CyHi Teases G.O.O.D. Music Story

G.O.O.D. Music, short for Getting Out Our Dreams, was founded by Kanye West in 2004 as an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. The label was behind a string of nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including releases from West, Big Sean, and Pusha T. CyHi, born Cydel Young, was often referred to as "Kanye's secret weapon" and a key lyrical contributor behind the scenes. He gained significant attention for his standout verse on West's 2010 track "So Appalled," which featured veterans like Jay-Z and Pusha T. Despite his reputation as a top-tier lyricist, CyHi has publicly described his role at G.O.O.D. Music as being the "sixth man" on a championship team, essential to the creative process but rarely given a solo spotlight. He expressed frustration over the years about being "benched," which led to him asking for his release from Def Jam in 2015 to pursue his own projects. The label's structure began to publicly fray long before its end. In October 2021, Big Sean announced he had left G.O.O.D. Music after 14 years, stating he had to "start getting a bigger cut." In late 2022, the label's parent company, Def Jam, officially parted ways with Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music following a series of antisemitic and controversial remarks by West. This came after West's contract had already expired with the 2021 release of "Donda." Following West's controversies, Pusha T, who was appointed president of G.O.O.D. Music in 2015, announced in December 2022 that he had stepped down from his role and was no longer on speaking terms with West.