Bacon and eggs. Batman and Robin. Music and Extra Cold Castle Lite. Some things just go together. Other things aren’t as obvious.

But as those blessed with the stroke of supreme artistry constantly remind us, sometimes unlikely combinations just require some inspiration and voila, you have a masterpiece.

In this week’s edition, we profile some top collaborations between South African artists that you probably never thought would happen.

Dreamteam x iHash Elimhlope

Though Dreamteam’s track record has not given us a reason to doubt their ability, their first 2014 single came as a surprise because it was not only a banger, it also featured Maskandi musician and South African music legend, iHashi Elimhlophe. This collaboration is particularly cool because the song mergers two eras of greats from the same ethnic lineage in one sonic explosion.

The Parlotones x Khuli Chana

This collaboration is only unlikely because it’s rock and rap. And everyone knows that unless you’re the reincarnated Limp Bizkit or have a death wish, the rap-rock combination is a dangerous game to play if not executed properly. Luckily for the Motswak’ Originator and acclaimed the acclaimed band, ‘Sleepwalker’ is powerful and sonically organic without any of that politically correct forced integration stuff. 

Spoek Mathambo x South Africa

Futuristic artist Spoek Mathambo recently travelled rural South Africa on an experimental expedition to attempt to tell the country’s narrative, to a certain extent, through song.  Recording sounds from the indigenous Khoi San population in Platfontein, guitar riffs from various traditional Zulu artists in Durban, music from Tembisa producer/composer, Nash, and his own vocals, the result is just as eclectic as its elements.

AKA x Jack Parow x The Plastics

Some time ago AKA, Parow and retro rock band, The Plastics, got together on a rooftop in Cape Town and recorded a peculiar but very awesome cover of Wyclef Jean’s nineties classic, ‘Gone Till November.’ It’s very seldom that a cover is better than the original but this video proves that if you sprinkle a little local flavor on anything, it just might get there

Black Motion x Josie Fields

What do you get when you combine the sounds of a dynamic deep house instrumentalist crew with a pop/alternative rock artist whose music is so magical it could probably make Stevie Wonder see? No not heaven but something a stone-throw away from it. Black Motion and Josie Field kicked in the studio door last year to create something for the pure music lover.  And they succeeded.

Anatii x DJ Khaled

With a list of chart toppers longer than The Great Wall of China, PTA native Anatii, is not showing any signs of slowing. Having spent the better part of 2013 in the USA working on his debut album, he has finally decided to give us a  single titled ‘Bananas’ and it features none other than DJ Khaled.’ Khaled is of course the biggest (no pun intended) urban DJ on the planet so shout out to Anatii for doing it big. (Again, no pun intended... Okay, maybe a little).