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.

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[Via Complex]
(Click here for more…)

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.

It’s been a rather busy week for valuable members of the G.O.O.D. Music family. On Tuesday the music video for “No Church In The Wild” dropped; it’s the third single off Kanye West & Jay-Z’s collaborative effort Watch The Throne. Unlike the previous two singles that also received clips (“Otis” and “Ni**as In Paris“), this riot-themed music video directed by Romain Gavras and shot in Prague does not feature the Throne duo nor featured artist Frank Ocean. Still, like everything West outputs it is visually pleasing and deserves at least one go-around. Watch it after the break.

Rising G.O.O.D. Music rapper Pusha T released a new track titled “Exodus 23:1″ featuring The-Dream. The very colorful clip does include Pusha as he stirs controversy with rival rapper Lil Wayne and his Young Money crew. Watch above, then snag a free download here. (Click here for more…)

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)

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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. (Click here for more…)

On Tuesday June 28 the newest members of Kanye West’s music label G.O.O.D. (Getting Out Our Dreams) headlined the Heineken Red Star Access concert in New York City. The private concert was invite-only and it was located at Santos Party House. Hot 97′s DJ Camilo spinned the beats before the main guests arrived. Adrienne Bailon of 3LW fame introduced Cyhi Da Prynce who performed eight songs from his Royal Flush mixtapes. After his too-brief stint on stage, main attraction Pusha T was showered with cheers as he performed a bunch of songs ranging from classic Clipse tracks to more recent tracks off Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the Fear of God mixtape. P confirmed that his next mixtape Fear of God 2 is complete and it will be released later this summer in August. Also, fans can anticipate his first studio album to hit stores on Black Friday (that is late November).

The concert was a raging good time. Thanks to Heineken’s sponsorship free beer was flowing all night, and the speaker setup inside the venue was phenomenal. Standing literally inches from Cyhi and Pusha T made the experience all the more engaging, though I could have done without the onslaught spit and sweat that came my way. Check out pictures from the concert below (please excuse the poor quality, only had iPhone in hand) and jump after the break to find a collection of the night’s performances in video form.

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Pusha T’s solo career is about to go on fire. About a month after he released his first mixtape Fear of God he’s now let out a music video for the track “My God.” The Ryan Reichenfeld and Pusha-directed video hints at the G.O.O.D. Music rapper’s debut album at the very end. Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray is due out this June.

Update: One half of the Clipse has just uploaded another music video. Check out “Can I Live” right after the break. (Click here for more…)

If you haven’t heard of Pusha T it’s about time you figure out why he’s the hottest up-and-coming rapper out there right now. He’s one half of Clipse and he’s the newest member of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music family. Recently he’s been featured on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy showcasing his skills on tracks like “Runaway” and “So Appalled.” It’s time for him to shine on his own, and so he’s finally released his much anticipated mixtape Fear of God. The 13-track collection plays very much like an EP and features artists Kanye West, Rick Ross, 50 Cent, and Kevin Cossom. On the production side, Pusha’s teamed with West, The Neptunes, Hit-Boy, Tha Bizness, Nottz, and The Inkredibles.

Download the free mixtape right here. Look after the break for the album art and track listing.

[Via 2dopeboyz] (Click here for more…)

Another Friday means another G.O.O.D. Friday track.  This one features the lovely Keri Hilson along with the newest G.O.O.D. Music label players Pusha T and CyHi Da Prynce.  Preview and download below.

Download: Kanye West – “Take One for the Team” (Featuring Keri Hilson, Pusha T & CyHi Da Prynce)

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[Via KWBlog]

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]

Thanks to a gang of hackers and bloggers Kanye West has decided not to release a new G.O.O.D. Friday track this week.  On Wednesday an unfinished track off Ye’s upcoming album called “Lost in the World” leaked onto the Internet.  Shortly after it made waves ’round the ‘Net Kanye shared the news via his Twitter account.  “Due to blogs leaking unfinished songs from my actual album I’ve decided to pass of Good Fridays this week”, he tweeted.  “It’s messed up that one hacker can mess everything up for everyone… I love to take a year to finish my songs and deliver them … to you guys in there most completed form… It would have seemed like since I give free music every week even the lowest form of human being would respect that enough not to leak unfinished songs from my real album…”  I gotta side with Yeezy here.  He’s been gracious enough to spend extra hours in the studio to deliver weekly hits for us; the least we can do is not leak songs that haven’t be certified as completed.

But there may still be hope!  Late last night (10/1) Kanye tweeted, “For the real hip hop fans… even though I had to shift all my energy to mixing my album do to leaks. I’m trying to still deliver a new Good Friday song 2nt… Let’s pray!!!”  Friday has come and gone and there’s no new G.O.O.D. Friday song to be found.  Let’s keep on praying, huh?

Update: Around 4am Saturday morning Kanye posted single art for a new track called “Christian Dior Denim Flow”.  It features Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, and Ryan Leslie.  He tweeted, “Christian Dior Denim Flow GOOD FRIDAY… fuuuuck I need some sleep.”  So is this the  G.O.O.D. Friday song of the week?  It appears to be that way, but there’s no download link…yet.  Single art is pasted above.

Update 2: Kanye delivers! “Christian Dior Denim Flow” is here.  Preview and download below.

Download: Kanye West – “Christian Dior Denim Flow” (Featuring Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks & Ryan Leslie)

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[Via @kanyewest; KWBlog]

This past Friday brought another Kanye West track.  “So Appalled” features familiar G.O.O.D. Friday vocals from RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, and Swizz Beatz.  Cyhi the Prynce recently sighed to ‘Ye’s label over the summer.  Preview and download the track below.

Download: Kanye West – “So Appalled” (Featuring RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi the Prynce)

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[Via KWBlog]

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.

At the MTV Video Music Awards Kanye West debuted (what we can only assume is) the second single off his upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.  It’s called “Runaway”, it features Pusha T (of the Clipse), preview and download it below.  (FYI–this is CDQ, not the live televised version).

Download: Kanye West – “Runaway” (Featuring Pusha T)

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In related ‘Ye news.. During the VMA pre-show MTV aired a trailer for his “movie companion” to the album.  It’s a brief look into what he’s been up to in Prague; there’s deer, a feathered woman, and a title card that reads “Runaway.”  Things are still up in the air as to how it will tie into the LP, but I like what I see so far.  Look after the break to watch the trailer.

[Via YouHeardThatNew; MTV, here & here; thanks Corey] (Click here for more…)

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)

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[Via KWBlog] (Click here for more…)