THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

267-Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean-Clique.

2012-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 3.02. The songs title is very apt, because it’s parent Album ‘Cruel Summer’ is a showcase Album for the artists signed to Kanye West’s record label ‘Good Music.’

In 2004 Kanye West (see also best songs 1049-636 and 477) founded the American record label ‘G.O.O.D.,’ which stands for ‘Getting Out Our Dreams,’ among his first signings were the singer John Legend, and the Rapper Common. Starting in 2010 as a promotional tool West would release several tracks featuring himself, and other members of the ‘Good Music’ roster, in a free weekly giveaway known as ‘G.O.O.D. Friday’s.’ To date the label can boast two Number 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, from John Legend with ‘All of Me’ in 2013, and also from the Rap artist Desiigner, with his 2015 song ‘Panda.’ The label has also achieved eight Number 1 Albums on Billboards 200 Album chart, three of which are Kanye West Solo Albums.

In 2012 Kanye West released the Album ‘Kanye West Presents: Good Music – Cruel Summer,’ which was a compilation Album of only artists and producers contracted to the ‘Good Music’ record label. There were four singles released, of which ‘Mercy’ (see also best songs 849) was the first, and ‘Clique’ was the fourth. Several high profile Rappers were sent the songs ‘beat’ to freestyle over, and in the final mix only three were used. The first verse is provided by Big Sean, the second by Jay-Z, (see also best songs 636-477 and 23) and the final verse by Kanye West himself. Big Sean who had signed to ‘Good Music’ in 2010 was surprised to learn that his ‘Rap’ had been chosen as he hadn’t heard anything for a while, he explained,’Then I get a call a little bit later after that, and somebody told me that Hov is on the record and I was like, ‘damn. They were like Hov and ‘Ye hopped on it, so I’m thinking, ‘Ah, they’re probably gonna take my verse off even though I laced it,’ you know, the Throne, (see also best songs 477) Kanye and Jay … but then I get the call like, ‘Nah, it’s you Kanye and Jay-Z.'”

Kanye West was born Kanye Omari West on June 8th, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, on October 18th, 2021, he officially was granted his request to change his name to ‘Ye,’ a nickname he had used for several years prior. He has said, ‘I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible. In the Bible it means you. So, I’m you. I’m us. It’s us. It went from being Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye.’ Kanye West is considered to be one of the most talented and influential artists of the 21st Century, and has never been frightened to push the barriers of Hip-Hop music, in 2019 he released his ninth studio Album called ‘Jesus is King,’ which explored Christian and Gospel music.

Kanye West is one of the best selling artists of all time with record sales in excess of 160 million. The discography of Kanye West includes 10 studio Albums released between 2004-2021, and 138 singles released between 2001-2025, 54 of which are as the lead artist, and 84 as a featured artist, there are also eight mixtapes, four collaborative Albums, one official compilation Album, and two live Albums available. In America on Billboard nine of his 10 studio Albums have reached Number 1, with his debut ‘The College Dropout’ (2004) making Number 2, while as the lead artist, 40 of his singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with three of those tracks making the Number 1 position, with ‘Clique’ reaching Number 12. As a featured artist, Kanye West has appeared on 15 top 40 Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles, with ‘Slow Jamz’ by Twista, featuring Kanye West, and Jamie Foxx, (2003) and ‘E.T.’ by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West (2011) both making Number 1. In the UK, Kanye West has had three of his studio Albums reach the Number 1 position, while as the lead artist he has had 36 top 40 hit singles, with ‘Stronger,’ (2007) peaking the highest at Number, while as a featured artist he has had 14 top 40 entries, with ‘American Boy’ by Estelle featuring Kanye West, (2007) and ‘Run This Town’ by Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Rihanna (2009) both peaking the highest at Number 1.

‘Clique’ was the fourth and final single released from ‘Kanye West Presents: GOOD Music – Cruel Summer,’ which is commonly referred to simply as ‘Cruel Summer.’ It is a compilation Album by recording artists of the American record label ‘GOOD Music,’ and was released in September 2012. ‘Clique’ has five credited songwriters, Chauncey Hollis, Sean Anderson, (Big Sean) (see also best songs 849) Kanye West, Shawn Carter, (Jay-Z) and James Fauntleroy, with the production being by Chauncey Hollis using his working name of ‘Hit-Boy,’ and Kanye West. Chauncey Hollis (see also best songs 636 and 477) was born Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. on May 21st, 1987, in Fontana, California, United States, he is professionally known as ‘Hit-Boy,’ and is a Rapper, singer, songwriter, and music producer, who first signed with Kanye West’s ‘GOOD Music’ record label as as an in-house producer in 2011. His most commercially successful produced single in America is the Travis Scott track ‘Sicko Mode, (2018-Billboard Number 1) while in the UK it is the same song, which peaked at Number 9.

‘Went through deep depression when my momma passed, suicide, what kinda talk is that? But I been talking to God for so long, and if you look at my life I guess he’s talking back.’