The 10 Best Lines From G.O.O.D. Music's "Cruel Summer"

Finally reaching us at the beginning of autumn, G.O.O.D. Music's debut album, Cruel Summer, finds Kanye West, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, John Legend, and a host of features at their best. While it was frequently delayed, Cruel Summer was led by a string of massively successful singles, including “Mercy” and “Cold,” and the LP holds up as a full-length project, as well.

The result of the crew's year of work is a mix of Kanye's dark fantasies, Big Sean's obsession with fame and success, Pusha T's cocaine dreams, and a slew of other ideas. The themes blend beautifully, flowing without direction but ending up at the same place. G.O.O.D. Music is stacked with talent more rich than any other collective right, and their new compilation shows it.

Here are the 10 best lines from Cruel Summer, as selected by Rap Genius writer Gavin Matthews.

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Song: Kanye West f/ R.Kelly & Teyana Taylor "To The World"

Recalling the classic Chappelle's Show skits where Charlie Murphy tells stories of his insane times with Rick James, R. Kelly welcomes himself back to the mainstream with a shove. Even today, hearing “I'm Rick James, bitch!” is a common diss. The message here is non-concern and the “couch,” Eddie Murphy's white leather sofa, is about to get stomped. Nothing can bother R. Kelly on a night of celebration; haters can hate, and many will, but they'll never kill his mood.

Song: Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Marsha Ambrosius & Cocaine 80s "The One"

On “The One,” Kanye recalls a flow left behind after “Jesus Walks,” one where holy images are transposed against Kanye's wishes for better hoods. Here, West is ready to fight for safe, prosperous Chicago slums, yet again. Like the famous Wu-Tang line from “Triumph,” where the “dumb” to be taught the truth are “mostly intrigued by the drum,” Kanye realizes that many find religion and preaching to be dated and stale. Rather than talking, 'Ye crafts master beats that draw people in, then traps them with a powerful message.

Song: Pusha T f/ The-Dream, Ma$e & Cocaine 80s "Higher"

Ma$e's comeback is somewhat surprising, but once again, Kanye proves his powers. While Ma$e's verse relies on somewhat dated, though still very welcome flow, his style is always on point. Calling up the old “1, 2” mixing terms of the first MCs, Ma$e reminds how this comeback is his second in the decade, after his Welcome Back album never took off.

Going further, the New Yorker realizes and fixes the surprising absence of a New York rapper in the core of G.O.O.D. Music. (Q-Tip does not feature on the album.) West and Common were raised in Chicago, Pusha T lived in Virginia Beach, and Big Sean grew up in Detroit. When 'Ye allowed Ma$e to record a verse, he finally let “Manhattan,” a New York native, join on a song. It's truly symbolic of the crew's full circle influence.

Song: Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz "Mercy"

Sean fires off a number of hot lines on Cruel Summer. Most notably, the hardworking Detroit rapper helps drive “Mercy” to success with some clever wordplay on “ass.”

A breakdown does not have to be technically swift or dramatic; sometimes a simple play on words makes more of a point than a masterpiece. Sean chooses to use the homophone “ass” to replace common words, making a hilarious and catchy list of the many useful functions of a booty. "Mercy" is the right word: Sean is hungry and talented, but relaxed enough to build the verse that made rap critics start taking him seriously on a slice of bouncing booty.

Song: Kid Cudi "Creepers"

Following up on WZRD, Kid Cudi drives a track by himself that is reminiscent of “Teleport 2 Me, Jamie.” Luckily, that means we get a bit more music in the style of Cudi's alternative experiment before Mr. Solo Dolo returns exclusively to his laidback flow. On “Creepers,” Cudi refuses to rhyme every line, and here, choose to make a joke rather than stay rigid. While noting the obvious, that the best wish is for unlimited wishes, Cudi connects blind wishes and wishing wells while venting on what could have been.

Song: Kanye West f/ R.Kelly & Teyana Taylor "To The World"

Context is everything to a line and this one is a monster. West proclaims himself a god, or son of God, constantly over the course of the album. As a “god,” he is the one to forgive and offer second chances, which is exactly what his verse with R. Kelly does. While others have claimed the holy title, including Lil Wayne and Pusha T, only Kanye steps up to the plate and offers retribution. How does the god close off another hot line? With a dose of “crap” wordplay that mixes a classic bathroom joke with religious imagery in the way only Kanye can.

Song: Kanye West, Pusha T & Ghostface Killah "New God Flow"

Make no mistake: Cruel Summer is Pusha T's album, a tour de force that expertly pairs the temper of Kanye West with the raw, dope-fueled fury of the Clipse legend. Again refusing to name his enemies, noting their worthlessness, Pusha fires off rockets at what many interpret to be YMCMB, dealer of delusional “dreams” of success.

Kings of old used to force subjects to bow and rest their necks under the boot of royalty, a show of power that T takes to the extreme of suffocation. Noting Birdman's self-proclaimed rank of “General,” complete with gaudy 5-star tattoo, Pusha plans a way to take out the crew and prove what beef really is. With this “new god,” the rule that “death comes in threes” is to be tested; T will take out Birdman, Drake, and Wayne all at once.

Song: Kanye West, Big Sean & Jay-Z "Clique"

On an album dominated by G.O.O.D. Music signees, the voice of the master is required. Thankfully, Hov does not disappoint, labeling himself the “drug dealing cousin” of the team and demolishing any chance of “Clique” flopping. Jay chooses to rep his drug knowledge and rap success with a by-the-numbers breakdown of weights and values.

Jay stops counting at half a kilo, and that's fine. He doesn't need to finish. Everyone already knows Jay's past and his prolific ability to sell coke and CDs. Even with intense success, he can still get on the streets and push with the best of them, remaining a dealer to the end and a boss like nobody else.

Song: Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz "Mercy"

“Simple, but hot” sums up 2 Chainz' catalog, a wordplay-heavy attack that makes you laugh and bow. Even with “Mercy” released months ago, the song stays at the top of the track listing, showcasing the lyrical skills of the G.O.O.D. Music affiliate.

On the outside, the line pumps Chainz' “campaign” to the top. While he balls hard with an all-white car, he leads the way to success. A comfortable ketchup/catch up pun and mayonnaise reference makes the line more fun. The line, thankfully, hides more, particularly a shout-out to songmate Kanye West. Fans may recall a line by 'Ye used to woo Jay-Z:

Chainz manages to shout out the famous “Last Call” line and make it his own, paying homage to the label leader and setting his allegiance in the right direction. All hail Chainz for keeping classic Kanye alive and well.

Song: Pusha T, Common, CyHi The Prynce, Kid Cudi, D’banj, Raekwon & 2 Chainz "The Morning"

The Chef joins Ghostface Killah on Cruel Summer to increase the imprint's already close relationship with the Wu-Tang Clan. Joining the other drug chefs, namely Pusha T, Raekwon drives his team to go make profits.

The hottest part of the line is a dated technique given new life by the Chef: name puns. In one line, Raekwon drops members Kanye ('Ye), 2 Chainz, Common, and Pusha T (Push). The motto here is clear: push drugs and raps and rake in the cash, hot with a side of expert rhymes. Who better than Raekwon, assisted by a roster of top tier rappers and a master beat, can cap an incredible effort by G.O.O.D. Music?