As usual, the latest big label Hip-Hop record has leaked on the internet. Cruel Summer, Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label collaboration, leaked on September 12th, six days before its official release date. It’s a little surprising this time around because its creator proved last year that he has the ability to prevent the leak of an album.
For his collaboration with Jay-Z last year, Watch The Throne, the pair resorted to unprecedented measures to prevent its early release and were successful. While their safeguards, like using only un-networked computers, forbidding email, only recording in person in pop-up hotel room studios, and keeping all files on a fingerprint locked hard drive, may seem absurd to many, their actions had the desired effect. They preserved that nostalgic feeling of buying a record and listening to it fully for the first time.
Whether that’s important these days is debatable. Ernest Baker makes a great argument why leak night is better than release day. Leaks are simply part of the culture now. He explains that “this is what listening to new albums is like in 2012, and really, what it’s been like for the past six years.” After all, we might not have legendary records like Lil Wayne’s The Carter III, which he created anew after the original was leaked. The second take is viewed as the pinnacle of his career and his magnum opus.
In addition to the fact that it leaked, some feel underwhelmed by the album claiming that it isn’t up to West’s standards. This may be due to the fact that five of the twelve tracks have had substantial radio play as singles and therefore are already known to listeners.
Rumors on Twitter are that Kanye purposefully leaked a decoy version of the album online and will surprise us with a completely unheard record on September 18th. I wouldn’t put it past Kanye West to pull a stunt like that. In fact, I’m hoping the self proclaimed rap god does exactly that because twelve tracks has left my appetite unsatisfied. Then again, these rumors may simply be the wishful thinking of avid fans.
These rumors most likely stem from a statement made by G.O.O.D. Music artist Teyana Taylor that insinuate that the leaked version isn’t the legitimate release.
Nevertheless, if these rumors don’t pan out we’re likely to get a few bonus tracks from the iTunes or Best Buy versions as is commonly done by retailers labels to stimulate demand for “their” version.
The leak has gotten mixed reviews but most are positive. My review will be published here later this week.