West enlisted Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine to sing the chorus of "Heard 'Em Say." He and Levine had first collaborated when Maroon 5 commissioned West to remix their 2004 single "This Love." The two later developed a friendship while sitting together on a flight to Rome for the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards. While playing songs from his forthcoming sophomore effort "Late Registration" on his iPod for Levine, West came across the demo for "Heard 'Em Say", the very first track recorded for the album. As Levine recalled, "He was rhyming over it, and I had just written a hook that was so perfect for it. It was one of those natural collaborations where you're so excited because it's all very pure and very easy." West himself initially hesitated slightly, as he felt the singer was a bit too popular for him, but came to be overwhelmed by the sheer prowess and quality of Levine's voice after overhearing his band rehearse backstage at the 47th Grammy Awards ceremony. Adam Levine would later appropriate the refrain of "Heard 'Em Say" for the Maroon 5 song, "Nothing Lasts Forever", on their second album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" (2007).