The compilation album has become a constant in the hip hop culture. One of the most anticipated albums of the year has been the debut compilation album Cruel Summer from Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label.
After the album leaked just days prior to its release, Kanye went back to the studio and was able to deliver an even better version. The album takes the focus away from Kanye West and puts more of the focus on his artists.
The multitude of talent on the G.O.O.D Music roster is showcased at large. Their lyrical ability along with the masterful production proves that Cruel Summer is a proper introduction to a portion of the G.O.O.D Music label led by Kanye West’s expansive talents. Cruel Summer is a great album sonically and stands as one of the best albums of the year so far.
There are certainly traces of Kanye on each song, but he is able to step back and let his various artists stand out throughout the album. This is a refreshing aspect of the album considering the attention leading up to the release of the album was on him and how much he would appear throughout. G.O.O.D Music artists Big Sean, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Common, John Legend, Teyana Taylor, Cyhi the Prince, and 2 Chainz find their own way through the multiple features throughout the album. Each artist has one memorable verse on each song.
The many highlights of the album are “Clique”, “Morning”, “Sin City”, and the appropriately titled “Bliss”. Each song is good for very different reasons. “Clique” seems more like a 1980’s freestyle cypher with high-quality verses from Kanye West, Big Sean, and the legendary Jay-Z. The verse from Kanye West is filled with mentions ranging from his current girlfriend Kim Kardashian to former CIA director George Tennant. “Morning” and “Sin City” follow the same formula, quality beat, a multitude of artists and various abstract sounds to AMCcomplete the songs.
The production is what shines throughout the album. Songs such as “The Morning”, “Higher”, and “Sin City” are more bass heavy with plenty of layers and different sounds used throughout. With most of the production being done by Kanye and his protégé, Hit-Boy, this is to be expected.
These two have become masters of making beats by combining various sounds and creating their own. Beats like “Mercy”, “New God Flow”, and “Clique” are simplistic in nature, but still sound very complex. It’s amazing to hear the combination of both types of beats because they create a great flow to the album.
The production, the mixing and mastering triumph complement each other. Throughout the album, there are various moments where the beat drops and you are able to hear the lighter instrumentation. To some listeners this will go unnoticed and overlooked, but they add a fascinating depth to each song and showcase Kanye’s creativity.
Cruel Summer is a quality collaborative effort from hip hop’s newest collective. The album is elegant in its execution. Filled with powerful beats and upper echelon lyrics, Cruel Summer is a must own for not just fans of hip hop, but fans of music in general.
