Some things are just meant to go together: two turntables and a microphone, guitars and angry teenagers, Albertans and prosperity cheques. Another such combination is hip-hop and cartoons, as in the example of Chocolate Swim. It’s a collaborative (and free) EP from Adult Swim, the Cartoon Network’s celebrated adult-oriented programming block which includes programs like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Space Ghost, and Chicago-based indie-rap label Chocolate Industries.

The history of the confluence between cartoons and hip-hop is surprisingly rich. You only need to go back to the first hit rap record, Sugarhill Gang’s iconic “Rapper’s Delight” from the heady days of 1979, to hear Big Bank Hank rapping about Superman’s “little worm” and how he could satisfy Lois Lane with his “super sperm.” Other artists such as the Wu-Tang Clan derive much of their imagery (and names) from cartoon sources, not to mention Kool Keith’s Dr. Dooom project or the entire oeuvre of “supervillain” emcee MF DOOM.

Last year, DOOM worked with top producer and fellow cartoon enthusiast Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, Grey Album, DM & Jemini) and [Adult Swim] in the group Danger Doom. DOOM even provided the voice for the giraffe Sherman on Adult Swim’s Perfect Hair Forever.

The Chocolate Swim EP consists of six exclusive tracks and new artwork from Adult Swim, all available for download. MF DOOM, of course, makes an appearance on Edan’s remix of Vast Aire’s “Da Superfriendz.” Edan, best known for his mostly instrumental rap opus The Beauty and the Beat, switches up DOOM’s frenzied piano soundscape in favour of skeletal guitar chords and head-nodding break beats. Montreal’s laptop-rap extraordinaire Ghislain Poirier drops by with DJ Collage on “Mic Diplomat” for a dancehall-inspired club banger. Also along for the fun is Lady Sovereign, who counts rap mogul and super-emcee Jay-Z as a fan and a boss (she is signed on Def Jam, the legendary label that he now runs), on a stripped down Spank Rock remix of “Hoodie.” The best track on the EP is Kut Master Kurt’s remix of Mos Def and Diverse’s “Wylin’ Out.” Originally released as a 12-inch with Prefuse 73 as producer (with an RJD2 remix as the B-side), Kurt’s version features sampled sitars, East Indian vocals and traditional funk break beats complimented by tabla drums.

Download the Chocolate Swim EP here.