Cruel Summer

with John Legend, Teyana Taylor, Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Skrillex · prod. !llmind, Kanye West, Anthony Kilhoffer, Skrillex · CD Quality · 2011

A finished Cruel Summer song, with production from Kanye. Title is currently unknown. Likely recorded January 26, 2011 per a tweet from Malik Yusef. Snippets leaked October 3rd, 2022 and January 26th, 2023.

with Big Sean, Pusha T, ??? · prod. Hit-Boy · Not Available

Solo Big Sean version. According to Big Sean, "I did the chorus in London to the beat and ’Ye liked it or whatever [but] I was the first one to do my verse. So I did my verse first, sent it back to him, and didn’t hear anything back for a while [but] then people were talking about it".

with Big Sean, JAŸ-Z, Kanye West · prod. TNGHT · Lossless · 2023

OG Fileaname: Clique TNGHT Remix TNGHT remix of the song. Has no Big Sean verse and does not have the release intro.

with Kanye West, DJ Khaled, DJ Pharris · prod. TNGHT · CD Quality · 2012

OG Filename: Kanye West - THERAFLU - COLD (TNGHT RMX) TNGHT remix of the song.

with Azealia Banks, Kid Cudi · prod. Dan Black · Low Quality · 2025

The beat can be heard in the bleed of Azealia's "Padded Walls" verse, meaning it was originally recorded for the Cruel Summer track.

with ???, Pusha T, Kanye West, Chief Keef, Jadakiss, Big Sean · prod. Young Chop, Kanye West, The Twilite Tone, Noah Goldstein · Lossless · 2022

Has no verses from Jadakiss or Big Sean. Snippet leaked December 22nd, 2022.

with Elon Rutberg, Teyana Taylor, Common · prod. Hudson Mohawke, Boogz N Tapez, Travis Scott, Mike WiLL Made-It, SALEM · Lossless · 2012

OG Filename: HudsonEspresso Earliest known version. Lacks vocals.

with THE-DREAM · prod. Hit-Boy · High Quality

Earlier version, features THE-DREAM. Other differences are unknown.

prod. Lifted · Not Available

Version from November 2011. Was described as the "embryonic state" by The Twilite Tone, and lacking much of the production of the released version. This version was offered to Kid Ink but he would later pass on it because "I didn’t have a Lambo, so I can’t really rap about this cause the hook was on there". He would later release a freestyle over the song which is likely similar to this version.

with Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz · prod. Kanye West, Lifted · Not Available

Version from January 2012, with only Big Sean and Pusha T vocals. Said to exist by Lifted.

with Pusha T, Kanye West · prod. Kanye West, Anthony Kilhoffer, Boogz N Tapez · Recording · 2012

Has a slightly different beat and is a Pusha T solo, rapping Kanye's lines that take place during Pusha verses. Debuted in the Cruel Summer film.

with D'banj · Low Quality

Song previewed in the Cruel Summer movie, but never released. Rumors said that Kid Cudi was the vocalist, but he isn't.

with Teyana Taylor, Travis Scott, Malik Yusef · prod. Travis Scott, TBHits · High Quality · 2021

Version which has no adlibs or effects on Travis's verse, alongside an open. Probably not still Travis' song since Teyana Taylor has been added. Leaked in 2013, however any version containing more than the first minute of the song was subsequently was lost. Thankfully, the full version resurfaced in 2021.

with ???, Raekwon, Pusha T, Common, 2 Chainz, CyHi, Kid Cudi, D'banj, Andrea Martin, Kanye West · prod. !llmind, ???, Lunice · CD Quality · 2023

Has a different beat and a longer 2 Chainz verse, later reused in his remix"G.O.O.D. Morning". Snippet leaked March 30th, 2023.

with Marsha Ambrosius · prod. The Twilite Tone, Anthony Kilhoffer, Mannie Fresh · Recording

Has different lyrics from Marsha Ambrosius. Any other features on this version are unknown.

with Kanye West, DJ Khaled, DJ Pharris · prod. Kanye West, Hit-Boy · High Quality · 2012

Version with a different instrumental. Was used by Kanye for several performances, so it is often considered to be the tour version. Samples "Cold As Ice" by Foreigner.

with Pusha T, Big Sean, Common · prod. Lifted · Not Available

Version with only Pusha T and Big Sean which was heard by Common, causing him to want to get on it.

with Diana Gordon · prod. Travis Scott · Low Quality

Travis version featuring a different chorus from Diana Gordon as well as an additional verse from Travis. His first verse also features different lyrics from the final. The pacing and instrumental of the song are also different. Meant for Travis Scott's Owl Pharaoh albumaccording to Alek.

prod. Diplo, Hit-Boy, System of a Down · Not Available · 2012

According to CyHi, 2 Chainz recorded 5 verses in one night for Cruel Summer. The only known 2 Chainz verses on Cruel Summer currently are "Mercy", "The Morning" and "The One", meaning there is still 2 unheard 2 Chainz verses from this era. "Trash Bags" is not one of these verses as when Pusha mentioned the song shortly after Cruel Summer's release, he only mentioned himself, Sean and Common being on it.

prod. TBHits · Not Available

Original version of what became "Sin City", which Victoria, in an interview with Highsnobiety, accused Travis of stealing. Featured a chorus that was later tweaked and re-recorded by Teyana Taylor.

with CyHi, Bun B · prod. Greg Street, Corey Mo · Not Available

Art for the track posted by Joe Perez. Theme and crediting on the artwork heavily imply this is a Cruel Summer throwaway. Very likely a remix of "Yeezy's Bout To Come Out" by Greg Street, which features both CyHi and Bun B.