Hip-Hop Collabs Featuring Charlie Wilson: ‘Earfquake’ & More

Toliver recruited Wilson and Cash Cobain for “Attitude” from his forthcoming fourth album Hardstone Psycho. “Attitude” samples Snoop Dogg, Pharrell and Wilson’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 6 smash “Beautiful.”

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 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.”

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 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.

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?’”

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.

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.”

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.

Wilson contributed background vocals to Aminé’s “Veggies,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, from his 2017 debut album Good 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 an interview with 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!’”

Wilson contributed background vocals to Aminé’s “Turf” from Good For You.