:Mercy (Kanye West song)

{{Short description|2012 single by Kanye West}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Mercy

| cover = Mercy - Kanye West.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz

| album = Cruel Summer

| released = {{Start date|2012|04|10}}

| recorded = 2011–12

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length =

  • 5:33 (video version)
  • 5:29 (single version)
  • 5:26 (album version)

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| writer = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| chronology = Kanye West

| prev_title = No Church in the Wild

| prev_year = 2012

| next_title = Cold

| next_year = 2012

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Big Sean

| type = single

| prev_title = Dance (A$$)

| prev_year = 2011

| title = Mercy

| year = 2012

| next_title = Till I Die

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Pusha T

| type = single

| prev_title = What Do You Take Me For?

| prev_year = 2011

| title = Mercy

| year = 2012

| next_title = Exodus 23:1

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = 2 Chainz

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = Mercy

| year = 2012

| next_title = Beez in the Trap

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = GOOD Music

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = Mercy

| year = 2012

| next_title = Cold

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|7Dqgr0wNyPo|"Mercy"}}}}

}}

"Mercy" (stylized as "Mercy.1" on the album) is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring fellow American rappers Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz. The song was released April 10, 2012 through GOOD Music and Def Jam as the lead single from the compilation album Cruel Summer (2012). The song's production was handled by Lifted, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, and Mike Will Made It, and additional instrumentation from Hudson Mohawke. The song heavily samples the dancehall song "Dust a Sound Boy" by Super Beagle. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics who praised the bombastic production, the varying quality of the verses, and the wordplay of the individual rappers. The song was featured on the soundtrack for NBA 2K13.

The song peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on both the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has since been certified sextuple platinum for six million digital sales in the US as of August 2016.{{cite web|title= RIAA Certification for Mercy|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=KANYE+WEST&ti=MERCY|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|date=26 August 2016 }} A music video directed by Australian director Nabil Elderkin was released on June 6, 2012. The highly stylized video shows a long take of all four rappers featured on the song, along with other GOOD Music recording artists such as Cyhi the Prynce, Kid Cudi, Mr. Hudson and Teyana Taylor in cameos. The video features the rappers giving their verses and dancing around, with deliberate editing to make it appear as if they are disappearing and reappearing behind walls. The video received positive reviews from critics.

West performed his portion of the song at the 2012 Watch the Throne Tour, and 2 Chainz, Pusha and Big Sean performed the track during Sean's setlist at the 2012 Summer Jam festival. The song was performed by all four artists at the 2012 BET Awards, with West substituting his verse from "Mercy" with his verses from "Cold" and "New God Flow". Complex and Spin named "Mercy" the best song of 2012. The song received two nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards.

Background

The song was originally supposed to be released on Good Friday, but was released a day early on Thursday, following the release of the West and DJ Khaled collaboration track "Cold".{{cite magazine|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/497094/kanye-wests-good-music-announces-new-single-mercy|title=Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Announces New Single, 'Mercy'|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|date=2012-04-04|access-date=2011-06-29}} The track was premiered by Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show and was released onto the Internet the following day onto West's official website.{{cite magazine|author=Arnold, Don|title=Kanye West Releases 'Mercy' on G.O.O.D. Friday|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-releases-mercy-on-g-o-o-d-friday-20120406|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 6, 2012|publisher=Wenner Media|access-date=2012-06-03}} The song serves as the first official single from Cruel Summer, an album by West's record label GOOD Music. The release of the track continued West's GOOD Fridays, a music giveaway that provided free MP3 downloads every week, which had been on hiatus since December 2010.{{cite web |last= Kaufman |first= Gil |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100825061219/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 25, 2010 |title= Kanye West Promises New Song Every Week Through Christmas – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |website= MTV.com |publisher= Viacom |date= 2010-08-23 |access-date=2011-02-26}} The song features Big Sean and Pusha T, rappers both signed to West's GOOD Music, along with 2 Chainz, all delivering a verse each along with West.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20024/title.2-chainz-speaks-on-not-recognizing-the-full-potential-of-kanye-wests-mercy|title=2 Chainz Speaks On Not Recognizing The Full Potential Of Kanye West's Mercy|date=2012-06-07|first=Danielle|last=Harling|publisher=HipHopDX|access-date=2011-07-09}} Speaking about his feature, 2 Chainz stated that "I've done a lot of work with 'Ye for, like, a year now, and it was one of those songs where I called him and I told him, 'Man, play my verse over the phone because I don't remember.' That's a good look to add to the résumé, for real."{{cite web|author=Marman, Rob|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682673/kanye-west-mercy-hit-boy.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408193929/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682673/kanye-west-mercy-hit-boy.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2012|title=Kanye West's 'Mercy' Looks G.O.O.D. On 2 Chainz's Resume|work=MTV|publisher= Viacom |date=2012-04-06|access-date=2012-06-19}} According to 2 Chainz, he had no idea that the song was going to be a single.

The song was produced by Lifted, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, and Anthony Kilhofer.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46047-listen-kanye-westpusha-tbig-sean2-chainz-mercy/|title=Listen: Kanye West/Pusha-T/Big Sean/2 Chainz: Mercy|date=2012-04-05|first=Jenn|last=Pelly|publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=2012-06-26}} Lifted had produced the beat in November 2011, and his manager was responsible for playing the beat to West which led to him wanting to work with Lifted. Furthermore, Kanye played the embryotic version to Anthony "The Twilite Tone" Khan and additional production was done including but not limited to samples and the part in which Kanye raps over.{{Cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/twlite-tone-new-interview-on-chicago-house-kanye-common.html|title = The Twilite Tone Recalls His Early Days of Chicago House, Past Work with Common & Newfound Ties to Kanye West|date = November 26, 2014}} Both Pusha T and Big Sean recorded their verses in January 2012 and the song was mixed and finalized in March.{{cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/features/2012/04/production-credit-lifted-talks-mercy-signing-to-g-o-o-d-music-first-meeting-with-kanye/|title=Production Credit: Lifted Talks Mercy|work=XXL|publisher=Harris Publications|date=2012-04-09|access-date=2012-06-13}} Producer Hit-Boy, known for producing West's "Niggas in Paris", commented that "It's fresh, it's new, it's something you haven't heard before. It's elements of trap, but it's just some fresh, new-sounding stuff. I'm excited about it. I wish I did it, but I didn't".

Composition

{{Listen|pos = right

|filename=Mercykanye.ogg

|title="Mercy"

|description=A sample of the track featuring Sean's verse and some lines by West, over the production of the song.

}}

Sonically, "Mercy" blends Southern rap elements with dancehall vibes.{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Andre|title=Boomshots Breaks Down The Sample On G.O.O.D. Music's Mercy|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/04/boomshots-breaks-down-the-sample-on-good-musics-mercy|publisher=Complex Magazine. Complex Media|access-date=2012-04-06|date=2012-05-18}} "Mercy" starts with a vocal sampling from the late Fuzzy Jones. The island-laced intro gives way to an eerie-sounding bass track, sparse drums, piano keys and a Scarface film sample. The track features an undulating beat, "threaded through the entire song and it almost mimics an eerie piano. There's also an omnipotent voiceover that shows up every {{sic|once and a while}}, too." Playing off a hook (sampled from YB's song "Lambo") about a "two-seat Lamborghini". West's posse references Sarah Palin, Rick James and Ms. Pac-Man. At about three minutes in, the song switches up and turns into an electronic dance music track. The beat then slows down, and "despite the jarring difference in timing, it's like a song within a song."{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/kanye-west-mercy-big-sean-pusha-t-2-chainz/|title=Kanye West, Mercy Review|publisher=PopCrush. PopCrush Inc|first=Amy|last=Sciarretto|date=2012-04-04|access-date=2012-06-12}}

Lyrically, Big Sean picks up where "his "Dance (A$$)" single left off with strip-club-inspired bars, Pusha laments about his "exotic car collection", while Kanye baits "lesser rappers, flashing his riches and model girlfriends." With no real "concept in place", 2 Chainz closes things out with a "free associative verse where spits about his black diamond chain and Louis Vuitton backpack and expensive strains of marijuana." Sean repeats the phrase "swerve" several times throughout the song. LA Weekly journalist Brian McManus noted that the track contains references to suicide doors, which West has previously discussed in his song "Can't Tell Me Nothing". The sample of "Dust a Sound Boy" on "Mercy" was the most popular sample of 2012, according to WhoSampled.{{cite web |title=The Top 10 Most Popular Samples of 2012 |url=http://www.whosampled.com/news/2012/12/21/the-top-10-most-popular-samples-of-2012/ |website=Who Sampled |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214032/http://www.whosampled.com/news/2012/12/21/the-top-10-most-popular-samples-of-2012/ |archive-date=4 August 2017}}

Critical reception

"Mercy" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Idolator stated that the track "falls somewhere in the middle of the pack among West's previous G.O.O.D. Friday singles – it's nowhere near as much fun as "Good Friday" or as seductive as "Devil in a New Dress".{{cite web|author=Idolator Staff |url=http://idolator.com/6330932/kanye-west-mercy |title=Kanye West Has "Mercy" On G.O.O.D. Music Fans |work=Idolator| publisher= Buzz Media|date= 2012-04-06|access-date=2011-07-01}} Amy Sciarretto of Popcrush stated that the track was "great", and that "even with four rappers laying down verses on the song, it's a compact, tightly constructed tune that feels like a series of freestyle raps that flow into one another flawlessly." Corban Goble of Stereogum mused that the song "is a giant, lurching thing where the rappers trade bravado-filled verses around a syrup-music inspired hook."{{cite web|last=Goble|first=Corban|title=Kanye West – "Mercy" (Feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)|url=https://stereogum.com/994721/kanye-west-mercy-feat-big-sean-pusha-t-2-chainz/mp3s/|publisher=Stereogum|date=2012-04-05|access-date=2012-04-05}} Jayson Rodriguez of XXL stated that "the public may have seen this idea and presentation before, but the music is still next level. It's fitting that Kanye could bring together this cast and execute the finished product this well. Still, Wednesday's spontaneous release of "Cold" was a bit much more exhilarating both musically and dramatically." Josiah Hughes of Exclaim! mused that "the track most likely sounds just as you'd expect, all expensive, epic-sounding production, some slowed-down samples and an aggressive synth beat. There's also an appearance of Kanye's obnoxious new trademark huuuuh?"{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Josiah|url=http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/kanye_west-mercy_good_music_crew_ft_2_chainz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407124636/http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/kanye_west-mercy_good_music_crew_ft_2_chainz|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-07|title=Kanye West "Mercy" (G.O.O.D. Music crew ft. 2 Chainz)|publisher=Exclaim!|date=2012-06-12|access-date=2011-05-21}} Kia Makarechi of The Huffington Post wrote that "lyrically, 'Mercy' doesn't have much to it, but it's a competent piece of braggadocio."{{cite web|work=The Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/kanye-west-mercy-good-music-lyrics_n_1407246.html|title=Kanye West, Mercy|publisher=AOL|last=Makarechi|first=Kia|date=2012-04-05|access-date= 2012-07-02}}

In 2012 year-end lists, both Complex and Spin named "Mercy" the best song of 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/2012-year-in-review-the-50-best-songs-of-2012/good-music-mercy |title=1. G.O.O.D. Music "Mercy" — The 50 Best Songs of 2012 |publisher=Complex |date=2012-12-11}}{{cite web |title=SPIN's 40 Best Songs of 2012 |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-songs-2012/121207-1-kanye-west/ |website=Spin |access-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405215910/https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-songs-2012/121207-1-kanye-west/ |archive-date=5 April 2018 |date=10 December 2012}}

Rolling Stone named the song the 6th best song of 2012.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/kanye-west-feat-big-sean-pusha-t-and-2-chainz-mercy-19691231 |title=50 Best Songs of 2012: Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz, 'Mercy' |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 5, 2012 }} MTV named "Mercy" the seventh best song of 2012.{{cite web |title=Best Songs of 2012 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1698577/best-songs-2012/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801032558/http://www.mtv.com/news/1698577/best-songs-2012/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2014 |website=MTV |access-date=24 July 2019 |date=7 December 2012}} XXL named it one of the top five hip hop songs of 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/xxl-lists-best-hip-hop-songs-albums-last-40-years-xxl-issue-152/4/ |title=XXL Lists The Best Hip-Hop Songs And Albums Of The Last 40 Years - XXL Issue 152 - Page 4 of 4 - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2014-01-09}} Billboard named it the third best song of 2012.{{cite magazine |title=20 Best Songs of 2012: Critics' Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481334/20-best-songs-of-2012-critics-picks?page=0%2C1 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130111955/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481334/20-best-songs-of-2012-critics-picks?page=0%2C1 |archive-date=30 January 2013 |date=18 December 2012 |url-status=live}} NME named it the 39th best song of the year.{{cite web |author1=Talia Soghomonian |title=50 Best Tracks of 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/50-best-tracks-of-2012-779005 |website=NME |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226163343/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/50-best-tracks-of-2012-779005 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |date=22 November 2012 |url-status=live}} "Mercy" was placed at 31 on Club Fonograma's best songs of 2012 list.{{cite web |title=Club Fonograma's Best Songs of 2012 |url=http://www.clubfonograma.com/2012/05/club-fonogramas-best-songs-of-2012.html |website=Club Fonograma |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421115338/http://www.clubfonograma.com/2012/05/club-fonogramas-best-songs-of-2012.html |archive-date=21 April 2013 |date=24 December 2012 |url-status=dead}} MSN listed the song eighth on its best 2012 songs list.{{cite web |author1=Sam Sutherland |title=Year in Review: Best songs of 2012 |url=http://music.msn.com/music/year-in-review/best-songs/ |website=MSN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230222242/http://music.msn.com/music/year-in-review/best-songs/ |archive-date=30 December 2012}}

"Mercy" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at position 38, and achieved a peak position of 13.{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=Hot 100}} | title=Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100 | magazine=Billboard | access-date=June 16, 2012}} The song peaked at number one on both the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=Rap Airplay}} | title=Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs | magazine=Billboard | access-date=June 16, 2012}}{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}} | title=Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | magazine=Billboard | access-date=June 16, 2012}} In May 2018, it ranked as West's 14th biggest success on the Hot 100.{{cite magazine | last=Zellner | first=Xander | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7825442/kanye-west-biggest-billboard-hot-100-hits | title=Kanye West's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits | magazine=Billboard | date=May 31, 2018 | access-date=October 15, 2019}} The song also became a top 50 song in both Canada and in the UK (on its R&B chart).{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=Billboard Canadian Hot 100}} | title=Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Hot 100 | magazine=Billboard | access-date=June 16, 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/20130310/114/ | title=2013-03-16 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive | publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=March 10, 2013}} It would go on to win Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 2012 Soul Train Music Awards.{{cite news|title=Soul Train Awards 2012: Winners|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/dzlbsm/soul-train-awards-2012-winners/g1xj8s| access-date=7 November 2012|publisher=BET}}

In end of the decade best songs of the 2010s lists; Stereogum placed it at 53,{{cite web |title=The 200 Best Songs Of The 2010s |url=https://www.stereogum.com/featured/best-songs-of-the-2010s-list/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=20 January 2020 |date=5 November 2019}}

Crack Magazine listed it at 62,{{cite web |title=The Top 100 Songs of the Decade |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/what-just-happened/the-top-100-songs-of-the-decade/ |website=Crack Magazine |access-date=20 January 2020 |date=12 November 2019}} and Uproxx ranked it at 36.{{cite web |title=All The Best Songs Of The 2010s, Ranked |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-songs-of-the-2010s-ranked/ |website=UPROXX |access-date=20 January 2020 |date=9 October 2019}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Organization

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="8"| 2012

| rowspan="4"| Bet Hip Hop Awards

| Best Club Banger

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="4" align="center"|{{cite web|title=2012 Hip Hop Awards Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/2012/nominees.html|website=BET|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016085349/https://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/2012/nominees.html|archive-date=16 October 2017|date=15 April 2016}}

Reese's Perfect Combo Award

| {{won}}

Best Hip-Hop Video

| {{nom}}

People's Champ Award

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2"| MTV Video Music Awards

| Best Hip-Hop Video

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"|{{cite news|author1=Rebecca Ford|title=VMAs 2012: Complete Winners List|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtv-video-music-awards-winners-vmas-368553|access-date=16 December 2017|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|date=6 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818134039/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtv-video-music-awards-winners-vmas-368553|archive-date=18 August 2017}}

Best Editing

| {{nom}}

HipHopDX Awards

| Collaboration of the Year

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=The 2012 HipHopDX Year End Awards |url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2014/title.the-2012-hiphopdx-year-end-awards |website=HipHopDX |access-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929041348/https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2014/title.the-2012-hiphopdx-year-end-awards |archive-date=29 September 2018 |date=18 December 2012}}

Soul Train Music Awards

| Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year

| {{won}}

| align="center"|{{cite news|title=Beyonce, Kanye West Among Winners of BET's Soul Train Awards|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Beyonce-Kanye-West-Among-Winners-of-BETs-SOUL-TRAIN-AWARDS-2012112632|access-date=18 December 2017|publisher=Broadway World|date=26 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224022200/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Beyonce-Kanye-West-Among-Winners-of-BETs-SOUL-TRAIN-AWARDS-2012112632|archive-date=24 December 2015}}

scope="row" rowspan="13"| 2013

| rowspan="2"| ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards

| Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

| {{Won}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{cite web|title=2013 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Musi Awards: Rap Songs|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2013/rap-songs.aspx|website=ASCAP|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101121014/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2013/rap-songs.aspx|archive-date=1 November 2013|date=27 June 2013

}}

{{cite web|title=2013 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Musi Awards: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2013/r-and-b-hip-hop-songs.aspx|website=ASCAP|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101120249/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2013/r-and-b-hip-hop-songs.aspx|archive-date=1 November 2013|date=27 June 2013 }}

Award Winning Rap Songs

| {{Won}}

rowspan="2"| BET Awards

| Video of the Year

| {{nom}}

| rowspan=2 align="center"|{{cite web|title=2013 BET Awards Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2013/nominees.html|website=BET|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112162015/https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2013/nominees.html|archive-date=12 January 2018|date=8 April 2016}}

Best Collaboration

| {{nom}}

Billboard Music Awards

| Top Rap Song

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite news|title=Billboard Music Awards 2013: The Complete Winners ist|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1707641/billboard-music-awards-winners-list/|access-date=13 December 2017|publisher=MTV|date=19 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702121512/http://www.mtv.com/news/1707641/billboard-music-awards-winners-list/|archive-date=2 July 2017}}

BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

| Award Winning Songs

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite news|title=Cash Money's Bryan 'Birdman' Williams and Ronald 'Slim' Williams and Top Songwriters Honored at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/cash_moneys_bryan_birdman_williams_and_ronald_slim_williams_and_top_songwri|access-date=14 December 2017|publisher=BMI|date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114043258/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/cash_moneys_bryan_birdman_williams_and_ronald_slim_williams_and_top_songwri|archive-date=14 January 2017}}

rowspan="2"| Grammy Awards

| Best Rap Performance

| {{nom}}

| rowspan=2 align="center"|{{cite web |title=2013 Grammy Nominations: The Full List |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1698416/grammy-2013-nominations-list/ |website=MTV |access-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211044953/http://www.mtv.com/news/1698416/grammy-2013-nominations-list/ |archive-date=11 December 2018 |date=6 December 2012}}

Best Rap Song

| {{nom}}

International Dance Music Awards

| Best Rap/Hip Hop/Trap Dance Track

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=2013 International Dance Music Awards|url=http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2013|website=Winter Music Conference|access-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302115946/http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2013|archive-date=2 March 2017}}

MTVU Woodie Awards

| Tag Team Woodie

| {{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite news|title=mtvU Woodie Awards 2013 Winners List|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1703720/mtvu-woodie-awards-2013-winners-list/|access-date=16 December 2017|publisher=MTV|date=14 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007170403/http://www.mtv.com/news/1703720/mtvu-woodie-awards-2013-winners-list/|archive-date=7 October 2017}}

rowspan="3"| XXL Awards

| Record of the Year

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" align="center"|{{cite news |title=First Annual XXL Awards Winners |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/02/xxl-awards-winners/ |access-date=10 October 2018 |publisher=XXL |date=13 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318151703/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/02/xxl-awards-winners/ |archive-date=18 March 2013}}

Best Video

| {{nom}}

Best Posse Cut

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2014

| rowspan="2"| World Music Awards

| World's Best Song

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/|publisher=World Music Award|access-date=July 30, 2015|title=Choose your Nomination Category 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825205415/http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/|archive-date=August 25, 2014}}

World's Best Music Video

| {{nom}}

Chart performance

"Mercy" sold one million digital copies in the United States by July 2012,{{cite web |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Week Ending July 1, 2012. Songs: Jepsen Does Canada Proud |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-1-2012-songs-jepsen-does-035518750.html |website=Yahoo |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708183332/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-1-2012-songs-jepsen-does-035518750.html |archive-date=8 July 2012 |date=4 July 2012}} and sold two million digital copies by the end of October 2012. It was number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five weeks in July and August 2012.{{cite web |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Week Ending Oct. 28, 2012. Songs: Chris Brown's Comeback |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-oct-28-2012-songs-chris-brown-213026172.html |website=Yahoo |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324151340/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-oct-28-2012-songs-chris-brown-213026172.html |archive-date=24 March 2013 |date=31 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Music video

File:Mercykanye.jpg, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz standing at the end of the video.]]

West released a black-and-white image of a Lamborghini on his Twitter account, serving as promotion for the video.{{cite web|author=Lee, Christina |url=http://idolator.com/6563882/kanye-west-mercy-videoy |title=Kanye West Teases "Mercy" Music Video With Lamborghini Photo |work=Idolator| publisher= Buzz Media|date= 2012-06-03|access-date=2012-07-01}} The music video was directed by prior West collaborator Brandyn Tan, who has helmed prior West videos such as "Welcome to Heartbreak" and "Paranoid". It was filmed in a university at Qatar Foundation's parking garage in Doha, Qatar, while West was producing his short film Cruel Summer.{{cite web|work=The Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/06/mercy-video-kanye-west-2chainz-pusha-t-big-sean_n_1574453.html|title=Kanye West Drops Visuals For Track With 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Pusha-T|publisher=AOL|last=Makarechi|first=Kia|date=2012-06-06|access-date= 2012-07-02}} On June 6, West "unleashed the deceptively minimalist video" onto his Website.

The video was shot in a wide frame with the artists in what looks like a "parking garage, rapping as the camera pans across the room" with a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 featured in the background.{{cite web|author=MTV Staff|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/06/kanye-west-good-music-mercy-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608203208/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/06/kanye-west-good-music-mercy-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 8, 2012|title=Kanye West And G.O.O.D. Music Drop 'Mercy' Video|work=MTV|publisher= Viacom |date=2012-06-06|access-date=2012-06-19}} The video contains numerous cameos by other artists signed to GOOD, including Kid Cudi, Cyhi the Prynce, Teyana Taylor, Hit-Boy, D'banj and Mr. Hudson. Taylor whips her black dress back and forth, Cyhi poses behind a pair of sunglasses, Mr. Hudson stares intently at the camera, and D'banj and Cudi dance along with their own unique moves. In the video Big Sean is wearing a turban-styled headpiece as he raps first. At the end of the clip a Lamborghini Gallardo moves past the screen and the artists are gone from the scene after it passes by.{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/kanye-west-g-o-o-d-music-drops-mercy-video/|title=Kanye West and GOOD drop Mercy viewo|publisher=PopCrush. PopCrush Inc|first=Trent|last=Fitzgerald|date=2012-06-06|access-date=2012-06-12}} Marc Hogan of Spin praised the video, writing that "as with the track itself, the visuals at first might not appear to involve anything flashy – just West and friends, all lurking about and looking chic in stark black-and-white. But there's one big exception: If the highlight of the audio is the moment where the synths lift off right before West's laconic verse, then that's where the video peaks, too – watch closely, or you'll miss two Wests lip-syncing for the price of one!"{{cite web|last=Harvilla|first=Rob|url=http://www.spin.com/articles/watch-kanye-west-and-cos-stark-swervy-mercy-video|title=Watch Kanye West and Co.'s Stark, Swervy 'Mercy' Video|work=Spin|publisher=Spin Media|date=2012-06-06|access-date=2012-06-10}} Pitchfork Media's Carrie Batton commented that "it's a simple but cinematographically impressive black-and-white clip with lots of leather and keffiyehs and sharp angles."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46754-watch-the-new-video-for-kanye-wests-mercy-featuring-big-sean-pusha-t-and-2-chainz/|title=Watch the New Video for Kanye West's Mercy|date=2012-06-06|first=Carrie|last=Batton|publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=2012-06-26}}

Live performances

The song was first performed by West at the London stop of his 2012 Watch the Throne Tour, with West performing his portion of the song.{{cite web|author=Hagen, Christian|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/watch-kanye-west-give-first-live-performance-of-me/65584/ |title=Watch Kanye West Give First Live Performance of Mercy |work=Prefix |date=2012-05-23|access-date=2012-05-25}} Big Sean performed the song with Pusha T and 2 Chainz during his 2012 setlist at Summer Jam, which was described as a "possibly a show-stealing performance".{{cite web|author=Diep, Eric|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/06/video-big-sean-pusha-t-2-chainz-performs-mercy-at-summer-jam|title=Video: Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz Perform "Mercy" At Summer Jam|work=Complex Magazine. Complex Media|date=2012-06-04|access-date=2012-07-01}} At the 2012 BET Awards, the song was performed by all four rappers. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz filed out one by one to deliver their verses, performing in front of a stage-set model of a Lamborghini. Though Los Angeles Times's Randall Roberts noted that it wasn't "until West moved into his hit "Cold" that things got great", with the "music dropping, the rapper moved into a freestyle on "New God Flow" that culminated in a foot-stomping breakdown."{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Randall|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-bet-awards-five-essential-performances-from-sunday-night-20120701,0,3644942.story|title=BET Awards: Five essential moments from Sunday night|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2012-07-02|access-date=2012-07-02}}

Charts

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" | Chart (2012–13)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm |title=Week Commencing: 16th April 2012 |date=April 16, 2012 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502104421/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |access-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 60

{{singlechart|Flanders Tip|85|artist=Big Sean / Pusha T / 2 Chainz / Kanye West|song=Mercy|refname="Flanders"}}
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders Urban)

|align=center|29

{{singlechart|Canada|46|artist=Pusha T|song=Mercy}}
{{singlechart|France|101|artist=Big Sean / Pusha T / 2 Chainz / Kanye West|song=Mercy}}
UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/kanye%20west|title=The Official Charts Company - Mercy (GOOD Music song)|date=5 May 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012095228/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/kanye%20west/|archive-date=October 12, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 55

{{singlechart|UKrandb|9|date=2013-03-16}}
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|13|artist=Pusha T|song=Mercy}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Pusha T|song=Mercy}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrapsongs|1|artist=Pusha T|song=Mercy}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Pusha T|song=Mercy}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (2012)

!scope="col"|Position

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-100-songs?begin=21&order=position|title=Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 14, 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|27

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2012 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 14, 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|5

US Rap Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-rap-songs|title=Rap Songs - 2012 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 14, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929100013/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-rap-songs|archive-date=2017-09-29}}

| style="text-align:center;"|2

US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs - 2012 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 14, 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|6

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (2013)

!scope="col"|Position

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs?page=9|title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 3, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|92

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (2010–19)

!scope="col"|Position

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Decade-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 15, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|37

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Kanye West|title=Mercy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=March 10, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Kanye West|title=Mercy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|relmonth=4|certyear=2018|accessdate=August 21, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2012|certyear=2022|artist=Kanye West/Big Sean/Pusha T|title=Mercy|award=Gold|type=single|id=9961-4379-1|access-date=March 9, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercy|artist=Kanye West|type=single|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=7|certyear=2023|access-date=April 15, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

See also

References