The Joy

Album: Single Release Only (2010)
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Songfacts®:

  • This minimal hip-hop jam was released by rapper Kanye West on October 29, 2010 as part of his "G.O.O.D. Friday" series, in which the Chicago MC releases a new tune to kick off the weekend every Friday. The recording also features the vocals of Charlie Wilson, a verse from Jay-Z and additional contributions from Pete Rock and Kid Cudi.
  • The song samples the vocals from Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You" from the soul singer's 1970 debut solo album, Curtis. This is not the first time West has borrowed from Mayfield's catalogue. He previously sampled "Move On Up" for his Late Registration single, "Touch the Sky."
  • The song was subsequently re-recorded by West and Jay-Z for the deluxe edition of their 2011 Watch The Throne project.

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