For the past decade, the animated band Gorillaz has been releasing some of the most ground-breaking music across all genres. Their unique approach to old rock tropes gives the Damon Albarn-led band a refreshing sound that has resonated with fans across the globe. One of the characteristics that make the Gorillaz such an interesting topic is their collaborative efforts. The band has worked with legendary artists across all genres but they never lose their sense of self, instead of simply adding a verse over an instrumental they shape their songs with other artists in mind. They are able to bring artists out of their comfort zone and introduce them to new sonics and song structures, bringing a new perspective to the usual definition of collaboration.
The artists the Gorillaz welcome into their colorful sonic world are not just names pulled out of the top 100 charts. The way these collaborations turn out you can tell Albarn is a genuine fan of these artists and provides them platforms to inch out of their comfort zone in order to get the best out of these artists. This relationship goes both ways as well, the features on these Gorillaz tracks add so much depth and needed diversity to their discography. Not saying that Gorillaz need these features per say, there are plenty of moments in their discography where the band crafted unforgettable tracks without any help (“Gravity”, “Busted and Blue”, the list goes on).
While their discography is a melting pot of genres and influences from around the world, the Gorillaz have perfected the art of collaboration. They craft these beautifully executed songs and bring in outside talent who somehow perfectly blend in with the tracks seamlessly. Whether it be Kali Uchis’ sweet falsetto, Mavis Staples crooning , or JPEGMAFIA’s aggressive verses, the artists brought in to add to these songs seem right at home even if it’s a musical style the features are alien to.
The list can go on and on with examples of exemplary features, Glide narrowed it down to 10 of the Gorillaz’ most impactful and important collaborations in their decade-long run. Check out our picks below;
De La Soul
Featured on: “Feel Good Inc.,” “Momentz,” & “Superstar Jellyfish“
Arguably one of the Gorillaz’ most recognizable songs, “Feel Good Inc.” is a single from the band’s second album, Demon Days. This song is a perfect example of Gorillaz’ approach to collaboration, Albarn’s haunting vocals give the song a dreary texture. The rain cloud-esque sonics of the hook gives the listener a chance to be transported into the dark world being painted through the lyrics right before the high-octane verse provided by the members of De La Soul. This juxtaposition in tones gives the song an otherworldly feeling. The unpredictable pairing of Albarn and the hip-hop pioneers also came together on “Superstar Jellyfish” on Plastic Beach and Albarn was featured on the trio’s 2016 album And The Anonymous Nobody.
Del Tha Funky Homosapian
Featured on: “Clint Eastwood“
This is the collaboration that would become the blueprint for all Gorillaz collaborations. A single from their 2001 self-titled debut, “Clint Eastwood” is the first hint of the band’s unique approach to collaboration. On an album entranced with rhythmic rock tunes, this is essentially a hip-hop track with the Gorillaz taking the back seat and allowing Del Tha Funky Homosapien to shine effortlessly. Albarn simply provided the hook on the song and allowed Del to handle everything else, an unconventional approach to a feature, but that is what makes it so enticing. Albarn and the band put their egos aside for the greater good of the music, providing a drum-heavy instrumental that allows Del’s cartoonish vocals to take center stage, giving one of the more underrated rappers of all time his due time in the spotlight.
Vince Staples
Featured on: “Ascension“
When Gorillaz returned in 2017m it was materialized in their 26-song album Humanz. The feature-heavy project had stars of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, proving that the band can stick to their roots without being constrained in them. No song on the album personifies this sentiment more than track 2, “Ascension” featuring Vince Staples. The high-tempo track gave us the heads up that Humanz is more than another Gorillaz album, it was a foray into Albarn taking more of a producer role. Albarn only appears on the song towards the end, allowing Staples to prove why he is one of the brightest stars in music. This structure would continue on Humanz and would usher in a new era in the Gorillaz discography, one that is fearless and centers around song structure more than ever.
Mick Jones and Paul Simonon
Featured on: “Plastic Beach”
This historic collaboration runs deeper than another example of how the Gorillaz approach their collaborative efforts. This was the first time in over 30 years that the former Clash members Mick Jones and Paul Simonon played on a song together, according to reports the only reason they did so was that Albarn asked the pair to come together for the title track off of the Gorillaz third album. This song also proved that Albarn’s artistic vision for these collaborations goes deeper than added vocals. The light-hearted track has all three musicians working in complete unison, all the vocals are harmonies between Albarn and Jones while Simonon tears through a wonky bassline that ties everything together. If you were lucky enough to catch the 2010 tour, the two punk vets were in the live Gorillaz band doing their familiar power stances.
Bootie Brown
Featured on: “Dirty Harry “
Bootie Brown has engaged himself in the Gorillaz Universe. Along with being a frequent flier on the band’s tours, including their 2022 world tour, his feature on “Dirty Harry” is one of the most memorable features the Gorillaz have ever done. Brown’s buttery flow fits perfectly with the mood of the song; he comes in after Albarn sets the tone with his falsetto, lush string section, and children’s choir. Even after an onslaught of elements is brought into the song, Brown still steals the show with his creative approach to cadence. This song is another great example of how the structure of the songs plays a huge role in the Gorillaz sonic world, even after the song shifts textures, again and again, there is still room left for Brown to take over and craft a highlight from the Demon Days album.
Bobby Womack
Featured on: “Stylo”
Bobby Womack is the definition of a musical legend. His legacy spans over 50 years of recordings and these songs have been covered by the likes of the Rolling Stones. His efforts with the Gorillaz have introduced young listeners to his career and brought an undeniable rhythm to the tracks he had a hand in on Plastic Beach. Most notably are his contributions to the standout single “Stylo”, the rasp of his voice cuts through the cascading synths that make up a majority of this instrumental. Womack’s signature baritone vocals add a certain edge that the otherwise minimalist, cheery song would be missing.
Little Dragon
Featured on: “Empire Ants” & To “Binge“
The collaborations between Little Dragon and Gorillaz have gifted us some of the prettiest music the band has ever released. On a song like “Empire Ants”, you can hear the influence each artist has on each other. Albarn’s famously poetic and cryptic lyrics feel perfectly at home over Håkan Wirenstrand and Fredrik Wallin’s gentle keys and in return, Yukimi Nagano’s usually gentle vocals finds a new confidence after being paired with Albarn. Together the supergroup created a sinfully sweet melody that sticks with you like a good friend.
George Benson
Featured on: “Humility“
George Benson is a rare feature in the Gorillaz patheon. Not only does he not provide any vocals, but he is also one of the only features on 2018’s The Now Now. He contributed his signature guitar stylings to the intro song “Humility”, a song that explores the ups and downs of isolation. With such a dark theme running through the lyrics, Benson’s bright and colorful guitar chords add a needed juxtaposition to the song. With Benson’s guitar leading the instrumental, Albarn is able to explore darker themes in his lyrics, creating a track that is a fitting soundtrack to a day at the beach and a day in solitude all at once. The textures and brightness Benson provides on “Humility” steer this song in the direction of a full-fledged hit rather than a dark ballad.
Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def)
Featured on: “Stylo” & “Sweepstakes”
The artist formerly known as Mos Def provided potent verses that elevated these Gorillaz songs to unfathomable heights. Yasiin Bey has the Midas touch, his intelligent lyrics mixed with the pure confidence he exudes in his cadence makes him one of the best rappers to ever touch the mic. Mix Bey’s natural talents with Albarn’s ability to craft head-spinning song structures and you get “Stylo”. If the rest of the track sounds like riding a skateboard on a newly paved street, Bey’s verse is the cobblestone pathway right before the new construction. The delivery of this verse is itself smooth but the mixing techniques that add a cutthroat feeling to his words are exactly what makes Albarn a genius when it comes to the small details of his songs.
Lou Reed
Featured on: “Some Kind of Nature”
Lou Reed’s legacy speaks for itself. His career spans decades and to this day continues to inspire young artists to be daring in their creative endeavors, and the Gorillaz are one of the most daring acts out there. The two forces join together for a clinic on songwriting and how even the most minimalistic instrumental can fill a stadium if it is treated correctly. The simple synths that carry “Some Kind of Nature” become an afterthought once Albarn and Reed begin to trade vocal duty. Reed’s deep voice goes up against Albarn’s flute-like falsetto as if they’re both almost pining for the spotlight. Once you take a step back and see the full picture that this collaboration paints, you see the beauty of these opposing vocal tones and how the melody intertwines these tones to create one of the best moments in the Gorillaz discography.
