Kanye West Drops Official Version of “Champions”

More than a week after first premiering the song on L.A.'s REAL 92.3 with Big Boy, Kanye West has finally dropped the official version of "Champions" on iTunes and Apple Music. It's produced by Lex Luger, A-Trak, Charlie Heat and Mike Dean.

The song has gone up on iTunes but might not be available in the U.S. until tonight (June 12) at 11 P.M. E.S.T. when iTunes officially refreshes. Hear a stream of the final version below.

The track looks to serve as the first single from Cruel Winter, the next G.O.O.D. Music compilation after 2012's Cruel Summer. It's safe to say we can expect guests from "Champions" like 2 Chainz and Quavo to be on that project, as well as other new G.O.O.D. members like Vic Mensa and Desiigner.

One guy who won't be on Cruel Winter, however, is Kid Cudi. Despite his incredible chemistry with Kanye throughout the years, from 808s & Heartbreak to Yeezus and The Life of Pablo, Cudi announced that he won't be on the upcoming compilation as he feels it's time for him to distance himself from the camp and start his own wave.

"I salute my G.O.O.D. Fam but its time I start to build my own regime. Based off my visions and artistic moral code," wrote Cudi on Twitter the same day Kanye premiered the new song on the radio. "I lead. The originator. Love to my day 1 supporters."

It's unfortunate to hear, because some of the best parts of TLOP are Cudi on songs like "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" and "Waves." Hopefully this doesn't mean the end of Yeezy and Cudder's working relationship.

50 Perfect Summer Rap Albums