Manny King John
Very G.O.O.D. Beats is the production wing of Kanye West’s GOOD Music label. It was founded around 2004-2005 during the release of West’s second album, Late Registration. What used to be KonMan Productions, which West was credited under on many albums, was now Very G.O.O.D. Beats. Always one to work with many, Kanye started signing producers left and right. Hudson Mohawke, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip, No I.D., 88-Keys, Hit-Boy, Travi$ Scott, S1, Devo Springsteen and several others, are all currently or formerly apart of the team. With that much talent all together, Kanye’s clique is unstoppable.
It was smart for Kanye to sign all of these producers. For one, they help provide production to the long list of artists on the GOOD music roster. Kanye is a busy man, with his hands in so many things outside of music. He can’t solely produce the majority of all of his artists’ albums, so that’s when the Very G.O.O.D. team comes in. Also Kanye likes to collaborate. Every producer on Very G.O.O.D. Beats has contributed to one of Kanye West’s albums. It’s now normal to see the production credits read like this for example: Produced By Kanye West, Hit-Boy, Travi$ Scott and Hudson Mohawke.
With so many great production choices are here my top five beats from Very G.O.O.D.:
5. Pusha T – Numbers On The Boards
It’s very minimal. Pusha T is used to rocking over beats like this. Sampling “Pots And Pans” by Anthony King and John Matthews, the drums knock like a child playing in the kitchen. Bunny Sigler’s “Shake Your Booty” famous intro is used in the begining and the 2nd verse switches to a sample of Jay-Z’s “A Million And One Questions”.
4. Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West & Common – Make Her Say
The sample on this one is a stripped down piano version of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Mixed with a foul 808 and nice scratches this song demonstrates what they want to do to the opposite sex with a play on the song title of the sampled song.
3. Kanye West – Power
It sounds like College Dropout Kanye with a mix of what was to come in the future. It has a soulful and alternative feel to it and that’s due to the three samples in the song; “21st Century Schizoid Man” by King Crimson, “Afromerica” by Continent Number 6 and “It’s Your Thing” by Cold Grits.
2. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Niggas in Paris
This one sounds like a Timbaland beat, in a good way. I’m sure Hit-Boy is a big Timbo fan and you can hear some influence, whether it was intentional or not. Just the way the beat is so bouncy is similar to Tim’s style, and the section at the end of the beat definitely sounds like a big triumph moment.
1. Kanye West – Blood On The Leaves
This is my favorite simply because of the mash up of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” and C-Murder’s “Down For My Niggas.” It was a great way to pay homage to two classic songs while speaking on a relationship going downhill.
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