10 Pusha T Songs to Get You Amped for His New Album

Beginning with his work with Clipse, continuing through his solo career and his numerous guest spots, Pusha T has earned and maintained the reputation as one of hip-hops best lyrical emcees. So when Push announced his highly anticipated King Push would be entirely produced by Kanye of course we took notice. We've been waiting for King Push for years, and now it's finally coming out on May 25th! We've wanted that album for so bad that we were even willing to give Kanye West that Star Wars role that he wants if it meant King Push will came out sooner! Here are 10 Pusha T songs for you to understand our excitement!

Pharrell is a king maker, but he didn't make King Push. The two just had a recurring collaboration in the form of Clipse, the hip-hop duo of Pusha T and his brother Malice. Their four albums were produced by The Neptunes. "Grindin'" is an example of classic Pharrell: a song that starts with four beats that just don't let up. It's the perfect setting to showcase Pusha's lyricism and flow. Pharrell was right when he introed the song, "The world is about to feel something that they've never felt before." Pusha has proven himself to be one of the best lyrical emcees in the rap game.

If "Grindin'" was Clipse's intro, then When the Last Time was what got them regular rotation at the party. Clipse's best charting single, "When the Last Time"peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart. If the song sounds strikingly similar to N.O.R.E's "Nothin'," it's because both tracks were produced by The Neptunes. The duo was crushing it in 2002!

Sparkling keyboards punctuate a steady beat that finds Clipse rapping over spacier, more proggy production that sits more comfortably on a N.E.R.D. album than on a Clipse release. Not that we're complaining! This is a good song. It feels like it'd be perfect for playing while you just lounge somewhere and allow yourself to feel as relaxed as the song does.

Of course, it's easy to relax when you're working with The Neptunes; but Pusha T is the sort of talent that takes a song from good to great. "I'm Good" is a victory lap for Clipse on what would be their last album, 2009's Till the Casket Drops. Although, that samurai's line makes me shake my head every time, literally stops the song dead, and does not age well. At. All. A blemish on otherwise good time!

You're thrown into the deep end with this cut off Pusha's solo record Fear of God II, with both the production and Pusha T's voice kicking in at the same time. His flow rolls so well that you can't help but just let it carry you till the song's end. Another winning Neptune's collaboration.

My Name is My Name starts with minimalist production; just percussion and some ambience. Then Push comes in, his voice dripping with swag and authority. "This is my time/ this is my hour/ this is my pain/ this is my name/ this is my power." Push claims it all! And the hook is incredible because it's literally Pusha saying, "I don't sing hooks." Shit. And the video is exactly the same because Push don't need nothin' else but Push.

I can't listen to King Push without listening to "Numbers on the Boards" immediately afterward. They compliment each other too well! The song begins with a sample of Bunny Siggler's "Shake Your Booty."Siggler asks the crowd, "How you feeling?" they cheer, "You feel alright?" They cheer, then Pusha T comes in, "I'm so bossy bitch get off me," they cheer. This is how you make a song! This is cinema as music.

"Mercy" was the lead single from Kanye's Cruel Summer compilation. Even on a song with a roster that's not fooling around, my ears perk up when I hear that signature, "Yeuch," because I know King Push is about to reign supreme. You gotta bring your A game when Push is around because if you can't hold a candle to his flow he's gonna snuff out your flame.

"New God Flow.1" arguably features one of Kanye's best performances. What else does it feature? Pusha T. I told you: Push brings out the best! You gotta be the best when your guest opens your track by declaring, "I believe there's a God above me/I'm just the god of everything else." That pushed Kanye to say, "I'm living three dreams/Biggie Smalls', Dr. King, Rodney King's." That's how you do it!

Your cajones gotta be carjones to start your track with a Biggie Smalls sample. "Lyrically I’m, untouchable, uncrushable/Blunted in a 600, blunted in a 600." When you're right you're right, but better hear it from Pusha himself. His commentary for the track on Genius just lets you soak it all in, "Quality music does not go out of style." But it does take time! So if that makes you ask yourself, "How do musicians make money?" Pusha has a unique answer: he's president of Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music.

"Burial" starts with Pusha declaring, "I came/ I saw/ I conquered/ I balled." GAME OVER, SHUT DOWN THE INTERNET, AND CLOSE DOWN HIP HOP. King Push shines when he's paired with an excellent producer, and Yogi is no doubt a producer to watch. The song has a banging beat that keeps Pusha chugging along from beginning to end dropping dope bars. But wait, there's more!

"Burial"also has an incredible dubstep remix from Skrillex and Trollphace. The duo injects elements of dub-step, reggae, and Hindi music to Burial. I used to just alternate between both version identifying the differences and similarities, and just rocking everywhere I went. Now do you understand why Pusha T's King Push belongs on the list of music project we need in 2018.