Kanye West Presents Good Music Cruel Summer

On the heels of 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye linked with his "big brother," JAŸ-Z, for the record-breaking Watch the Throne. Instead of then retreating for another solo album, the affable rapper/producer/fashion designer assembled his Good Music crew—including Pusha T, Common, John Legend, and Kid Cudi—plus a wealth of additional collaborators to construct this star-studded extravaganza. On the triumphant opener, “To the World,” Yeezy links with fellow Chi-town native R. Kelly and the pair stunt defiantly—a sentiment echoed throughout the braggadocio-laden collection that’s packed with expertly layered beats that feel at once sparse yet expansive and hypnotic. JAY makes an early appearance aside Kanye on “Clique,” where Big Sean proclaims, “My block behind me like I’m coming out the driveway.” Like a good leader, Kanye takes charge and appears on many of the album’s hardest hitters, but also relinquishes the spotlight to let others shine, including extended family 2 Chainz, Wu-Tang’s Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, Ma$e, and The-Dream.