When Rap and Rock Meet

Limp Bizkit's Cash Money deal has plenty of precedents.

When Rap and Rock Meet - Ever since Run-DMC first sampled Aerosmith for their seminal hit "Walk This Way," rap and rock have been crossing paths, butting heads and linking arms. But even with that long legacy, it's still surprising that New Orleans hip hop powerhouse Cash Money Records is signing Limp Bizkit, the veteran rap-rock band with over 33 million record sales worldwide. We're not sure what to expect—Fred Durst crooning love songs with Drake? Or rapping about Nicki Minaj's nookie? If the unexpected alliance between Bizkit and YMCMB is anything like these past rap-rock collabos, the results will definitely be...mixed. (Photos: Maxppp/Landov; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

1 / 16

When Rap and Rock Meet - Ever since Run-DMC first sampled Aerosmith for their seminal hit "Walk This Way," rap and rock have been crossing paths, butting heads and linking arms. But even with that long legacy, it's still surprising that New Orleans hip hop powerhouse Cash Money Records is signing Limp Bizkit, the veteran rap-rock band with over 33 million record sales worldwide. We're not sure what to expect—Fred Durst crooning love songs with Drake? Or rapping about Nicki Minaj's nookie? If the unexpected alliance between Bizkit and YMCMB is anything like these past rap-rock collabos, the results will definitely be...mixed. (Photos: Maxppp/Landov; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Run DMC and Aerosmith - The remake of the 1975 rock classic created by Aerosmith was given a hip hop makeover in 1986 by Run DMC. The single is often credited for helping break rap into the mainstream pop world.  (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

2 / 16

Run DMC and Aerosmith - The remake of the 1975 rock classic created by Aerosmith was given a hip hop makeover in 1986 by Run DMC. The single is often credited for helping break rap into the mainstream pop world.  (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Jay-Z - Jay-Z actually released a song with Coldplay a year before Kanye, "Beach Chair" (which according to the lyrics of Yeezy's "Big Brother," he was none too happy about). Jay returned the favor by spitting a verse on Coldplay's "Lost," and he and Chris Martin have gone on to become unlikely BFFs. (Photo: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

3 / 16

Jay-Z and Chris Martin - The two collaborated on a single entitled “Beach Chair,” featured on Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come album. (Photo: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

Blondie and Fab Five Freddy - The 1981 hit from the punk rock singer was infused with hip hop flavor thanks to Fab Five Freddy, who made a cameo in the video. This was the first hip hop video to air on MTV. (Photo: Courtesy Chrysalis Records)

4 / 16

Blondie and Fab Five Freddy - The 1981 hit from the punk rock singer was infused with hip hop flavor thanks to Fab Five Freddy, who made a cameo in the video. This was the first hip hop video to air on MTV. (Photo: Courtesy Chrysalis Records)

Lil Wayne and Travis Barker - The two have worked together on Drake’s “Forever (Remix)” in 2009 and Barker’s 2011 album, Can A Drummer Get Some?. They also recently toured together on Lil Wayne’s I Am Music II tour. (Photo: Mike Yarish/PictureGroup)

5 / 16

Lil Wayne and Travis Barker - The two have worked together on Drake’s “Forever (Remix)” in 2009 and Barker’s 2011 album, Can A Drummer Get Some?. They also recently toured together on Lil Wayne’s I Am Music II tour. (Photo: Mike Yarish/PictureGroup)

ADVERTISEMENT
Kanye West and Adam Levine - "Heard Em Say," the gold-certified third single off Ye's Late Registration, featured a diversion from the usual cast of hip hop feature artists by enlisting Adam Levine, lead vocalist of the soulful rock group Maroon 5.  (Photo: By Brad Barket/Getty Images)

6 / 16

Kanye West and Adam Levine - Yeezy teamed up with the Maroon 5 front man in 2005 on “Heard Em Say” a single off of West’s sophomore album, Late Registration. The song later went on to sell over half a million copies in the United States. (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images)

Public Enemy and Anthrax "Bring the Noise" - After working hard to convince Anthrax to join them on a remix of their 1987 track, "Bring the Noise," Public Enemy re-released the track on their 1991 album, Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. The track was also featured on Anthrax's Attack of the Killer B's that same year. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

7 / 16

Public Enemy and Anthrax "Bring the Noise" - After working hard to convince Anthrax to join them on a remix of their 1987 track, "Bring the Noise," Public Enemy re-released the track on their 1991 album, Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. The track was also featured on Anthrax's Attack of the Killer B's that same year. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Jay-Z and Linkin Park Collision Course - In 2004 Jay-Z and Linkin Park collaborated on Collision Course, a compilation of mash-ups of Jigga and the punk rock group's greatest hits. The album has sold more than five million copies to date. (Photo: Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)

8 / 16

Jay-Z and Linkin Park Collision Course - In 2004 Jay-Z and Linkin Park collaborated on Collision Course, a compilation of mash-ups of Jigga and the punk rock group's greatest hits. The album has sold more than five million copies to date. (Photo: Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)

Method Man and Limp Bizkit "N 2 Gether Now" - Their Cash Money deal isn't Limp Bizkit's first foray into the hip-hop industry. The band recruited Method Man for "N 2 Gether Now," the third single off their second album, Significant Other (1999). (Wutang Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images/Durst Photo: Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

9 / 16

Method Man and Limp Bizkit "N 2 Gether Now" - Their Cash Money deal isn't Limp Bizkit's first foray into the hip-hop industry. The band recruited Method Man for "N 2 Gether Now," the third single off their second album, Significant Other (1999). (Wutang Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images/Durst Photo: Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

Ice Cube and Korn "Children of the Korn" - Alternative rock group Korn enlisted west coast legend Ice Cube for "Children of the Korn" a track off their third studio album, Follow the Leader (1998). Cube later joined the group on their Family Values tour in promotion of the album, which has sold more than 14 million copies to date.(Korn Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/GettyImages. Ice Cube Photo: John Ricard/Retna)

10 / 16

Ice Cube and Korn "Children of the Korn" - Alternative rock group Korn enlisted west coast legend Ice Cube for "Children of the Korn" a track off their third studio album, Follow the Leader (1998). Cube later joined the group on their Family Values tour in promotion of the album, which has sold more than 14 million copies to date.(Korn Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/GettyImages. Ice Cube Photo: John Ricard/Retna)

ADVERTISEMENT
KRS-One and R.E.M. "Radio Song" - R.E.M. recruited rap vet KRS-One for some of the background vocals, as well as a verse on "Radio Song," the fourth single off their 1991 album, Out of Time. The light-hearted track was featured as the opener to the album. (REM Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images. KRS One Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

11 / 16

KRS-One and R.E.M. "Radio Song" - R.E.M. recruited rap vet KRS-One for some of the background vocals, as well as a verse on "Radio Song," the fourth single off their 1991 album, Out of Time. The light-hearted track was featured as the opener to the album. (REM Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images. KRS One Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Mos Def, Jim Jones and The Black Keys "Aint Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)" - In an unexpected left turn, a post-Roc-a-Fella Dame Dash put together the rap-rock fusion record, BlakRoc, with neo-blues duo The Black Keys, in 2009. The project's first single, "Aint Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)" featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones, was a psychedelic slow-burner.(Mos Def Photo by Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup. Black Keys Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake)

12 / 16

Mos Def, Jim Jones and The Black Keys "Aint Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)" - In an unexpected left turn, a post-Roc-a-Fella Dame Dash put together the rap-rock fusion record, BlakRoc, with neo-blues duo The Black Keys, in 2009. The project's first single, "Aint Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)" featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones, was a psychedelic slow-burner.(Mos Def Photo by Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup. Black Keys Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Lenny Kravitz, Diddy and Pharrell "Show Me Your Soul" - On the blockbuster occasion of the release of the movie, Bad Boys II, Diddy and Pharrell teamed up with rap's favorite rocker for the funk-ified "Show Me Your Soul."(Kravitz Photo: WENN.com/Diddy Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

13 / 16

Lenny Kravitz, Diddy and Pharrell "Show Me Your Soul" - On the blockbuster occasion of the release of the movie, Bad Boys II, Diddy and Pharrell teamed up with rap's favorite rocker for the funk-ified "Show Me Your Soul."(Kravitz Photo: WENN.com/Diddy Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Onyx and Biohazard "Judgment Night" - The Queens-based rap group Onyx and the Brooklyn-based hardcore punks of Biohazard pooled their collective rage on "Judgment Night," a single from the soundtrack of an eponymous B-movie.(Photo: Courtesy Def Jam Records)

14 / 16

Onyx and Biohazard "Judgment Night" - The Queens-based rap group Onyx and the Brooklyn-based hardcore punks of Biohazard pooled their collective rage on "Judgment Night," a single from the soundtrack of an eponymous B-movie.(Photo: Courtesy Def Jam Records)

Missy Elliott and Metallica "Enter Sandb**ch" - Missy Elliot and heavy metal legends Metallica were the strangest of bedfellows during the mash-up craze. "She's a B**ch" and "Enter Sandman" became "Enter Sandb**ch."(Missy Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images/ Metallica Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

15 / 16

Missy Elliott and Metallica "Enter Sandb**ch" - Missy Elliot and heavy metal legends Metallica were the strangest of bedfellows during the mash-up craze. "She's a B**ch" and "Enter Sandman" became "Enter Sandb**ch."(Missy Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images/ Metallica Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Busta Rhymes and Black Sabbath "Iron Man" - Busta Rhymes jumped on Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath classic "Iron Man" for his song "This Means War," pitting one of hip hop's most verbally dexterous artists against one of rock's most notoriously incomprehensible. (Ozzie Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images/ Busta Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

16 / 16

Busta Rhymes and Black Sabbath "Iron Man" - Busta Rhymes jumped on Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath classic "Iron Man" for his song "This Means War," pitting one of hip hop's most verbally dexterous artists against one of rock's most notoriously incomprehensible. (Ozzie Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images/ Busta Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)