When it comes to hip hop covers, often than not you’re left thinking “why would they even attempt covering THAT song!?” But then there are those that cause you to begin dancing around your room with excitement.
But what’s most surprising is when those covers are done by non-hip hop artists. I don’t know if it’s the initial shock of “oh my god, this actually sounds good,” or the weird juxtaposition of when the song is done in another genre entirely. The bottom line, though, is that they’re good and all we want to do is listen to them.
Here are 10 of the best hip hop covers from non-hip hop artists.
Ed Sheeran and Passenger — “No Diggity / Thrift Shop”
A pretty recent cover comes from music’s most soulful ginger, Ed Sheeran, who teamed up with Passenger’s Mike Rosenberg during a recent visit to Australian radio to give us an amazing mash up of Blackstreet’s 90′s hit “No Diggity” and Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop.”
Ed Sheeran — “Empire State of Mind”
Ed Sheeran makes another appearance on this list with his cover of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State” of Mind for BBC Radio 1. Ed can do no wrong, so it’s no surprise that this cover (like everything he does) is nothing short of perfection.
Ed Sheeran—”Pony”
Australian singer/songwriter Sia has become a familiar voice on the North American airwaves, with Flo Rida’s “Wild Ones” and David Guetta’s “Titanium.”
It’s no secret that she wrote Rihanna’s hit song “Diamonds.” And while Princess Riri definitely does the song justice with her distinctive voice, Sia’s rendition at the Norwegian-American Achievement Awards is pretty boss as well.
Watch Sia own it here
This November, Rihanna debuted her stunning video for “Diamonds,” which is a song off of her latest album Unapologetic. The song is pretty poetic — which is why I think it inspired so many of her fans to truly shine like diamonds.
The song has garnered many acoustic covers on YouTube. Some have a surprising indie vibe, and others features groups of friends coming together to sing the lovely song. Even fellow celebs are covering the song. Recently, for their first show in L.A in three years, the Jonas Brothers sang “Diamonds” in their classic acoustic tone. But they aren’t the only ones to have me swooning over Rihanna’s song. Here are 5 amazing covers of Rihanna’s “Diamonds.”
1. trinitylay
Rihanna’s new video “Diamonds” is more about raw emotion and visuals rather than a tangible plot. The singer is stripped of a fanciful wardrobe and dramatic makeup so we can focus on the power of the scenes unfolding around her. She rolls and smokes a cigarette filled with diamonds before the walls literally start falling around her.
The Anthony Mandler-directed video transitions between colour and black and white scenes of her floating in water, desperately running away from something (though we don’t know what), hanging out with a black stallion and witnessing violent scenes of war. It’s clearly stacked with symbolism, though it doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers other commenters.
Rihanna told MTV the visuals were very important to the story. “With ‘Diamonds,’ it was just a series of vignettes that we put together to help get the emotion across throughout the song ’cause the song changes and it builds, and there’s no real way that you could do that,” she explained. “You just want people to feel that and I wanted little cutaways of interactions that would give you the right emotion.”
“Diamonds” will be on her forthcoming album Unapologetic, out Nov. 19. And don’t forget to enter our Rihanna contest, ending Nov. 14.
Watch the video here
“Yet Again” — Grizzly Bear
Sometimes a band comes out with a music video so hauntingly beautiful you just can’t help but stare in amazement, engrossed in its drama. New York psychedelic rock band Grizzly Bear’s “Yet Again,” off their latest album Shields, is a mesmerizing piece of art. The video starts off with a beautiful figure skater who falls into a dark abyss and swims underwater only to find herself walking through a carnival, figure skates on and everything. The song is just as haunting as the video, with dark guitars and somber, dramatic vocals. If you’re into experimental rock music, Grizzly Bear will definitely impress you.
“The City” — Madeon
If only all the wars in the world were like the one in Madeon’s video for “The City,” our problems would all be solved! French electronic artist Madeon’s latest video pits armies of youth against each other… but just when things look like they’re getting serious it turns out their guns are filled with powder paint! A giant, epic colour war ensues. The dance track is definitely a catchy one, with vocals by Zak Waters. It’s a great mix of pop, indie, and dance, but now everytime I listen to it I can’t help but wish my hometown held paint battles too!
“Diamonds” — Rihanna Read more…
Rihanna’s new track “Diamonds” is a lot more slow burning than the club bangers we’re used to, but it gives her beautiful voice a time to shine. The single was produced by Stargate, who also did “Don’t Stop the Music,” “Rude Boy” and “Only Girl (In the World).”
Rihanna sings about a special boy in the chorus: ”So shine bright tonight, you and I/ We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky/ Eye to eye, so alive/ We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky.”
Rihanna told MTV this track sounds a lot more laid back and hopeful, which makes sense considering she describes her new album as a “happy and hippy record.” The single will be on her upcoming album, which will reportedly drop in November and MIGHT be called 7 Wonders (loves it).
Listen to it here:
Fabolous put all other sleazy rappers in history to shame by spending $28,000 at an Atlanta strip club on Wednesday night.
The rapper “made it rain” with the downpour of bills at the classically named Diamonds where radio personality Kenny Burns was throwing a party. I’m not sure where Fabolous stored all the bills. Maybe he splurged on a new Hummer specifically for storage.
I don’t know if this is really “fabulous” though, in fact, it seems like a huge waste of money to me. Better things the money could be spent on? RRSPs. Charity. Anything.[TMZ]
