So it’s finally here. After multiple delays, the highly anticipated G.O.O.D. Music compilation has finally arrived to deliver a unique album in Cruel Summer.
G.O.O.D. Music, which stands for “Getting Out Our Dreams,” is a label created by Kanye West and recruits the likes of artists such as Kid Cudi, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Pusha T, John Legend, Common and a couple of other up-and-coming stars like Teyana Taylor.
The album, which already spawned five singles, begins strong with the first song. With the assistance of R. Kelly, Kanye West recreates the same kind of vibe that was used in Watch The Throne’s “Lift Off” with Beyonce. Kanye does solid work in introducing the album, calling the project a “ghetto opera.”
The album then kick starts with a powerful single recruiting Jay-Z. “Clique” starts off with Big Sean delivering a very catchy chorus line and then pounces on the beat with a very confident performance showing off his crew. Jay-Z, who arguably delivers the best verse on the track, comes in and shows his full support for G.O.O.D. Music calling them family as they share the same parent label: Def Jam.
The all too familiar “Mercy” beat creeps up and jumps in after “Clique,” and then the album slows down a notch to deliver one of the album’s strongest tracks, “New God Flow.”
This track delivers a mean performance from Pusha T. He asserts his position as a powerhouse member in G.O.O.D. Music claiming he’s the “G.O.O.D. Music golden child.” The track also brings in a perfect Ghostface Killah verse for the album version of the track. It’s still Kanye who steals the show as he delivers a well-crafted verse that brings back the old Kanye feel presented in his first three albums.
As the album moves on, it brings back some of the old G.O.O.D. Fridays styles.
“The Morning” begins with a D’banj chorus and is then led by Raekwon to start the track off, then a majority of the G.O.O.D. Music family comes in to tear apart the track. Common comes in with his signature flow, Pusha T follows his flow, 2 Chainz delivers four lines that invite CyHi to hop on the beat and tear it apart. The song then breaks down with a Kanye sample from the previous song and a Kid Cudi ad-lib, finishing with a Kanye verse to serve as an outro.
After about the sixth song, the album begins to slow down and feel different. “Higher” brings in Ma$e, The-Dream and Cocaine-80s to assist Pusha T in a heavy track that opens up for an even heavier bass-laced song titled “Sin City.” The music presents a dark and deep theme that is backed by the spoken word verses of Malik Yusef.
“Creepers” gives Kid Cudi a shot to shine on this compilation album since his only other appearance is in a very small role in “The Morning.” Kid Cudi doesn’t disappoint, although the song feels awkwardly placed and doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album, as if it was meant to be an interlude.
The album continues to move on with a Hudson Mohawke-produced “Bliss.” This track abandons the rap to let the label’s singers, John Legend and Teyana Taylor, shine for a bit. The album then concludes with its popular remix of Chief Keef’s single “Don’t Like.”
Although the album is missing action from some of the label’s members, the album as a whole is as good as its label name claims. The G.O.O.D. Music team delivers an exciting performance at first and then settles down a bit to exude a more intimate feel.
Other than “The Morning,” there really aren’t any hidden gems within the compilation—a majority of the best songs have already been released.
Don’t get me wrong, this album is great and it serves its purpose. This album leaves you wanting more, and with albums coming from Kid Cudi, Big Sean and Pusha T arriving soon in the future, that hunger for more will hopefully be fed.
