Your Complete Guide to the G.O.O.D. Music Crew

With 'Cruel Summer' just around the corner, check out our who's who of Kanye West's squad

September 17, 2012
Fuse's Guide to G.O.O.D. Music
G.O.O.D. Music is set to release their first compilation, 'Cruel Summer,' this Tuesday, so we thought it'd be a good (get it?) idea to go through their line-up, and make sure we're all up to speed. Sound good? First up, a young up-and-comer named Kanye West founded G.O.O.D. Music in 2004. Kanye is...what's that, you've heard of him? Okay, then. Moving on.
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Common
G.O.O.D. Music's biggest star after Kanye, Common has been a fixture on the rap scene since releasing his debut album, 'Can I Borrow a Dollar?,' in 1992. Since then, he's worked with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Prince and has branched into acting with roles on 'American Gangster' and AMC's hit show 'Hell on Wheels.' He's been associated with G.O.O.D. Music since 2004
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John Legend
John Legend has been a part of the G.O.O.D. Music crew since 2004, when he released his debut album, 'Get Lifted,' on the label. He's collaborated with Kanye and other G.O.O.D. artists ever since, including two songs on 'Cruel Summer'
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Mos Def
Mos Def has been a major influence in music since the mid-1990s, when he was half of the influential hip-hop group Black Star. He's since gone on to have a successful solo career in music and acting. He's been on the G.O.O.D. Music roster since 2010, though does not appear on 'Cruel Summer'
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Pusha T
Pusha T is, of course, one half of the great rap group Clipse. Since their 2009 album 'Til the Casket Drops,' Pusha has worked almost exclusively with Kanye and G.O.O.D. Music, which he signed to in 2010. He appears on five tracks on 'Cruel Summer'
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2 Chainz
While not officially signed to G.O.O.D. Music, hip-hop's breakout artist of 2012 appeared on a recent cover of Complex magazine with the crew and said, "I’ve talked to ’Ye 1,000 times about trying to make this situation work for the both of us, so it won’t feel like anyone is getting used or anything." The 36-year-old artist formerly known as Tity Boi went from relatively unknown rapper to song-stealing verses on G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy" to Billboard-topping solo artist, all within a year. He appears on three songs on 'Cruel Summer'
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Big Sean
Big Sean has been with G.O.O.D Music since 2007. According to legend, he first impressed Kanye with an impromptu 16-bar freestyle delivered after ambushing 'Ye outside of a radio appearance. His biggest success came on 2011's "Marvin and Chardonnay." He's one of 'Cruel Summer's most frequent contributors, with four appearances
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Kid Cudi
Cleveland rapper/singer Kid Cudi has worked with G.O.O.D. Music since 2009, when his debut album, 'Man on the Moon:The End of Day,' was released on the label. He's worked with Kanye on several albums, most notably on 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' and appears on two songs on 'Cruel Summer'
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Mannie Fresh
Legendary Cash Money Records producer (and one half of Big Tymers) Mannie Fresh hasn't officially signed to G.O.O.D. Music, but was involved with 'Cruel Summer,' co-producing one track and working in-studio on others
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Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor is a 21-year-old singer/rapper whose relationship with Kanye and G.O.O.D Music goes back to 2010, when she contributed several verses to 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.' She officially signed to G.O.O.D Music this summer and appears on three tracks on 'Cruel Summer'
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Hit Boy
Hit Boy, a 25-year-old producer from California, earned widespread acclaim as the producer of Watch the Throne's "N--gas in Paris" and produced three tracks on 'Cruel Summer.' In addition to the G.O.O.D. Music family, he's produced records for Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Eminem and others
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Mr. Hudson
Mr. Hudson is a 33-year-old British pop singer who's been signed to G.O.O.D. Music since 2009. Perhaps best known for singing the hook on "Why I Love You" on 'Watch the Throne,' Hudson also contributed to Kanye's 2008 album, '808 and Heartbreaks.' He's not featured on 'Cruel Summer'
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Cyhi Da Prynce
Cyhi Da Prynce is a Georgia rapper best known for his appearance on "So Appalled" off Kanye's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.' He appears on two tracks on 'Cruel Summer'
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D'Banj
Nigerian pop-star and producer D'Banj has been a member of the G.O.O.D. Music label since June 2011, when he signed with then-partner Don Jazzy. He appears on one song on 'Cruel Summer'
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