Kanye West Presents G.O.O.D. Music
Cruel Summer - September 18, 2012
(7 Out of 10 Stars)
The Bottom Line
Kanye West thinks he's better than you, and he's going to do everything he can to make sure that you know it. Cruel Summer is no Watch the Throne, but it still stands as one of the most anticipated projects of the year and one of the few that can satisfy a hip-hop lover's desire for hard, upbeat radio material and actual rap music. The album falters in it's overbearing-ness and lack of faultless productions that explore a range of moods. It's one of the better albums of the year, but not the best, and definitely one of Kanye's weaker projects. Just don't think that doesn't mean it's worth buying, because I'm totally charging this to my iTunes account.
The Breakdown
"To The World" (R. Kelly & Kanye West) - The lyrics are a bit stale, but R. Kelly sounds the same way her did when I was six-years-old singing along to "I Believe I Can Fly." You can't really go wrong with R. Kelly... *insert underage child shade*
"Clique" (Jay-Z, Big Sean and Kanye West) - A major transition from the first track, "Clique" is the album biggest club anthem that follows Kanye through a flashback of his past albums, including revisiting Late Registration subject matter of black america's obsession with jewelry and the 808s era's loss of his mother.
"Mercy" (Kanye West, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Big Sean) - Having already shook the Billboard charts, this song is massive and will be a great reminder or the state of rap music in 2012 for us to look back on 20 years from now. 2 Chainz gives the song a surprisingly strong ending, beating out all of his co-stars for the "best verse" award.
"New God Flow" (Ghostface Killah, Pusha T & Kanye West) - Kanye West & Pusha T both fall a bit short in comparison to Ghostface, who brings us one of the albums stand out deliveries.
"The Morning" (Common, Kid Cudi, Raekwon, D'Banj, CyHi The Prince, Pusha T) - I couldn't wait to hear Common on this track, and he brought the expected buttery-smooth lines, but the song is most exciting for the few seconds that Kid Cudi rescues the track from it's simplicity.
"Cold" (Kanye West & DJ Khaled) - Khaled is as annoying as a tag on a leaked song, but it honestly doesn't take away too much from Kanye's lyrics. I will admit I wish his verse was longer and that half of the song wasn't some angry guy shouting cities.
"Higher" (The-Dream, Push T, Ma$e & Cocaine 80s) This song isn't particularly sultry but the combination of the smooth beat and the way the beat drops as "baby" is chanted help this song wind up on my sex playlist. One of the strongest non-singles, the only think I feel was missing was Rick Ross.
"Sin City" (John Legend, CyHi The Prince, Malik Yusif, Travi$ Scott & Teyana Taylor) - Teyana is by all means a cheap sounding aAlicia Keys, but I'll cut her some slack because even John Legend struggled to stand out from the over-powering beat.
"The One" - (Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz & Marsha Ambrosius) - Marsha Ambrosius was exactly what this song needed to take is from just a mid-tempo rap song to being on the same level as Jay-Z's "Lost Ones."
"Creeprs" (Kid Cudi) - My pick for the album's top track. Cudders shows his vocal versatility as the track wobbles between pop and hip-hop seamlessly.
"Bliss" (Teyana Taylor & John Legend) - Teyana actually shines alongside John Legend and a humming electric guitar for another stand out track.
"I Don't Like" (Kanye West, Chief Keef, Pusha T, Big Sean , Big Sean and Jadakiss) - I'm just not as into this song as everyone else. I don't see it as anything more than a crippling stereotype of rap music.
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