The latest single off Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music compilation album Cruel Summer is “Clique.” It features verses from Big Sean, Mr. West, and the other half of The Throne, Jay-Z. The track is produced by Hit-Boy and it’s a hot one. Hear it below and get ready for Cruel Summer due out September 18.
We’ve seen Kid Cudi cover don the cover multiple times, but now nearly every member of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label has the time to shine in this month’s issue of Complex Magazine. In a four-page interview (available online and in print), Complex’s Noah Callahan-Bever talks with G.O.O.D. Music members Big Sean, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Common, John Legend, Q-Tip, and 2 Chainz about what it’s like working with Kanye West inside the studio and how he helped jumpstart and innovate their careers. Since ‘Ye advocates a “no press” policy, this makes for an interesting read for all fans of ‘Ye and his labelmates because it dives into material that otherwise would never make it out in the open.
The interview starts off with the artists talking about what G.O.O.D. Music means to them. John Legend sums it up nicely when he says, “We want to be known for quality. We want to be known for stuff that we all can be proud of. That creativity, that attention to detail, that quality control—that’s what distinguishes us from other folks who might just be chasing a hit. Kanye picks artists who care about making great art. We all want to make money and do well, but we also want to make great art that’s important and interesting.” From there they discuss how Kanye carries the torch and gets involved in their respective music making processes. In the end, these hip-hop musicians are a family, and under Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music umbrella they help each other push out quality music that pushes the boundaries of the genre to new heights.
Read the interview in full right here. Look in the gallery below to browse pictures from the zine’s photoshoot. Jump after the break to watch a behind-the-scenes video from said photoshoot; in it you’ll hear the various G.O.O.D. artists expound their statements put forth in the interview.
And, for those of you wondering, the G.O.O.D. Music album Cruel Summer is now set to release September 4.
Update: During the photoshoot, Complex pulled Kid Cudi aside to ask him a few questions regarding his relationship to ‘Ye and Cud explained how his mentor will always remain an integral part of his music making process. He also comments on his upcoming solo album dubbed Indicud saying, “I’ve been writing some really serious raps. I’ve been writing some sh*t that’s going to fu*k people up. And it’s about that time that I let n****s know.” Read the mini interview here.
[Via Complex]
Continue reading G.O.O.D. Music covers Complex Magazine
G.O.O.D. Music opened the 2012 BET Awards tonight with a spectacular performance of “Mercy.” Featured artists Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz spit their respective verses with absolute confidence and tore the venue up. When it was Kanye’s turn to take the spotlight, he transitioned to “Cold” (the track previously known as “Theraflu” and “Way Too Cold”) and then went on to preview a brand new, still unreleased track “New God Flow.” ‘Ye went hard and did it a cappella, impressing everyone in the crowd and at home. See how it all went down in the clip embedded above. When “New God Flow” drops, you’ll know.
For a list of the night’s big winners, click here.
Update: “New God Flow” featuring Pusha T and Kanye West has arrived. Is it the best G.O.O.D. Music collaboration yet? Hear it here, now.
Kanye West and a chunk of his G.O.O.D. Music crew Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz light it up in this black-and-white set in widescreen music video for “MERCY,” the first single off the G.O.O.D. compilation album now officially titled Cruel Summer. As the camera swerves left and right the rappers take turns spitting verses, all the while their egos replicate thanks to the inclusion of some neat special effects. Also, a Lamborghini and a couple motocycles linger in the background as they should. Kid Cudi, Cyhi da Prynce, and Teyana Taylor make special appearances.
Cruel Summer is on track to drop sometime this year.
Mr. West is in the building. And so are his record label mates. Today Kanye West dropped the first official single off his upcoming album that promises to bring together the artists that are housed under his Getting Out Our Dreams record label. The track is titled “Mercy” and it features Big Sean who is Finally Famous and rising rappers Pusha T and 2 Chainz. Much like his previous G.O.O.D. Friday releases, ‘Ye gives ample time to his featured guests before popping with his own hard verses. The beat literally explodes when ‘Ye puts his grill to the mic. The reggae infused chorus is sampled from Super Beagle’s Dust a Sound Boy. Take a listen below, and download “Mercy” at the iTunes link provided. The G.O.O.D. Music compilation album–with raps and croons from other G.O.O.D. artists like Kid Cudi, John Legend, Common, Mr. Hudson, and Cyhi the Prynce–is expected to come out this spring.
Download: Kanye West – Mercy (Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
[audio: Kanye West – Mercy.mp3]BONUS! Yesterday Kanye leaked a slick new track called “Theraflu” produced by Hit-Boy and featuring DJ Khaled and DJ Pharris. You’re going to want to hear this one, too. West goes hard and gets some things off his chest, to say the least. The audio is embedded after the break, along with a download link and the racy, hilarious George Condo designed artwork. Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West drops single “Mercy” featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz (Also inside: DJ Khaled-assisted “Theraflu”)
It’s been a long time coming for Big Sean. He started his rap career back in 2007 when he released his first mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 1: The Mixtape and signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. Since then he’s dropped two more mixtapes, became a Def Jam Recordings player and now he’s nearly ready to share with the world his first full-length album. Finally Famous: The Album is expected to release May 3. Here’s the first single off the record; it’s called “My Last”, features vocals from Chris Brown, and is produced by No I.D. Download it at iTunes here.
Mr. West is back with another G.O.O.D. Friday cut. And this one is special because we’ve been anticipating it for quite some time now. Kanye first performed a verse from it way back in July at the Facebook headquarters. With verses including lines like “I am the day Ice Cube met Michael Jackson / Keep him away, huh? Something might happen / This is the making of a masterpiece / So we broke out the chains and told ‘em master, peace!” and a heavy beat (pun intended) backed by a piercing theremin and Q-Tip on the keys, this has got to be one of the best Friday tracks yet. And it doesn’t hurt that fellow rappers Talib Kweli & Consequence (Tip’s cousin) round out the solid number with their very own verses. Preview and download “Chain Heavy” below. Hopefully “Mama’s Boyfriend”, the other track ‘Ye previewed at Facebook, is not too far off from release.
Download: Kanye West – “Chain Heavy” (Featuring Talib Kweli & Consequence)
[audio: Kanye West – Chain Heavy (Featuring Talib Kweli & Consequence).mp3]Look after the break to find last week’s G.O.O.D. Friday track “Looking for Trouble” (Featuring Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce, Big Sean & J. Cole).
[Via KWBlog]
Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “Chain Heavy” (Featuring Talib Kweli & Consequence)
Kanye West is working so very hard on finalizing his upcoming album My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasty–no wonder why last week’s G.O.O.D. Friday track landed on the ‘Net during the wee hours of Saturday morning. When he officially tweeted about the track’s release he called it “Don’t Look Down (The Phoenix Story)”, so make a choice when giving it a name in your music library. You know the drill by now: preview and download below! Note: The album art does contain nudity; hop after the break for the uncensored image.
Download: Kanye West – “Don’t Look Down” (Featuring Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco & Big Sean)
[audio: Kanye West – Don’t Look Down.mp3][Via KWBlog] Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West — “Don’t Look Down” (Featuring Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco & Big Sean)
Cuz here it is, fresh out the oven. During the 2010 BET Awards this video aired as part of the “Cypher series” and a sponser for Sprite. It features the Rosewood Crew, a rap ratpack consisting of Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, CyHi Da Prynce, and Common. DJ Premiere is scratching the throwback ’90s beat. It’s crazy good and all for fun. Watch it above now, download a version for keeps later.
[Via HighSnobiety; NahRight]
September 14 came and went without big record releases from the likes of Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music label crew. So where do the album releases stand now? Kanye’s hotly anticipated album (still yet-to-be-titled) will drop November 16. The two singles out now are “Power” & “Runaway.” Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager will release a week earlier on November 9. The lone single from Cudder’s album is “Erase Me.” The Roots-produced John Legend record Wake Up! is due on September 21; listen to the first single “Wake Up Everybody” (Featuring Common and Melanie Fiona) for a taste. Consequence’s ConsTV, Tony Williams’ King or The Fool, and Big Sean’s Finally Famous are unfortunately stamped with TBD. In the interim, however, you can download Big Sean’s latest mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG. And finally, rapper GLC’s Love, Life & Loyalty is expected to release this fall. In related G.O.O.D. Music news, Pusha T of the Clipse has formally announced his integration with the label.
You know the drill. Another Friday comes along, ‘Ye publishes a new track. The appropriately titled “Good Friday” features vocal stylings from fellow G.O.O.D. Music artists Common, Kid Cudi, and Big Sean. Pusha T is expected to be inducted into Kanye’s music label any day now (update: it’s official), and famed soul artist Charlie Wilson is just coming for the ride. (Uncle Charlie reprises his role from the terrific “See Me Now” track.) Preview and download below. Note: Kanye’s blog is currently “under construction.” In its place is a new portal that provides you with cover art and download links for all G.O.O.D. Friday songs dropped to date. And speaking of cover art, this week’s is too much NFSW to post on the homepage, so click after the break to see it in full.
Download: Kanye West – “Good Friday” (Featuring Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson)
[audio: Kanye West – Good Friday.mp3][Via KWBlog] Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West — “Good Friday” (Featuring Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson)
September 14 is the expected release for four big albums that are signed under Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label: Big Sean’s debut album Finally Famous, Kanye West’s Good Ass Job, Kid Cudi’s Man On the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, and Consequence’s ConsTV. In an interview with HipHopDX, rapper Consequence was asked about the supposed G.O.O.D. Music Day. Read the excerpt from said interview below.
DX: So on September 14th you, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Big Sean are all droppin’ your respective projects. But just to play devil’s advocate, you sure you wanna do that? It’s hard enough getting folks to cop one album let alone four albums on the same day.
Consequence: Well…the idea for doing the G.O.O.D Music Day emerged between me and Sylvia Rhone, just to be quite honest. I’m very communicative with Sylvia Rhone on everything that I do. We had actually met with Kanye one night, and as me and her left the meeting, we left together and I was like, “Yo, we need to really get this paper right now.”
When we left we thought that this is where we need to take advantage of the situation. So…she got on the phone…made some boss calls, and then we got to it. At the time when [Big] Sean announced that [he was also dropping his album on September 14th] I didn’t know that he was in the mix of that, but it’s all good.
But initially, how that shit came about was me, Kanye and Kid Cudi. I just hadn’t announced it because I know we had things that had to be ironed out. And it got ironed out where it’s – ‘Cause actually at the end of the day, Kanye being the head of G.O.O.D Music had to approve that. And the approval was based on, “Let’s shake the game up.” Cudi got the kids, Cons got the streets, ‘Ye got the globe, so we all gon’ eat. [Laughs] (Added emphasis.)
With Tony Williams’ King or The Fool and John Legend’s Wake Up (produced by The Roots) expected to drop on or around the 9/14 date too, Sepember might just be the greatest month for music in 2010. Yeah, I went there.
[Via HipHopDX; DatNewCudi]