Kanye, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz unite on new G.O.O.D. Music single.
By Rob Markman
Hit-Boy
Photo: MTV News
Two new Kanye West songs in just two days — now that's what we call a G.O.O.D. week.
A day after dropping "Theraflu," the Louis Vuitton Don dropped a second single, this time with his G.O.O.D. Music cohorts on Thursday night.
"Mercy" not only features rhymes from Yeezy, but Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz as well. The track, which premiered on Chicago's WGCI, was released on iTunes at midnight in conjunction with the religious holiday Good Friday.
Big Sean and Pusha T set things off, while Yeezy and 2 Chainz bring up the rear lyrically. For 2 Chainz, who recently signed to Def Jam Records, being featured on such a high-profile track has further validated his success of late. "I'm excited about it," 2 Chainz said on Thursday during a Def Jam-orchestrated press conference call.
Though he isn't signed to West, 2 Chainz said he's done so much work with Yeezy that he forgot what his "Mercy" verse sounded like. "I've done a lot of work with 'Ye for, like, a year now, and it was one of those songs where I called him and I told him, 'Man, play my verse over the phone because I don't remember,' " he said. "That's a good look to add to the résumé, for real."
Sonically, "Mercy" blends Southern rap elements with dancehall vibes. It's unlike anything on radio currently, and that's what excites Hit-Boy, the G.O.O.D. Music producer who whipped up the tracks for "Theraflu" and the Throne's "N---as in Paris."
"It's fresh, it's new, it's something you haven't heard before. It's elements of trap, but it's just some fresh, new-sounding stuff. I'm excited about it. I wish I did it, but I didn't," he told MTV News hours before the song was released.
The chief producer on the record is new Kanye protégé Lifted, but in an interview with Las Vegas DJ Bootleg Kev, Lifted revealed that Kanye also co-produced.
"Mercy" starts with a vocal sampling from the late Fuzzy Jones, whose voice has hyped up many dancehall classics. The island-laced intro gives way to an eerie-sounding bass track, sparse drums, hair-raising piano keys and a dramatic "Scarface" film sample.
Lyrically, "Mercy" is a verbal free-for-all. Big Sean picks up where his "Dance (A$$)" single left off with strip-club-inspired bars. Pusha laments about his exotic car collection, while Kayne baits lesser rappers, flashing his riches and model girlfriends. With no real concept in place, 2 Chainz closes things out with a free associative verse where spits about his black diamond chain and Louis Vuitton backpack and expensive strains of marijuana. It's all pretty damn good!
What do you think of Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy"? Tell us in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment