| "Mercy" | ||||
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| Single byKanye West featuringBig Sean,Pusha T and2 Chainz | ||||
| from the albumCruel Summer | ||||
| Released | April 10, 2012 (2012-04-10) | |||
| Recorded | 2011–12 | |||
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| Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
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| Pusha T singles chronology | ||||
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| GOOD Music singles chronology | ||||
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| "Mercy" onYouTube | ||||
"Mercy" (stylized as "Mercy.1" on the album) is a song by American rapperKanye West featuring fellow American rappersBig Sean,Pusha T, and2 Chainz. The song was released on April 10, 2012, throughGOOD Music andDef Jam Recordings, as thelead single from thecompilation album,Cruel Summer (2012). The song'sproduction was handled by Lifted, with additional production from West,Mike Dean, andMike Will Made It,Anthony Kilhoffer, andHudson Mohawke. The song heavilysamples the spoken intro for thedancehall song, "Dust a Sound Boy" by Super Beagle. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who commented on the bombastic production, the varying quality of the verses, and the wordplay of the individual rappers.
The song peaked at number 13 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100, and hit number one on both the U.S.BillboardHot Rap Songs andHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has since been certified7x platinum in the U.S., as of April 2023. A music video, directed by Australian directorNabil Elderkin, was released on June 6, 2012. The highly stylized video shows along take of all four rappers featured on the song, along with other GOOD Music recording artists, such asCyhi the Prynce,Kid Cudi, andTeyana Taylor in cameos. The video features the rappers delivering their verses and dancing around, with deliberate editing to make it appear as if they are disappearing and reappearing behind walls. The video received positive reviews from critics.
West performed his portion of the song at the 2012Watch the Throne Tour. 2 Chainz, Pusha T, and Big Sean performed the track during Sean's setlist at the 2012Summer Jam festival. The song was performed by all four rappers at the 2012BET Awards, with West substituting his verse from "Mercy", with his verses from "Cold" and "New God Flow" (2012). Multiple music magazines ranked "Mercy" as one of the best songs of 2012. The song received two nominations at the55th Grammy Awards forBest Rap Song andBest Rap Performance.
The song was originally supposed to be released onGood Friday, but was released a day early on Thursday, following the release of the West andDJ Khaled collaboration track, "Cold" (2012).[1][2] The track was premiered byFunkmaster Flex'sHot 97 radio show, and was released the following day on West's official website.[2] The song serves as the first official single fromCruel Summer, a compilation album by West's record label, GOOD Music.[2] The release of the track continued West'sGOOD Fridays, a music giveaway that provided free MP3 downloads every week to anticipateMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), which had been on hiatus since December 2010.[3] The song features Big Sean and Pusha T, rappers both signed to West's GOOD Music, along with 2 Chainz, all delivering averse each along with West.[4] Reflecting on his collaboration with West, 2 Chainz noted that they had worked together for about a year before the song's release.[5] He recalled contracting West to hear his own verse again, describing the experience as a strong addition to his professionalrésumé.[5]
The song was produced by Lifted, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It,Hudson Mohawke,[6] and Anthony Kilhofer.[7] Lifted had produced the beat in November 2011, and his manager was responsible for playing the beat to West, which led to him wanting to work with Lifted.[8] Furthermore, West added additional production with sampling and his rap verse.[9] Both Pusha T and Big Sean recorded their verses in January 2012, with the songmixed and finalized in March.[8] ProducerHit-Boy, known for producing West's "Niggas in Paris" (2011), described the track as a fresh and innovative blend that incorporated trap elements while maintaining a unique sound.[5] He expressed enthusiasm for the result and admitted that he wished he had produced it himself.[5]
"Mercy" is aSouthern hip-hop song withdancehall influences.[10] Beginning with a vocal sample by Fuzzy Jones,[5] the song spans a haunting bass track, sparse drums, piano keys, and aScarface film sample.[5] The track is built around an undulating beat that runs throughout, resembling an eerie piano line.[11] Periodically, an authoritative voiceover interjects, adding a commanding tone to the production.[11] Playing off a hook (sampled from YB's song "Lambo") about a "two-seatLamborghini". West's posse referencesSarah Palin,Rick James, andMs. Pac-Man.[12] By three minutes, the song's beat switches to anelectronic dance music track.[11] As the song progresses, the beat slows dramatically, creating a contrast in pacing that gives the impression of a distinct composition embedded within the main track.[11]
Lyrically, Big Sean continues thestrip clubs-inspired themes of his earlier single "Dance (Ass)", while Pusha T delivers verses focused on his luxury car collection.[5] West's lines center on his wealth and relationship with models, often used to taunt less successful rappers.[5] Without an overarching concept, 2 Chainz closes the track with a free-associative verse referencing high-end jewelry, designed accessories, and premiummarijuana strains.[5] Sean repeats the phrase, "swerve", several times throughout the song.[13]LA Weekly journalist, Brian McManus, noted that the track contains references tosuicide doors, which West has previously discussed in his song, "Can't Tell Me Nothing".[12]
"Mercy" received mostly positive reviews from music critics.Idolator stated that the track "falls somewhere in the middle of the pack among West's previousG.O.O.D. Friday singles – it's nowhere near as much fun as "Good Friday" or as seductive as "Devil in a New Dress".[12] Amy Sciarretto ofPopCrush praised the track's execution, describing it as a strong and cohesive piece. Despite featuring four rappers, she noted that the verses flow together seamlessly, resembling and extendedfreestyle session that maintains structure and energy throughout.[11]
Corban Goble ofStereogum described the song as a massive, forceful production in which the featured rappers exchange confident, swagger-filled verse over a hook influence by "syrup-music inspired" Southern rap.[14] Jayson Rodriguez ofXXL observed that while the concept and presentation might seem familiar, the track's execution felt elevated, crediting West for assembling the lineup and delivering a polished result.[8] He noted that the earlier surprise release of "Cold" had been more thrilling in both sound and spectacle.[8] Josiah Hughes ofExclaim! remarked that the track met expectations with its lavish, cinematic production, slowed-down samples, and aggressive synthesizer elements, also referencing West's distinctive vocal exclamation that had become a signature of his style.[15] Kia Makarechi ofThe Huffington Post commented that although he song offered little lyrical depth, it functioned effectively as a confident display of boastful rap.[16]
In 2012 year-end lists, bothComplex andSpin named "Mercy" the best song of 2012.[17][18]Rolling Stone named the song the 6th best song of 2012.[19]MTV named "Mercy" the seventh best song of 2012.[20]XXL named it one of the top five hip-hop songs of 2012.[21]Billboard named it the third best song of 2012.[22]NME named it the 39th best song of the year.[23] "Mercy" was placed at 31 onClub Fonograma's best songs of 2012 list.[24]MSN listed the song eighth on its best 2012 songs list.[25] It would go on to win Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the2012 Soul Train Music Awards.[26] That same year, the song was featured on the soundtrack forNBA 2K13.[27]
In end of the decade best songs of the 2010s lists;Stereogum placed it at 53,[28]Crack listed it at 62,[29] andUproxx ranked it at 36.[30]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Bet Hip Hop Awards | Best Club Banger | Nominated | [31] |
| Reese's Perfect Combo Award | Won | |||
| Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | |||
| People's Champ Award | Nominated | |||
| MTV Video Music Awards | Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | [32] | |
| Best Editing | Nominated | |||
| HipHopDX Awards | Collaboration of the Year | Won | [33] | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year | Won | [34] | |
| 2013 | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Won | [35] |
| Award Winning Rap Songs | Won | |||
| BET Awards | Video of the Year | Nominated | [36] | |
| Best Collaboration | Nominated | |||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Rap Song | Nominated | [37] | |
| BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards | Award Winning Songs | Won | [38] | |
| Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance | Nominated | [39] | |
| Best Rap Song | Nominated | |||
| International Dance Music Awards | Best Rap/Hip Hop/Trap Dance Track | Nominated | [40] | |
| MTVU Woodie Awards | Tag Team Woodie | Nominated | [41] | |
| XXL Awards | Record of the Year | Won | [42] | |
| Best Video | Nominated | |||
| Best Posse Cut | Won | |||
| 2014 | World Music Awards | World's Best Song | Nominated | [43] |
| World's Best Music Video | Nominated |
"Mercy" sold one million digital copies in the United States by July 2012,[44] and was number-one on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five weeks in July and August 2012.[45] "Mercy" debuted on theBillboard Hot 100 at position 38, and achieved a peak position of 13.[46] The song peaked at number one on both theHot Rap Songs[47] andRhythmic Airplay charts.[48] In May 2018, it ranked as West's 14th biggest success on the Hot 100.[49] Internationally, the song charted in Australia,[50] Belgium,[51] Canada,[52] France,[53] and the United Kingdom.[54] The song also charted at number nine on the latter'sHip-Hop/R&B charts.[55]
West released a black-and-white image of aLamborghini on his Twitter account, serving as promotion for the video.[56] The music video was directed by Australian directorNabil Elderkin.[13] It was filmed in a university at Qatar Foundation's parking garage inDoha, Qatar, while West was producing his short film,Cruel Summer.[57] On June 6, West "unleashed the deceptively minimalist video" onto his website.[58]
The video was shot in a wide aspect ratio, featuring the artists performing in what appears to be aparking garage as the camera pans smoothly across the space. A Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is prominently displayed in the background, adding to the video's sleek aesthetic.[59] The video contains numerous cameos by other artists signed to GOOD Music, including Kid Cudi,Cyhi the Prynce, andTeyana Taylor.[13] In the video, Big Sean is wearing a turban-styled headpiece as he raps first.[13] At the end of the clip, a Lamborghini Gallardo moves past the screen, and the artists are gone from the scene after it passes by.[13] Marc Hogan ofSpin praised the video for its minimalistic black-and-white visuals, primarily featuring West and his collaborates exuding style and attitude.[58] He highlighted the sequence coinciding with the song's synth lift as the visual peak, noting the moment when two versions of West appear simultaneously as a standout creative choice.[58] Carrie Batton ofPitchfork described the video as a minimalist yet visually striking black-and-white production, notable for its use of leather outfits, keffiyehs, and sharply composed camera angles that enhance its stylish presentation.[60]
The song's debut performance was atthe O2 Arena in London, during West'sWatch the Throne Tour in May 2012, with him performing his portion of the song.[61] Big Sean performed the song with Pusha T and 2 Chainz during his 2012 setlist at Summer Jam, which was described as a "possibly a show-stealing performance".[62] At the 2012 BET Awards, all four featured rappers performed the song live, with a stage design that included a Lamborghini model as part of the set.[63]Los Angeles Times critic Randall Roberts observed that the performance reached its peak when West transitioned into his hit "Cold", followed by an improved freestyle on "New God Flow" that ended in a powerful, rhythm-driven breakdown.[63]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[70] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[71] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[73] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[74] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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