Tomorrow (9/18) the highly anticipated G.O.O.D. Music album Cruel Summer drops. Earlier this week the album became available to preorder, and if you eyed the official tracklist you surely noticed a featured artist’s name you might not have seen before. On the eighth track “Sin City” G.O.O.D. Music signees John Legend and Cyhi the Prynce headline with Malik Yusef.

A five-time Grammy award winner, forty one year old Yusef is a longtime collaborator of Kanye West’s, having co-wrote a whopping seven songs from West’s impressive 2010 release My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. He also dipped his creative hand in helping produce West’s Runaway short film, and he went on to co-write two tracks off West and Jay-Z’s collab album Watch The Throne (2011). With a youth literacy foundation under his belt and an eye for high fashion, Yusef is a philanthropic member of West’s G.O.O.D. Music team, and his sense of style, word choice, and ear for a solid beat make him a vital member of the formidable team ‘Ye built in the rap community.

Jump after the break to read experience-it-all‘s exclusive interview with Malik Yusef. In it the spoken word artist discusses what it is like working with Kanye West in the studio, what G.O.O.D. Music stands for, he’s asked about the Chicago rap scene, and hypes a new, up-and-coming artist by the name of Tyran Brown.

[e-i-a]: With Kanye West’s Cruel Summer releasing in under two weeks, how do you feel about the near-final collection of tracks?

Malik Yusef: I like the album. I have my opinion on what it could have been just like everyone on the label, but in the end we trust Kanye’s judgement and we always have. Our opinions don’t have to match up for us to be successful in working together.

[e-i-a]: How many songs on the collaborative album did you contribute to?

MY: We all contributed together on pretty much everything. It was a collaborative effort with Mr. West at the helm.

[e-i-a]: You are known mainly as a spoken word artist. Is your contribution to the album strictly spoken word or did you end up rapping with the other contributors?

MY: I don’t rap very much. Kanye and I talked about me rapping; I just don’t know how to.  So to answer that, mainly spoken word and offering assistance with production, melodies, and songwriting.

[e-i-a]: How did you meet Kanye West?

MY: I first met Kanye when I was just walking down the street; I bumped into him and my friend [Kanye’s manager] Don C. Kanye’s group at the time, The Go Getters, was the opening act for a concert I was hosting in Chicago.

[e-i-a]: And what was it like working directly with him on Cruel Summer?

Working with [Kanye] for Cruel Summer was intense.

[e-i-a]: What does G.O.O.D. Music mean to you, and how do you consider yourself to be a vital part of the distinctive label that was created by Kanye West?

MY: G.O.O.D. Music means family and the pursuit of excellence. I am smart, I am talented, and I am sexy, so I try to help the family whenever I can.

[e-i-a]: Besides Kanye, who are the other G.O.O.D. Music artists you had the opportunity to work with? Out of the up-and-coming artists like Pusha T and Cyhi da Prynce, who are you most excited about to enter the rap fray?

MY: Everybody besides D’banj so far. Pusha has been here already, we have heard him for years, so he is not entering, he is evolving. From an entry level, however, no body is fucking with CyHi.

[e-i-a]: Do you have plans to work with Kanye or any of the other G.O.O.D. Music artists after Cruel Summer releases?

MY: Yes sir, going right back in with Kanye’s [upcoming solo] album right away.

[e-i-a]: You’re from Chicago. Now that more Chicago rappers are being signed to major labels, do you feel that this is ushering in a new generation of Chicago-born rappers?

MY: I reserve comment. I don’t know how I feel inside about the Chicago music scene right now. So I will keep my thoughts private for right now if you don’t mind.

[e-i-a]: With the recent death of Lil JoJo and all the violence that’s happening in the city of Chicago right now, how do you respond to Chief Keef’s Twitter remarks and do you believe that Chicago rappers should incorporate messages in their raps?

MY: I believe everyone should have a message with their music. Big Sean and I had a conversation about this the other day.  As for Lil Jojo this is a tradgedy for Chicago, and a tragedy for their loved ones. It is a shame to have someone taken so young before they can learn who they really are and before they can provide their gifts for us. As for Chief Keef’s remarks, we let this happen, we let it form without intervening. We can’t blame the youth only, everyone needs to take responsibility. The Internet can be a tool and a weapon.

[e-i-a]: How do you feel about Lupe Fiasco’s remarks regarding him retiring from the rap game following his upcoming album as a result of his response to Chief Keef?

MY: Lupe is a very talented rap artist as well as martial artist, but I will fight him on pay-per-view if he tries to retire from rap.  He can’t leave the game alone, the game needs him (in my Jay-Z voice).

[e-i-a]: You’re currently in LA for the VMA weekend. We’ve seen flyers for numerous events for you and Tyran Brown. Who is Tyran Brown and what can listeners expect from his upcoming mixtape Hard Work?

MY: West coast born and bred, street raised, college educated, and in my opinion, an incredible MC with a good personality.  He has an incredible, incredible grasp of the English language and how to manipulate it and he is very dangerous and will present a threat in the industry. So, instead of being his competition, I chose to be his mentor. HardWork is just an assortment of incredible tracks with equally impressive lyrics, song concepts, and messages.

[e-i-a]: After Cruel Summer debuts, there will be listeners who discover Malik Yusef for the very first time. What are your plans to promote your name and brand, and where can people learn more about you and find out when you release new content? Speaking of which, is new content on the way in the form of a solo album, or do you plan on collaborating with other artists?

MY: We are launching a website very soon, and we are going to be building the Malik Yusef brand through the DONDA process with Kanye’s help.

[e-i-a]: Thank you for your time.

[Interview credit: Corey Zaretsky; image credit: James Christopher]