If you haven’t heard, we messed around and stepped right into Yeezy season once the clock struck 2016. Not only did he announce the return of his weekly new-music-on-Friday series, Kanye has released two new songs and a snippet from a third, in addition to announcing the release date for his long, long-awaited new album, Swish (February 11).
5 years ago, the last time Kanye dropped new music every week with his G.O.O.D. Friday series, the only thing more interesting than the intricate collaborations he put together, were the people outside of G.O.O.D. Music he invited to be a part of the weekly records, including a scorching Keri Hilson, a fledgling J. Cole, a sorely missed Lloyd Banks and more. This year, he’s already cooked up some heat with Sizzle of 808 Mafia and Ty Dolla $ign, so that got us thinking: What other guest features does Yeezy have up his sleeve?
5. Lupe Fiasco
It would only be right. Lupe Fiasco rode into the mainstream on Kanye’s shoulders, thanks to his unbelievable “Touch The Sky” verse in 2005, and maintained a relationship with Yeezy, eventually appearing on “Don’t Stop,” Kanye’s 2010 G.O.O.D. Friday cut that also featured Pharrell. If 2016 is indeed Lupe’s final year in the game, it would be fitting that we get one more collaboration out of those two. Only magic happens when they get together, be it Child Rebel Soldiers or N.E.R.D. remixes.
4. Kodak Black
Kanye has a long history of championing street music movements just before they hit their peak, be it Rick Ross in 2010 or Chief Keef and King Louie just a couple years later. Kodak Black is one of the hottest young rappers in the game, and his hood anthems, “Skrt” and “No Flockin” especially, have taken the underground by storm, and have guys like Drake dancing to his choruses on private jets. Though Kodak is from Pompano Beach in Florida, we’re sure if Kanye sits with the young upstart and the two of them exchange ideas, we could get a collaboration for the ages.
3. Jeremih
It’s a wonder Kanye and Jeremih haven’t done work yet (or maybe they have, and we haven’t been treated to the finished product yet). Either way, Jeremih has decided to be an artist for real again, and his Late Nights album was one of the best R&B releases of 2015. He’s put on for Chicago for several years, and album issues aside, the guy knows how to make a hit. It might be time for these two Chi-town reps to finally clique up.
2. Mick Jenkins
6 years ago, when J. Cole made an appearance on the lyrically prolific “Looking For Trouble,” it was looked upon as his coming out party. He was about to release his Friday Night Lights mixtape, and he may not have known it at the time, but a year later he would prove the industry wrong and debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 with his debut album, selling over 240,000 copies in his first week. Mick Jenkins, an equally vicious rapper on the cusp of stardom, could team up with Kanye and unleash one hell of a banger, especially considering he’s actually from Chicago. It’s certainly something to think about.
1. Jay Z
You knew this was coming. This August will be 5 years since Watch The Throne, and neither rapper made an appearance on the other’s most recent album (2013’s Yeezus and Magna Carta Holy Grail). In 2010, these guys gave us timeless records like “Monster,” “The Joy” and “So Appalled,” and we’re hoping that Hov can take a break from whatever he’s up to these days to grace at least one of these new G.O.O.D. Friday tracks.
