Cruel Winter [V1]

with Big Sean, Kanye West, Will Smith · prod. Che Pope, DJ Batuinha · Recording · 2012

OG Filename: Memo Solo Kanye voice memo, likely meant to be an album intro. Leaked after the previously leaked file was discovered to be an edit.

with Teyana Taylor, Kanye West, Rick Ross · prod. Camper · CD Quality · 2019

Has Teyana Taylor doing the hook and background vocals. Most likely recorded after the other version as Teyana is on this version, and she would later release the song in 2020.

with Kanye West, Kid Cudi · prod. Kid Cudi, Dot Da Genius · CD Quality · 2021

OG Filename: KANYE WEST FEAT KID OPEN FOR THE WEEKEND - Can't Look In My Eyes Version with some extra Kid Cudi intro vocals, an extended open verse outro intended for The Weeknd to record on, and small production differences compared to the previous version. Later released on KiD CuDi presents SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon with additional Cudi vocals and a different beat. Samples "Son of Flynn" by Daft Punk and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

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

Version considered for Cruel Winter. Described by Bootleg Kev as a "Mercy part 2", with the same lineup and Lifted production. Has a line that says something to the affect of "making it rain so much they had to bring trash bags out."

with Big Sean, Kanye West, Mr Hudson · prod. No ID · CD Quality · 2013

OG Filename: NO ID - BIG SEAN - KW - ALL THE TIME _rkROUGH 4.18.13 2013 version with verses from Big Sean. Possibly intended for his Good Music Chicago project, but the filename leaves the ownership of the song unclear.

with Kanye West, Kid Cudi · prod. Kid Cudi, Dot Da Genius · High Quality · 2016

Version confirmed to be made for 2013 version of Cruel Winter, after being temporarily cut from Cudi's album. Travis has been cut.

with Kanye West, Rick Ross, ???, Sevyn Streeter, Teyana Taylor · prod. Camper · CD Quality · 2012

OG Filename: Come Back To Me Ref 10.15.12 Earliest known version, features a reference artist on the hook who is assumed to be Andrea Martin, with alternate mixing and vocal structure. Unknown if it was Rick Ross' song or Kanye's song at this time. Samples "Let Me Prove My Love to You" by The Main Ingredient.

with John Legend, ??? · High Quality · 2012

Later version with an organ and finished John Legend vocals based on Ye's reference, as well as reference vocals from an unknown female artist. Original snippet leaked October 16th, 2022.

with Pusha T, Future · prod. Hudson Mohawke · CD Quality · 2013

OG Filename: Heart Is So Cold Ref (8.15.13) Pusha T and Future song intended for Cruel Winter. Later released on Hudson Mohawke's Soundcloud in November 2014 with different Future vocals and features from French Montana and Travis Scott, which were also likely recorded during these sessions.

with Kanye West · prod. Camper · Low Quality

Mumble freestyle recorded on an instrumental which ended up being used by Big Sean on his song "Fire". Big Sean interpreted the sample as repeating "Fire", but when Kanye recorded he heard it as "Higher" and based the idea on that. Snippet comes from a behind the scenes video from Camper on how the song was made.

prod. Camper · Recording

After Kanye's demo, Keri Hilson sang a hook over the "Fire" beat before it was given to Big Sean. Her version inspired the portion sang by James Fauntleroy on the final song.

Not Available

In December 2012 Malik Yusef tweeted about Cruel Winter, indicating he was involved with the project. These tweets have been deleted and are currently lost. It's unclear if he would have been featured or just doing reference work for Kanye.