Ye is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. A subject of widespread controversy and public interest, West is a significant figure in contemporary pop culture.
GOOD Music was an American independent record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label entered an exclusive long-term worldwide distribution contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group in 2011. In 2012, the label released its only compilation album, Cruel Summer. In 2015, Pusha T was appointed president of the label by West, while record executive Steven Victor was appointed chief operating officer (COO). In late 2022, Pusha T stepped down from the position as he was no longer on speaking terms with West.
Evan Peter Mast, also known by his stage name E*vax or E.VAX, is an American electronic music artist and record producer. He is one-half of the New York–based electronic rock band Ratatat, alongside Mike Stroud.
Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Shumpert is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and music video director. After choreographing the video for Beyoncé's 2006 single "Ring the Alarm," she signed a recording contract with the Neptunes' Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Interscope Records to embark on a career as an recording artist the following year. Taylor appeared on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 prior to the release of her 2008 debut single, "Google Me." Despite lukewarm commercial response, she later gained wider attention in 2010 for her uncredited guest performances on the songs "Dark Fantasy" and "Hell of a Life" by Kanye West, from his highly-acclaimed album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). She parted ways with Star Trak and Interscope in favor of signing with West's GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings two years later.
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, also known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Cudi moved to New York City in pursuit of a musical career, where he first gained recognition for his song "Day 'n' Nite." Initially self-published on his MySpace page, the song became a hit online and served as a catalyst for Cudi to team up with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to record his first full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). Its release helped Cudi rise to prominence and establish a fanbase, catching the attention of rapper Kanye West—who signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label by late 2008.
Antony Von Williams, known professionally as the WRLDFMS Tony Williams, is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Williams is the first-cousin of American rapper Kanye West and has contributed vocals or songwriting to most of his albums, beginning with The College Dropout (2004).
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter from Fontana, California. He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his label Zone 4, and later signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music in 2011 to serve a similar role. He first gained major recognition for his work on Lil Wayne's 2011 single "Drop the World", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18. The following year, he produced West and Jay-Z's 2011 single "Niggas in Paris", which peaked at number five on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Tauheed K. Epps, known professionally as 2 Chainz, is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip-hop duo Playaz Circle, alongside hometown rapper Earl "Dolla Boy" Conyers. The duo signed with fellow Georgia-based rapper Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace label and became best known for their 2007 debut single "Duffle Bag Boy".
"Bound 2" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featured as the final track from his sixth studio album, Yeezus (2013). It was produced by West and Che Pope, with additional production being handled by Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No ID and Mike Dean. The song features vocals from American soul singer Charlie Wilson and serves as the album's second single. "Bound 2" incorporates samples from "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and the lines "Uh-huh, honey" and "Alright" from Brenda Lee's "Sweet Nothin's". The song also interpolates Wee's "Aeroplane (Reprise)" for the bridge, sung by Charlie Wilson.
Victor Kwesi Mensah, known professionally as Vic Mensa, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Chicago, he was a member of the regional hip hop groups Kids These Days and Savemoney prior to releasing his debut solo mixtape, Innanetape (2013). As a solo artist, Mensa has been signed to Virgin EMI Records, Def Jam Recordings, Capitol Records, and Roc Nation.
Bryan James Sledge, better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sledge is best known for frequently collaborating with Top Dawg Entertainment recording artists Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Rock. He has also worked with several other prominent rappers, such as Freddie Gibbs, Warren G, Nekfeu, Chance the Rapper, Big K.R.I.T., GLC, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, and Joey Badass, among numerous others.
VII is the debut studio album by American recording artist Teyana Taylor. The album was released on November 4, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings and GOOD Music. Leading up to the album's release, Teyana released the mixtape The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor (2012), along with collaborating on the GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Summer (2012). The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown, Fabolous, Pusha T and Yo Gotti. The album was executively produced by Che Pope & Teyana Taylor. Recording took place at Jungle City Studios in New York & KMA Studios, NYC, as well as The Kennedy Compound in North Hollywood, California & Labren Studio in Inglewood, CA.
Danielle Balbuena, better known by her stage name 070 Shake, is an American rapper and singer. She is best known for her guest appearance on English singer Raye's 2022 single "Escapism," which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked atop the UK Singles Chart, and won Song of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards.
Caleb Zackery "Don" Toliver is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Houston, Texas. He first gained recognition for his guest appearance on fellow Houston rapper Travis Scott's third album Astroworld (2018), with Toliver having released his debut solo mixtape, Donny Womack a day prior. In the following week, he signed with Scott's Cactus Jack Records in a joint venture with Atlantic Records. He then became known for his 2019 single "No Idea" and 2020 single "After Party", both of which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and received triple platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Tavoris Javon Hollins Jr., known professionally as Vory, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he won a Grammy Award for his work on The Carters' album Everything Is Love (2018), and co-wrote hometown native Bryson Tiller's 2015 single "Don't". The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, likewise with the 2018 single "Mob Ties" by Drake, which he also wrote for Drake to perform. His further songwriting credits led him to wider recognition as he pursued his recording career, which he first began in 2015. Hollins signed a recording contract with Capitol Records and Electric Feel Entertainment in 2018, which entered a joint venture with Meek Mill's record label, Dream Chasers Records in 2020.
Anthony Clemons Jr. is an American singer, rapper and songwriter from Willingboro Township, New Jersey. He rose to prominence as a guest performer on Kanye West's 2018 single "All Mine", while extensively contributing to West's Wyoming Sessions and subsequent album, Jesus Is King (2019). Clemons' debut studio album, Happy 2 Be Here (2020) was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards; with a total of four, his three other nominations yielded from his songwriting work on albums for Mary J. Blige and H.E.R. Clemons is also known for his contributions to the original version of West's 2021 single, "Hurricane", and other songs intended for his tenth album Donda (2021), most of which were ultimately unused.
Donda is the tenth studio album by the American rapper Kanye West, released through GOOD Music on August 29, 2021, with distribution handled by Def Jam Recordings, as his final release with the label. The album features a wide range of guest performances from artists including the Weeknd, Jay-Z, Marilyn Manson, Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, Lil Yachty, Baby Keem, Playboi Carti, Jay Electronica, Lil Baby, DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, Ty Dolla Sign, Fivio Foreign, Lil Durk, Pop Smoke and Young Thug, among others; vocals from Chris Brown were also included prior to the album being updated. A deluxe edition was released on November 14, 2021 and featured guest vocals from André 3000, Tyler, the Creator, and KayCyy. West himself, as well as BoozDaBeast, Dem Jointz, Mike Dean, and Ojivolta primarily helmed the albums production. West recorded much of the material at multiple locations in the summer of 2021, including Bighorn Mountain Ranch in Wyoming and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Matthew Dean Burdette, known professionally as Blxst, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Los Angeles, California. His record label Evgle partnered with Red Bull Records for the release of his debut EP No Love Lost on September 4, 2020, spawning the hit single "Chosen". He released his debut album Before You Go on April 22, 2022.
"No Child Left Behind" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song includes vocals from fellow American rapper Vory. It was performed by the Sunday Service Choir on Halloween 2021, with additional contributions from Justin Bieber. In July 2021, the song was used in a Beats by Dre commercial during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which stars Sha'Carri Richardson.
"God Breathed" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released on his tenth studio album Donda on August 29, 2021. The song features vocals from American rapper Vory.
