By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

There are some unlikely pairings underway in the music world.

One in particular is a merging of hardcore hip-hop with pop-laced neo-soul.

For his new album, titled 'Curtis,' hip-hop superstar 50 Cent has called upon the musical talents of blue-eyed soul crooner Robin Thicke.

The two Interscope Music Group-associated artists collaborated on the track 'Follow My Lead,' which will be a lead single for the June 26 release.

"It has a more mature vibe to it," 50 explained in an 'MTV' interview. "The older demographic is really becoming attracted to Robin Thicke and I think it has something to do with the reflection of his sales increasing on a steady level because the older you are, the less you've adjusted to MP3ing and downloading material. You're conditioned to going into the store and buying the CD. That's good."

Thicke, whose musical talents were first discovered by Hip Hop Soul architect Andre Harrell, was heavily influenced by the infectious culture.

"Even though I'm a singer and not a rapper I'm influenced more by hip-hop music than anything else in the world," Thicke said to interviewers early this week. "I think hip-hop music is the leader of artistic expression in the world right now. It's changing the way people dress in Asia and Russia. There is no painter that is doing that right now, there is no movie star that has everyone dressing like them and talking them."

With his sophomore album, 'Evolution of Robin Thicke,' the singer/songwriter (who's the son of actor Alan Thicke and husband to actress Paula Patton) has become a platinum-plated success story, and a fixture on the R&B charts. Appearances on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and 'Today' have bolstered sales of the Pharrell Williams-helmed opus, and also increased his visibility.

For his latest musical effort, he garnered two BET Awards.

Thicke has been confirmed to open for Beyonce Knowles on her new North American Tour this summer; they will both appear on 'Oprah' May 21.

He will also play Radio City Music Hall with Jill Scott next month.

A video for 'Follow My Lead' was filmed last week in Los Angeles.