expand Maroon 5 Honored that “the Best Rapper on the Planet” Agreed to Work with Them

January 12, 2017 Andrea Dresdale

222 Records/InterscopeAfter collaborating with rapper Wiz Khalifa on their smash single “Payphone,” Maroon 5 hooked up with rapper Kendrick Lamar for their latest hit, “Don’t Wanna Know.” Why did they choose Kendrick to work with over every other rapper out there? According to guitarist James Valentine, it’s because nobody else even comes close.

“He’s the best rapper on the planet,” James tells ABC Radio. “He’s incredible, and we’re so honored that he was involved.” James also feels that Kendrick’s Grammy-winning 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly is “just a complete masterpiece.”

But was Kendrick, who performed with Maroon 5 on the American Music Awards in November, a fan of Adam Levine and the guys, too?

“I guess so, ’cause he did it!” James laughs. “It was one of those things where we sent him the track and then he did his part on his own — so he must like us a little bit to have done it!”

It’s not clear if “Don’t Wanna Know” will be included on Maroon 5’s new album, which is due later this year. While that record may sound a bit darker, according to James, he thinks “Don’t Wanna Know” is a typical Maroon 5 song.

“I mean, ‘Don’t Wanna Know’ is such like a sorta summer, feel good, happy-sounding song,” he tells ABC Radio. “And…that’s always kinda been our formula…happy music, sad lyrics or sad music, happy lyrics. I dunno, it just always works for us.”

Some examples of that formula: “Misery,” “Makes Me Wonder,” “Maps” and “One More Night.”