BY: Alexis Eichelberger

Travis Barker has been the beating heart of Blink-182 for years. But recently, he’s been lending his talents elsewhere, and making a name for himself as a sought-after featured instrumentalist.

Barker first joined Blink-182 in 1998 and has been its drummer ever since. Known for his fast hands and tricky moves, he’s a staple of the trio and a beloved figure in punk rock.

In 2011, Barker ventured into solo work with his album Give the Drummer Some. The 12-track record is filled with rap-rock fusions and features several stars from both genres like Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, and Slash.

Barker loans his drumming and production skills to create remixes for various artists and has for some time. It’s safe to say that his solo project’s release plus his connections with rappers opened the door for Barker to collaborate with superstars from all genres. 

Recently, Barker’s been lending his drumming expertise to hip-hop artists and rockers alike. And the best part about it? He is usually credited as a featured artist in the song title. We love seeing a talented drummer get the credit and visibility he deserves.

Here are some of the latest and greatest tracks with Travis Barker as a featured or co-lead artist. 

 

“11 MINUTES” with HALSEY and YUNGBLUD

YUNGBLUD and Halsey are artists raised on emo music. So it only seems fitting that Barker got his big break as a featured artist on their collaborative track. Check out the video for “11 Minutes” to see Barker in action.

 

“I THINK I’M OKAY” with MACHINE GUN KELLY and YUNGBLUD

Before Machine Gun Kelly went entirely punk rock with Tickets to My Downfall, there was Hotel Diablo. It is mostly hip-hop, but MGK also includes rock sounds with songs like “I Think I’m OKAY.” The music is stellar, thanks to MGK’s effortless badass style and Barker’s sick beats.

 

“PILL BREAKER” with TRIPPIE REDD, MACHINE GUN KELLY, and BLACKBEAR

Barker is co-lead on this Trippie Redd track. Blackbear and MGK are also featured, creating the perfect modern punk rock/hip-hop fusion. In addition to “PILL BREAKER,” Barker drums on several tracks of Trippie Redd’s album. It’s right in the name of the record: Pegasus: Neon Shark vs. Pegasus Presented By Travis Barker.

 

“ALIENS ARE GHOSTS” WITH $UICIDEBOY$

This song is from a collaborative EP that Barker made with hip-hop duo $uicideboy$. Barker likely played a formative role in creating the dark and dramatic rock beat that accompanies the rap vocals in “Aliens Are Ghosts.”

 

“HALFWAY DEAD” with STEVE AOKI and GLOBAL DAN

Production legend Steve Aoki teamed up with Barker and rising rap star Global Dan for this genre-bending track. It matches Barker’s other collabs –– a mix of punk rock and hip-hop with killer drumming to tie it all together.