Pusha T on New LP, Running G.O.O.D. Music: ‘I’m the Last Rap Superhero’
On November 20th, Pusha T dropped “Untouchable,” the first single from his upcoming second solo studio record, King Push — Darkest Before Dawn: The Prequel. This would have been big enough news for fans who have patiently waited two years for him to release the follow-up to 2013’s My Name Is My Name, but the arrival of the song also came with the shocking announcement that Kanye West had named the former Clipse rapper as the new head of the G.O.O.D. Music record label that West had founded in 2004. “The President of G.O.O.D. Music has been announced/A quarter million a year and that don’t bounce,” proclaimed the man born Terrence Thornton over the single’s bouncy Notorious B.I.G. sample.
“He thought I would be helpful in keeping the high quality of output of G.O.O.D. Music, whether it be music, art, fashion and culturally everything we’re a part of, and keeping the fans engaged,” Pusha T told Rolling Stone of West’s decision. It’s a heavy job to be sure, but even with an array of new duties calling for his immediate attention, the rapper’s first order of business in the big chair was to get his own freshly completed album out into the hands of the people as quickly as possible.
As its name suggests, Darkest Before Dawn, out December 18th, was intended to be a menacing and caustic-sounding record. “There’s nothing low-key about it,” he told RS. “I feel like the album is very aggressive and very abrasive. It jumps out at you. Lyrically, I’m always one for clarity and I don’t think people will miss anything.” To help realize this vision, Pusha T enlisted a murderers’ row of producing talent including Timbaland, Sean “Puffy” Combs” and the man who gave him the keys to the kingdom, Kanye West.
Rolling Stone reached out to the rapper to see how he’s handling his new role, what his plans are for G.O.O.D. Music going forward and what fans can expect to hear on the upcoming release.
Going all the way back to the beginning, what was it that convinced you to sign with G.O.O.D. Music in 2010?
You know I felt like when I got with Kanye and we discussed me being on G.O.O.D. Music, he just really took me to a place in regards to music that I love and music that I had made previously. We had a clear understanding of what I wanted to make and he just seemed like he was an advocate for hardcore, uncompromising hip-hop. It wasn’t even a second thought. It as the only thing we ever discussed.
When did he first float the idea of you taking over as president of the label?
It was probably six months or so ago. I was getting off of a plane landing home and he basically just asked me you know, “How do you feel about being the president of G.O.O.D. Music?” He was like, “I feel like you’re of the culture, I feel like you stay on top of everything that’s going on in the online community, and you’re just really a tough critic.”