Janelle Monae
> Date song reached No. 1: March 17, 2012
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 42

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Roger Kisby / Getty Images

35. Thrift Shop
> Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
> Date song reached No. 1: February 2, 2013
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 49

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

34. Party Rock Anthem
> Artist: LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
> Date song reached No. 1: July 16, 2011
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 68

Samantha Appleton / Official White House Photo

33. Ebony And Ivory
> Artist: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
> Date song reached No. 1: May 15, 1982
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

32. Black Beatles
> Artist: Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane
> Date song reached No. 1: November 26, 2016
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

31. Love The Way You Lie
> Artist: Eminem feat. Rihanna
> Date song reached No. 1: July 31, 2010
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 29

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Larry Busacca / Getty Images

30. Umbrella
> Artist: Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
> Date song reached No. 1: June 9, 2007
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 33

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29. Goodies
> Artist: Ciara feat. Petey Pablo
> Date song reached No. 1: September 11, 2004
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 38

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28. Fancy
> Artist: Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
> Date song reached No. 1: June 7, 2014
> Total weeks at No. 1: 7
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 39

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Mike Coppola / Getty Images

27. Crazy In Love
> Artist: Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
> Date song reached No. 1: July 12, 2003
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Wikimedia Commons

26. It’s Now Or Never
> Artist: Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
> Date song reached No. 1: August 15, 1960
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 34

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Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

25. Rockstar
> Artist: Post Malone feat. 21 Savage
> Date song reached No. 1: October 28, 2017
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 46

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

24. Girls Like You
> Artist: Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
> Date song reached No. 1: September 29, 2018
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 49

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23. Somebody That I Used To Know
> Artist: Gotye feat. Kimbra
> Date song reached No. 1: April 28, 2012
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 59

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22. Candy Shop
> Artist: 50 Cent feat. Olivia
> Date song reached No. 1: March 5, 2005
> Total weeks at No. 1: 9
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23

ShowBizIreland / Getty Images

21. Endless Love
> Artist: Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
> Date song reached No. 1: August 15, 1981
> Total weeks at No. 1: 9
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

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20. Baby Boy
> Artist: Beyoncé feat. Sean Paul
> Date song reached No. 1: October 4, 2003
> Total weeks at No. 1: 9
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 29

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

19. Work
> Artist: Rihanna feat. Drake
> Date song reached No. 1: March 5, 2016
> Total weeks at No. 1: 9
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 36

Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

18. Maria Maria
> Artist: Santana feat. The Product G&B
> Date song reached No. 1: April 8, 2000
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26

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17. Dilemma
> Artist: Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
> Date song reached No. 1: August 17, 2002
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 29

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

16. One Dance
> Artist: Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla
> Date song reached No. 1: May 21, 2016
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 36

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

15. Gold Digger
> Artist: Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
> Date song reached No. 1: September 17, 2005
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 39

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14. Low
> Artist: Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
> Date song reached No. 1: January 5, 2008
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 40

Adam Bettcher / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

13. We Found Love
> Artist: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
> Date song reached No. 1: November 12, 2011
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 41

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12. Are You Lonesome To-night?
> Artist: Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
> Date song reached No. 1: November 28, 1960
> Total weeks at No. 1: 11
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23

Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

11. I’ll Be Missing You
> Artist: Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112
> Date song reached No. 1: June 14, 1997
> Total weeks at No. 1: 11
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 33

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Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

10. Yeah!
> Artist: Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris
> Date song reached No. 1: February 28, 2004
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 45

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

9. Blurred Lines
> Artist: Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell
> Date song reached No. 1: June 22, 2013
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 48

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

8. See You Again
> Artist: Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
> Date song reached No. 1: April 25, 2015
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

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Christopher Polk / Getty Images

7. Closer
> Artist: The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey
> Date song reached No. 1: September 3, 2016
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

6. Smooth
> Artist: Santana feat. Rob Thomas
> Date song reached No. 1: October 23, 1999
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 58

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5. The Boy Is Mine
> Artist: Brandy & Monica
> Date song reached No. 1: June 6, 1998
> Total weeks at No. 1: 13
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

4. Uptown Funk!
> Artist: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
> Date song reached No. 1: January 17, 2015
> Total weeks at No. 1: 14
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 56

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

3. Old Town Road
> Artist: Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
> Date song reached No. 1: April 13, 2019
> Total weeks at No. 1: 15
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19

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skinnylawyer / Wikimedia Commons

2. One Sweet Day
> Artist: Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
> Date song reached No. 1: December 2, 1995
> Total weeks at No. 1: 16
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

1. Despacito
> Artist: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
> Date song reached No. 1: May 27, 2017
> Total weeks at No. 1: 16
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

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