Somewhere between his 2015 debut, Free TC, and this fall’s highly anticipated follow-up, Beach House 3, Ty Dolla $ign, the rugged R&B vocalist best known for icy club hits like “Paranoid” and “Or Nah,” decided to take a chance. Epic Records senior vp A&R Chris Anokute suggested he swallow his pride and wade into the pop world, contributing vocals to an in-progress version of Fifth Harmony’s “Work From Home.”
“I thought that shit sounded like the Rugrats,” jokes the 32-year-old, who is often lumped in with rappers due to his elastic singing cadences. “I was a little standoffish about doing that record because it’s not something I’d listen to in my car. That was my first time getting into the pop world, so I kind of doubted myself -- but it worked out.”