20 Years Ago, One of the Greatest Pop Collabs Ever Topped the Billboard Chart
Looking back through the history of pop music, one can find several megahits that see "unlikely" duos in the music industry pairing together. For example, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder teamed up for their chart-topping single "Ebony and Ivory." Run-DMC and Aerosmith shocked the world with their classic rendition of "Walk This Way." And who could have ever predicted that rapper Nelly would join country superstar Tim McGraw on "Over and Over."
While the list of unpredictable pop collabs can literally go on, there's one in particular that steals the show. The song was a global hit and featured one artist from the Latin pop world with massive crossover appeal, and another musician/songwriter from one of the most legendary hip-hop groups. So what's the song that's arguably the greatest pop collaboration of all time?
Shakira & Wyclef Jean's "Hips Don't Lie" Went #1 on June 17, 2006
Released on February 28, 2006, Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie," featuring Wyclef Jean (legendary founding member of the Fugees), didn't instantly land at the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100. It took until June 17 of that year for that to happen, and once it did, it remained at the #1 spot for two weeks. What's more impressive than the song's US performance is how well it did globally. The single reached #1 in 55 other countries.
There was literally a period where it seemed as if the track was everywhere. Even if you weren't actively trying to hear it, it was being played at malls, at gyms, at restaurants, at bars, and more. It even became an anthem of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Fun Fact: "Hips Don't Lie" Was Originally for Lauryn Hill
Per Billboard, the 2004 song titled "Dance Like This" was originally conceptualized as a song for the Fugees, but Lauryn Hill wasn't inclined to sing it before the group disbanded. Wyclef later recorded the track with Claudette Ortiz for the Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights soundtrack. "Dance Like This" was then overhauled with Shakira, and it officially became the "Hips Don't Lie" that many people still love to this day.
Be sure to celebrate the milestone for "Hips Don't Lie" by streaming it on Spotify, Apple Music, or your favorite music streaming service.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 3:30 AM.