Don Toliver, Tyler, the Creator, Aminé, Ye, Nas and more all have this thing in common in their discography.
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.
Billboardrounded up 18 hip-hop collaborations over the last decade that feature Charlie Wilson, in order from newest to oldest.
Don Toliver feat. Charlie Wilson & Cash Cobain, "Attitude"
Toliver recruited Wilson and Cash Cobain for “Attitude” from his forthcoming fourth album Hardstone Psycho. “Attitude” samplesSnoop Dogg,Pharrelland Wilson’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 6 smash “Beautiful.”
Don Toliver feat. Charlie Wilson, "If I Had"
Toliver tapped Uncle Charlie for “If I Had” from his album Love Sick, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on . “If I Had” samples Jai Paul‘s 2019 single “Do You Love Her Now.”
Fetty Wap feat. Charlie Wilson & Ronald Isley, "Sweet Yamz (Remix)"
Fetty Wap recruited Wilson and Ronald Isley for the remix of “Sweet Yamz,” which reached No. 48 on .
Nas feat. Charlie Wilson, "No Phony Love"
Nas featured Wilson on “No Phony Love” from his 2021 album King’s Disease II, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It also earned a best rap album nod at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
BROCKHAMPTON feat. Charlie Wilson, "I’LL TAKE YOU ON"
BROCKHAMPTON recruited Uncle Charlie for “I’LL TAKE YOU ON” from the collective’s 2021 album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. “My friend had been working with him, and I just asked him, ‘Can you introduce me to Charlie Wilson?'” Romil Hemnani of BROCKHAMPTON said during an MTV Fresh Out Live interview. “And he was kind enough to do it, so we sent him the song and he loved it, did his Charlie Wilson thing on it, and it’s one my favorite songs in the album now.”
O.T. Genasis feat. Chris Brown & Charlie Wilson, "Back To You"
O.T. Genasis enlisted Wilson and Chris Brown for his 2020 single “Back to You,” which samples The Gap Band’s 1982 funk hit “Outstanding.”
Aminé feat. J.I.D & Charlie Wilson, "Roots"
Aminé tapped J.I.D and Uncle Charlie for “Roots” from his 2020 album Limbo, which reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. “Roots” samples George Smallwood & Marshmellow Band’s 1981 track “I Love My Father.”
Nas feat. Charlie Wilson, "Car #85"
Nas brought back Uncle Charlie on “Car #85” from his 2020 album King’s Disease, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It also won best rap album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, marking Nas’ career-first Grammy win.
CHIKA feat. Charlie Wilson, "Can’t Explain It"
CHIKA featured Wilson on her 2022 single “Can’t Explain It,” which interpolates Tamia’s 1998 R&B hit “So Into You.”
Guapdad 4000 feat. Chance the Rapper & Charlie Wilson, "Gucci Pajamas"
Guapdad 4000 enlisted Wilson and Chance the Rapper for “Gucci Pajamas” from his 2019 debut album Dior Deposits. The Oakland MC broke down in his verified Genius commentary how he met Wilson during one of Guapdad’s cage matches and the two hit the studio after.
“We made good music. We’ve been best friends ever since. My uncle,” he wrote, later explaining how Wilson was brought up again during a brainstorming session with The Stereotypes, who produced “Gucci Pajamas.” “I was wanting to put the song on there, we was thinking about people that sound tight…. I don’t know if I brought it up or Ray [Romulus] brought it up, but either way, Uncle Charlie got brought up. And I kind of called his bluff. I didn’t know he even knew you. So I pulled his card. I was like, Oh, if you know him so well, get him. And he was like, done. And then we left it out there. I took a shot, did a couple of songs. And my manager hit me the next day, like, we were in with Charlie Wilson on Wednesday. I almost s–t my pants. I was like, ‘F–k, what?'”
Tyler, the Creator feat. Playboi Carti, "EARFQUAKE"
Wilson and Jessy Wilson provided background vocals for Tyler’s “EARFQUAKE,” featuring Playboi Carti, from his 2019 album IGOR, which topped both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It also won best rap album at the 2020 Grammy Awards, marking Tyler’s career-first Grammy win. “EARQUAKE” reached No. 13 on the Hot 100 and No. 5 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, making it his highest-charting hit on both charts to date, as well as No. 28 on Rhythmic Airplay.
Last month, Tyler brought him out to perform “EARQUAKE” during his Coachella headlining set. “Every time I write a goddamn song with vocals, I copy this n—a right here! The mothaf–king greatest, the legend, this n—a is still up here killing it, man,” Tyler told the crowd after their performance.
Tyler, the Creator, "I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE"
Wilson contributed background vocals to Tyler’s “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” from IGOR.
Vic Mensa feat. Charlie Wilson, "The 1 That Got Away/No Shoes"
Vic Mensa featured Wilson on “The 1 That Got Away/No Shoes” from his 2018 EP Hooligans. “The 1 That Got Away/No Shoes” samples Eddie Kendricks‘ 1973 track “Each Day I Cry a Little.”
Ye, "No Mistakes"
Wilson, Kid Cudi and Caroline Shaw provided background vocals for Ye’s “No Mistakes” from his 2018 self-titled album, which topped both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. “No Mistakes” samples Slick Rick‘s 1989 rap hit “Hey Young World,” and it reached No. 36 on the Hot 100 and No. 21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Aminé feat. Ty Dolla $ign, "Veggies"
Wilson contributed background vocals to Aminé’s “Veggies,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, from his 2017 debut albumGood For You, which reached No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
“Charlie Wilson worked because of [Aminé’s manager] Justin [Lehmann]’s relationship with the manager. He liked Justin as a person. Thank God Justin was a good person and his manager liked me as an artist and Charlie was so nice,” the rapper said in aninterviewwith journalist Eric Diep. “Like when we had our first session together, it was only for him to sing ‘Turf.’ And we were in the session together and he was so nice. He was like, ‘Man, you remind me of a young Kanye, Pharrell.’ I was like, ‘What? This is so tight.’ I was like starstruck cause I know this man. I’m a huge fan of Pharrell and Ye, so you have to know this man if [you’re a fan of Pharrell and Ye]. And he was just like, ‘Take advantage of me. Use me! I want you to use me right now!’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah? I got other songs.’ He was like, ‘OK, pull them up, pull them up!’ I was like, ‘Alright, word!'”
Aminé feat. Charlie Wilson, "Dakota"
Aminé tapped Wilson for “Dakota” from Good For You.
Aminé, "Turf"
Wilson contributed background vocals to Aminé’s “Turf” from Good For You.
Tyler, the Creator feat. Charlie Wilson, Chaz Bundick, Syd & Kali Uchis, "F--KING YOUNG / PERFECT"
Tyler, the Creator featured Wilson, Chaz Bundick (aka Toro y Moi), Syd and Kali Uchis for “F–KING YOUNG / PERFECT” from his 2015 album Cherry Bomb, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and topped Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
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