10 Artist-Producer Breakups That Prove The Curmudgeons Right This Valentine’s Day

Idolator Staff | February 12, 2014 5:30 am

5. M.I.A. & Diplo

Here’s a producer-artist breakup that was also a boyfriend-girlfriend breakup, the rare double whammy. Diplo was responsible for a hefty amount of production on M.I.A.‘s first two albums, including breakout hit “Paper Planes.” The two were also dating during much of that time, and while they stopped seeing each other in 2010 ahead of the /\/\/\Y/\ sessions, they still worked together for that album. Following its release, they began sniping at each other in various interviews. Subsequently, last year’s Matangi was M.I.A.’s first LP without any help from Diplo.

6. Madonna & William Orbit

William Orbit was largely responsible for revitalizing Madonna‘s career in the late ’90s — helming her seminal Ray Of Light LP. They hoped that lightning would strike twice when the pair reunited for MDNA, but the comeback fell flat and most of the songs Orbit penned for the album ended up on Chris Brown‘s Fortune. The reason? The pop legend simply didn’t have the time. “We had songs lined up that were breathtaking,” the English producer lamented at the time, and then blamed Madonna’s schedule, including “various pressing commitments that took up the artist’s limited time, such as perfume ranges and teen fashion contests and other such endeavors which are beyond my own limited understanding of pop star agendas.”

Tags: Christina Aguilera, Dawn Richard, Diplo, Dr. Luke, Jay-Z, Ke$ha, Kelly Clarkson, Kylie Minogue, M.I.A, Madonna, Ryan Tedder, Solange, The Weeknd, Timbaland