Younger generations of rappers continue to tap Charlie Wilson to contribute his signature soulful sound to their catalogs.
Last week, Don Toliver recruited Wilson and Cash Cobain for “Attitude” from his upcoming fourth album Hardstone Psycho, which will be released on June 14 via Cactus Jack and Atlantic Records. Toliver had previously tapped Uncle Charlie for the “If I Had” cut from his last studio album Love Sick.
Nas also enlisted him for two back-to-back album features: Wilson was featured on “Car #85” on his 2020 album King’s Disease and then on “No Phony Love” on Nas’ 2021 album King’s Disease II.
Outside of being a featured artist, the 71-year-old legend has provided background vocals for rappers like Tyler, the Creator — on “EARQUAKE,” featuring Playboi Carti, and “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” from his 2019 Grammy-winning album IGOR — and Aminé, from contributing vocals on “Veggies” and “Turf” to being featured on “Dakota” from his 2017 debut album Good For You. “I really enjoyed working with Tyler, because he’s different than anybody, like Pharrell [Williams] was different when he first came in. I have fun with all of them,” the 13-time Grammy nominee told Variety earlier this year when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
While the Backstreet Boys-lifting “Everybody” didn’t end up making it onto Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign‘s Billboard 200-topping album VULTURES 1, Ye and Uncle Charlie have recorded numerous tracks together in the past, from “No Mistakes” from the former’s 2018 album ye to “Bound 2” from his 2013 album Yeezus to “All of the Lights” from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Billboard rounded up 18 hip-hop collaborations over the last decade that feature Charlie Wilson, in order from newest to oldest.
