GOOD Fridays

{{Short description|Weekly music release by Kanye West}} {{About|the weekly music release by rapper Kanye West|religious holiday|Good Friday}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} '''GOOD Fridays''' was a weekly free music release by rapper [[Kanye West]], launched in support of his fifth studio album ''[[My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]]'' (2010), and again for his seventh studio album ''[[The Life of Pablo]]'' (2016). The original intention was to release a free new song every Friday for a few months to promote his album, and the weekly tracks generally featured various rappers from his label, [[GOOD Music]], and other artists he usually collaborated with.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825061219/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2010 |title=Kanye West Promises New Song Every Week Through Christmas |publisher=MTV. Viacom|date=August 23, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> All of the GOOD Friday tracks come with their own [[cover art]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825061219/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2010 |title=Kanye West Promises New Song Every Week Through Christmas |publisher=MTV |date=August 23, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> West initially announced that the free music program releases songs from August 20, 2010, to Christmas 2010. However at the beginning of November, West announced that he was extending GOOD Fridays until the end of January (although this never ended up happening).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/11/08/sound-check-kanye-west-extends-g-o-o-d-fridays-%E2%80%99til-end-of-january |title=Sound Check: Kanye West Extends G.O.O.D Fridays 'Til End Of January |website=[[Complex Networks]] |access-date=November 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113073306/http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/11/08/sound-check-kanye-west-extends-g-o-o-d-fridays-%E2%80%99til-end-of-January/ |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

15 tracks have been released through the program and three tracks appeared on West's album ''[[My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]]'', those tracks being "[[Monster (Kanye West song)|Monster]]", "[[Devil in a New Dress]]" (with a new [[Rick Ross]] feature), and "[[So Appalled]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ziegbe |first=Mawuse |date=October 30, 2010 |title=Kanye West Finishes My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651161/20101030/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101040045/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651161/20101030/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011 |publisher=MTV}}</ref> Meanwhile, a remix to "[[Power (Kanye West song)|Power]]", a track on the album, was released as the first song in the series, an alternate version of the remix of [[Justin Bieber]]'s "Runaway Love" (previously a track on his album ''[[My World 2.0]]'') was released on Justin Bieber's remix album, ''[[Never Say Never: The Remixes]]'', the song "Looking for Trouble" was released as a bonus track on J. Cole's third mixtape, ''[[Friday Night Lights (mixtape)|Friday Night Lights]]'', "[[Christmas in Harlem]]" was released on streaming services, and "The Joy" would be released much later, as one of the deluxe tracks to Kanye and [[Jay-Z]]'s collab, ''[[Watch the Throne]]'', around a year later.

The program was relaunched in 2016 in support of ''[[The Life of Pablo]]''; 3 tracks were released through the relaunch, with all of the tracks ("[[Real Friends (Kanye West song)|Real Friends]]", "[[No More Parties in LA]]", and "[[30 Hours]]") appearing on the album. West described the series as "an exercise in the power of art."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kanye West – Runaway (Screening Review) |url=http://www.thehiphopchronicle.com/2010/10/07/kanye-west-runaway-screening-review/ |website=The Hiphop Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231122255/http://www.thehiphopchronicle.com/2010/10/07/kanye-west-runaway-screening-review/ |archive-date=December 31, 2010 |date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Songs == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:300px;"| Song ! scope="col" style="width:150px;"| Released ! scope="col" style="width:500px;"| Notes |- |[[See Me Now]] (featuring [[Beyoncé]] and [[Charlie Wilson (singer)|Charlie Wilson]]). |August 11th, 2010 |Premiered on Hot 97 radio, shortly followed with a free downloadable release on Kanye's website. Samples the song "Think About You" by Brian Russell and [[Brenda Russell]]. Later turned into track 14 from the deluxe edition of ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy''. |- | "[[Power (Kanye West song)#Remix|Power]]" (remix) (featuring [[Jay-Z]] and [[Swizz Beatz]]). | August 20, 2010<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryon |first=Sean |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11932/title.kanye-west-to-release-power-remix-with-jay-z-tomorrow |title=Kanye West To Release "Power (Remix)" With Jay-Z Tomorrow |publisher=HipHopDX |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301034349/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11932/title.kanye-west-to-release-power-remix-with-jay-z-tomorrow/ |archive-date=March 1, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | Samples "[[The Power (Snap! song)|The Power]]" by German [[Eurodance]] group [[Snap!]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Frazier |first=Walter |date=August 20, 2010 |title=Kanye West Drops 'Power' Remix With Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drops-power-remix-with-jay-z-swizz-beatz-956752/ |access-date=June 25, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | "[[Monster (Kanye West song)|Monster]]" (featuring Jay-Z, [[Rick Ross]], [[Nicki Minaj]], and [[Bon Iver]]). | August 27, 2010<ref>{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=James|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650356/20101019/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022025724/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650356/20101019/west_kanye.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2010|title=Kanye West Reveals Which Good Friday Tracks Are On Fantasy|publisher=[[MTV News]]. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|date=October 19, 2010|access-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=Nadeska|first=Alexis|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2010/08/30/kanye-west-jay-z-watch-the-throne-monster/|title=Kanye West and Jay-Z Team Up for Joint EP, Release 'Monster'|publisher=BoomBox|date=August 30, 2010|access-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> | Taken off the GOOD Friday website due to being released as an official single. Peaked at position #18 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. |- | "Runaway Love" (remix) ([[Justin Bieber]] featuring Kanye West and [[Raekwon]]). | August 30, 2010 (Monday) | Is the first song released which features West as a guest collaborator rather than a main guest. Contains a sample of [[Wu-Tang Clan]]'s "[[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)|Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit]]". Was later released on ''[[Never Say Never – The Remixes]]'', which uses the original version's beat. |- | "[[Devil in a New Dress]]" | September 3, 2010 | Shortened version of what appeared on ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy''. Produced by [[Bink!]]. Album version features [[Rick Ross]]. |- | "G.O.O.D. Friday" (featuring [[Common (rapper)|Common]], [[Pusha T]], [[Kid Cudi]], [[Big Sean]], and [[Charlie Wilson (singer)|Charlie Wilson]]). | September 10, 2010 | The title track for the series that featured some of the prominent members of G.O.O.D. Music. Produced by Kanye West. |- | "Lord Lord Lord" (featuring [[Mos Def]], Swizz Beatz, Raekwon and Charlie Wilson). | September 17, 2010 | After the release of this track, Mos Def confirmed his signing with GOOD Music<ref>{{cite web|last=Denis |first=Vanessa |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648839/20100927/mos_def.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930085907/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648839/20100927/mos_def.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2010 |title=Mos Def Signs With Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music |publisher=MTV |date=September 27, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> |- | "[[So Appalled]]" (featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, [[Cyhi the Prynce]], Swizz Beatz, and [[RZA]]). | September 24, 2010 | The GOOD Friday release of this track is an unmastered version of what later appeared on ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy''. |- | "[[Christian Dior Denim Flow]]" (featuring Kid Cudi, Pusha T, [[John Legend]], [[Lloyd Banks]] and [[Ryan Leslie]]). | October 1, 2010 | Released the week West said he would temporarily suspend the GOOD Friday series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ziegbe |first=Mawuse |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649207/20101002/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005000307/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649207/20101002/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2010 |title=Kanye West Unleashes His 'Christian Dior Denim Flow' |publisher=MTV |date=October 2, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> Re-released with an extended verse by Ryan Leslie.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/26316837100 |title=Twitter / Kanye West |publisher=Twitter.com |date=October 3, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011 |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011073430/https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/26316837100 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | "Don't Stop!" ([[Child Rebel Soldier]]) | October 8, 2010 | Originally recorded and produced in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ziegbe |first=Mawuse |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649663/20101009/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012045453/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649663/20101009/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 12, 2010 |title=Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco 'Don't Stop' On New Track |publisher=MTV |date=October 9, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> Re-released 2 days later with a different mix of the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/26927897403 |title=Twitter / Kanye West: Peep the newer version of |publisher=Twitter.com |date=October 10, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> |- | "Take One for the Team" (featuring [[Keri Hilson]], Pusha T, and Cyhi the Prynce). | October 15, 2010 | Features keyboards from MIKE DEAN. Interpolates the songs "All Falls Down" by Kanye West and "Good Life" by Kanye West. |- | "Don't Look Down" (featuring [[Mos Def]], [[Lupe Fiasco]], and Big Sean). | October 22, 2010 | Produced by Swizz Beatz and The Individualz. |- | "[[The Joy (song)|The Joy]]" (featuring [[Curtis Mayfield]], Charlie Wilson, [[Pete Rock]] and Kid Cudi). | October 29, 2010 | Produced by [[Pete Rock]] and Kanye West. Included as a [[bonus track]] on ''[[Watch the Throne]]''. |- | "Looking for Trouble" (featuring Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce, Big Sean and [[J. Cole]]). | November 5, 2010 | Also included on the J. Cole mixtape ''[[Friday Night Lights (mixtape)|Friday Night Lights]]'' as a bonus track. |- | "Chain Heavy" (featuring [[Talib Kweli]] and [[Consequence (rapper)|Consequence]]). | November 12, 2010 | Produced by [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]]. Contains a sample of "Swamp Fox - Interlude No. 6" by Albino Gorilla. |- | "[[Christmas in Harlem]]" (featuring [[Cam'ron]], [[Jim Jones (rapper)|Jim Jones]], [[Vado (rapper)|Vado]], Cyhi the Prynce, Pusha T, [[Musiq Soulchild]], [[Teyana Taylor]] and Big Sean). | December 17, 2010 | Produced by [[Hit-Boy]]. Released officially through iTunes on December 17, 2010, with only Teyana Taylor, CyHi The Prynce and Kanye. The final version was released the following week. |- | "[[Real Friends (Kanye West song)|Real Friends]]" (featuring [[Ty Dolla Sign]]). | January 8, 2016 | The single and the return of the program were announced by Kim Kardashian via Twitter.<ref>{{cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=January 8, 2016 |title=Kim Kardashian Hints Kanye West Will Drop New Music Every Friday, Starting Today | News |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/62801-kim-kardashian-hints-kanye-west-will-drop-new-music-every-friday-starting-today/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115221434/http://pitchfork.com/news/62801-kim-kardashian-hints-kanye-west-will-drop-new-music-every-friday-starting-today/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Released officially through SoundCloud on January 8, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Amy |date=January 8, 2016 |title=Kanye West Drops "Real Friends" and Previews "No More Parties in LA" Featuring Kendrick Lamar |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62798-kanye-west-drops-real-friends-and-previews-no-more-parties-in-la-featuring-kendrick-lamar/ |access-date=June 25, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | "[[No More Parties in LA]]" (featuring [[Kendrick Lamar]]). | January 18, 2016 | Produced by [[Madlib]]. Initially scheduled for release on January 15, the single was officially released 3 days later through SoundCloud on January 18, 2016.<ref name="vibe">{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Iyana |url=https://www.vibe.com/2016/01/kanye-west-no-more-parties-in-l-a-kendrick-lamar-mp3/ |title=Kanye West Officially Returns To His Zone On 'No More Parties In L.A.' Feat. Kendrick Lamar |work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |access-date=March 31, 2024 |date=January 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153438/https://www.vibe.com/2016/01/kanye-west-no-more-parties-in-l-a-kendrick-lamar-mp3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | "[[30 Hours]]" (featuring [[André 3000]]). | February 12, 2016 | Released officially through SoundCloud on February 12, 2016; the song was later removed from the platform. |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Kanye West]] [[Category:2010 in music]]