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Entertainment & Arts

Rockers with rap cred

Compiled by Denise Martin, Special to The Times, and Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Travis Barker, the former drummer in pop-punk outfit Blink-182, has suddenly become one of the more sought-after live musicians in hip-hop. It all began, writes The Times’ Chris Lee, when Barker posted a YouTube video of himself drumming along to Soulja Boy’s “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” Now, Barker is earning props from rapper the Game, who says Barker is the “dopest drummer alive.” Here, we take a look at rock ‘n’ rollers with some hip-hop cred. Travis Barker Rap cred: Barker has been a remix fiend of late, having worked on such cuts as Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Busta Rhymes’ “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water on ‘Em)” and the Game’s “Dope Boys.” He’s taking his hip-hop fixation even further, having recently teamed up with DJ AM for a rock-meets-rap act TRV$DJAM.

Compiled by Denise Martin, Special to The Times, and Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Travis Barker, the former drummer in pop-punk outfit Blink-182, has suddenly become one of the more sought-after live musicians in hip-hop. It all began, writes The Times’ Chris Lee, when Barker posted a YouTube video of himself drumming along to Soulja Boy’s “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” Now, Barker is earning props from rapper the Game, who says Barker is the “dopest drummer alive.”

Here, we take a look at rock ‘n’ rollers with some hip-hop cred.

Travis Barker

Rap cred: Barker has been a remix fiend of late, having worked on such cuts as Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Busta Rhymes’ “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water on ‘Em)” and the Game’s “Dope Boys.” He’s taking his hip-hop fixation even further, having recently teamed up with DJ AM for a rock-meets-rap act TRV$DJAM.  (Steve C. Mitchell / EPA)

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Adam Levine

Adam Levine

Rap cred: The Maroon 5 crooner’s best-known venture into the rap world came with the help of Kanye West, who’s worked with his share of artists outside of his genre. Levine does a guest vocal on West’s slow-burning, piano-enhanced number “Heard ‘Em Say.” Levine sounded comfortable on West’s orchestral hip-hop but has also appeared on a more club-focused cut via the Ying Yang Twins’ “Live Again.”  (Brad Barket / Getty Images)

Patrick Stump

Patrick Stump

Rap cred: The Fall Out Boy frontman has a well-known R&B/hip-hop fixation. Just check the club-ready groove that drives the band’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arm’s Race,” or Stump’s work with rap pals the Gym Class Heroes. But lesser known is Stump’s contribution to Lupe Fiasco’s last album, “The Cool,” providing some production and background vocals on the harrowing “Little Weapon.”  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

John Mayer

John Mayer

Rap cred: Not only are Jay-Z, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams self-proclaimed fanboys of the serial dater, but Dave Chappelle himself recruited Mayer to prove that white people can sometimes dance on an episode “Chappelle’s Show,” which also featured the Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.  (Steve C. Mitchell / EPA)

Chris Martin

Chris Martin

Rap cred: Martin helped usher Jay-Z back into the limelight by guesting on his “Beach Chair,” which appeared on the rapper’s comeback album “Kingdom Come.” Martin also lent his talents to such tracks as “Part of the Plane” for Swizz Beatz and “Homecoming” for Kanye West, for which Martin provides the vocal hook.  (J.P. Moczulski / Associated Press)

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani

Rap cred: As lead singer of No Doubt, Gwen Stefani rose to top 40 fandom with spunky pop numbers and prom-ripe ballads. In 2002, she appeared on Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” Then even more crossover success followed, as her 2004 solo album “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” was loaded with hip-hop beats and included production from Andre 3000 and Dr. Dre, among others.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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