In one of the more unexpected rap music duets, rap beatmaker Gucci Mane will hit the studio soon with pop princess Britney Spears. The pair will work on Spears’ upcoming song, entitled “Hit.” Recording will reportedly take place next week in Atlanta.

Rap Music’s Most Unusual Beats

Gucci Mane has been in and out of trouble with the law, and most recently spent a week in a mental hospital. All is well, though for the rapper, who was recently released. Mane is now sporting a new tattoo in an unusual place: his face. For her part, Britney is making headlines with her latest release “Hold It Against Me.” The singer has been working hard on her new album, which is reported to be more “edgy” than her past work.

Spears’ album is as-of-yet not sporting a title, but some songwriters who are working with Spears say the new work is reminiscent of her 2007 venture “Blackout.” The new album is all about the beats, her producers promise, and is designed to have more appeal for club audiences.

Beatmaking has come to the forefront recently as the discussion among rap musicians elevates, thanks in part to Eminem, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, 50 Cent and others who have recently taken issue with the current state of rap music. Will Britney’s new tune make Eminem and Company’s point about rap music being negatively influenced by pop music, or will it stand on its own as a legitimate rap beat?

Until the song is released, no one’s going to be able to answer that question, but the song will allow Spears to break new ground and potentially break out of the pop princess mold she recast for herself in 2008′s Circus.

If nothing else, the collaboration between Gucci Mane and Britney Spears proves once again the flexibility of rap music as a viable medium. Spears wouldn’t be the first pop-crossover and certainly won’t be the last. The question for rap and pop fans alike is whether Spears will bring something new to rap beats, or will “Hits” turn out to be more of the same that rap’s scions are concerned about?

Rap music is big enough to withstand (or absorb) whatever the former Disney queen has to offer. The song will not likely appeal to certain rap music fans, but Hit may open doors for new listeners, something rap music can definitely use more of.

Photo Credit: Jason Persse, via Flickr