7 Awesome Musical Duos I Love and You Will Too ...

1. The Black Keys

The Black Keys are an amazing Ohio-born band that has been around since the early 2000s. Though they have struggled to get their grungy, raw blues and indie rock sound out to the public, they ultimately succeeded with their hit album “Brothers,” which is definitely one of my favorite albums. Among my favorite songs are “Howlin’ for You” and the ever-popular “Tighten Up.” I think others would agree, because this gem earned them three Grammy awards! Guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney bare their souls and talent into their music, which is why I’ll always put these two in my list of awesome musical duos.

2. Outkast

This Atlanta based duo is so very eccentric, yet so very hip-hop. They first emerged on the scene in the mid 1990s and introduced people to funkadelic, melodic, yet danceable hip-hop tunes that appealed to many different people. I love that Andre 3000 and Big Boi are so different as rappers too. It brings a sort of dynamic that I don’t get from duos that are too similar to each other. Though they later went on different paths and failed to continue to work together, they’ll always be remembered for “Mrs. Jackson,” “Roses,” and “So Fresh, So Clean,” and their separate projects alike ( “Hey Ya,” “The Way you Move”).

3. The White Stripes

Jack White and Meg White look so alike that it’s easy to mistake these two for brother and sister. But, these musical geniuses were actually married. Though they are now divorced and have stopped making music since 2011, they will always be remembered for their mega hits. I love that they revived garage rock and paired that sound with blues rock. They are often compared to the amazing band, the Sex Pistols. With Meg on drums and occasional vocals, and Jack as the lead vocals, they had great, grungy and even iconic hits like “Icky Thump” and “Seven Nation Army.” That guitar riff on "Seven Nation Army" is not one I’ll soon forget.

4. The Neptunes

The Neptunes are more producers than they are vocalists, but that surely doesn’t mean they are any less awesome! The Neptunes, who include the falsetto singing, trend setting Pharrell Williams and the equally talented Chad Hugo, are known for producing so many giant hits in the hip-hop and r&b genre, like Jay Z’s “Excuse Me Miss” or Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” They even have hits of their own too. Their synth lines and video-game like sound is unique and definitely lets us know that The Neptunes were behind it. I love that.

5. Daft Punk

Daft Punk are French international electronica superstars! This duo has been around since the early '90s and I don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon. This duo, who were influenced by the sounds of The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones, really created their own funky, slick, synth-pop sound into one that people would always attribute to them when they hear it. I fell in love with them after hearing “One More Time” and from then on, I have loved everything about their sound. Especially with hits like “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” “Technologic,” and “Digital Love.” It definitely gets me dancing when I hear it in the club! They are constantly sampled, which keeps them as a staple in the music industry.

6. Salt-n-Pepa

It’d be a shame if I didn’t include this female rap duo. They had great success in the late '80s to the early '90s. It was nice to see a girl group from Brooklyn who supported independence and showed females that they were making a name for the themselves as the first female rap group to go platinum! Though technically, aside from Salt and Pepa, DJ Spinderella was also a part, but she made the beats, which makes it slightly different than singing vocals as the other two. Their hits like “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man” are '90s classics that just make you want to get up and shake something! I doubt I’ll ever forget these ladies!

7. Matt & Kim

I don’t know that the list would’ve been complete without Matt and Kim. I love that this couple is Brooklyn-based and makes it a point to always mention their hometown. I had the opportunity to see these two live and they were lively, energetic and just plain awesome. Kim on the drums has such great energy and Matt on the keyboards and vocals really pulls everything together. Their duality really works for them. Their music is loud, fun, and energetic. Hits like “Daylight,” “Cameras,” and “Good Ol’ Fashion NIghtmare” really prove that they are great at what they do. I especially love Kim on the drums, I want to be just like her (and Meg White) one day!

So, these are some of my favorite musical duos. All so different, yet all so amazing. I hope that if you don’t already love them, that I have convinced you to give them a try sometime! Are there any awesome musical duos you love?