The song peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,and peaked at number one on both the U.S. Hot Rap Songs,Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,and Rhythmic Airplay charts. The song has since been certified 7x platinum in the U.S.,as of April 2023. A music video was released on June 6,2012. The highly stylized video shows a long take of all four rappers featured on the song,with editing as to make them appear as if they're 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. 2 Chainz,Pusha T,and Big Sean performed the track during Sean's setlist at the 2012 Summer Jam festival. The song was performed by all four rappers at the 2012 BET Awards,with West substituting his verse from "Mercy",with his verses from "Cold" and "New God Flow" (2012). Multiple music magazines ranked "Mercy" as one of the best songs of 2012. The song received two nominations at the 55th Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
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" (2012).[1][2] The track was premiered by Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show,and was released the following day on West's official website.[2] The song serves as the first official single from Cruel Summer,a compilation album by West's record label,GOOD Music.[2] The release of the track continued West's GOOD Fridays,a music giveaway that provided free MP3 downloads every week to anticipate My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010),which had been on hiatus since December 2010.[3] 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.[4] Reflecting on his collaboration with West,2 Chainz noted that they had worked together for about a year before the song's release.[5] He recalled contracting West to hear his own verse again,describing the experience as a strong addition to his professional résumé.[5]
The song was produced by Lifted,with additional production from West,Hudson Mohawke,[6] and Anthony Kilhofer.[7][6] 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.[8] Furthermore,West added additional production with sampling and his rap verse.[9][6] Both Pusha T and Big Sean recorded their verses in January 2012,with the song mixed and finalized in March.[8] Producer Hit-Boy,known for producing West's "Niggas in Paris" (2011),described the track as a fresh and innovative blend that incorporated trap elements while maintaining a unique sound.[5] He expressed enthusiasm for the result and admitted that he wished he had produced it himself.[5]
"Mercy" is a Southern hip-hop song with dancehall influences.[10] Beginning with a sample of the early 1990s dancehall track, "Dust a Sound Boy" by Fuzzy Jones,[5][11] the song spans a haunting bass track, sparse drums, piano keys, and a Scarface film sample.[5] 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.[12]
Lyrically, Big Sean continues the strip clubs-inspired themes of his earlier single "Dance (Ass)", while Pusha T delivers verses focused on his luxury car collection.[5] West's lines center on his wealth and relationship with models, often used to taunt less successful rappers.[5] Without an overarching concept, 2 Chainz closes the track with a free-associative verse referencing high-end jewelry, designed accessories, and premium marijuana strains.[5]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".[12]
Critical reception
"Mercy" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Josiah Hughes of Exclaim! remarked that the track met expectations with its lavish, cinematic production, slowed-down samples, and aggressive synthesizer elements, also referencing West's distinctive vocal exclamation that had become a signature of his style.[13] Corban Goble of Stereogum described the song as a massive, forceful production in which the featured rappers exchange confident, swagger-filled verse over a hook influence by "syrup-music inspired" Southern rap.[14]
Jayson Rodriguez of XXL observed that while the concept and presentation might seem familiar, the track's execution felt elevated, crediting West for assembling the lineup and delivering a polished result. He noted that the earlier surprise release of "Cold" had been more thrilling in both sound and spectacle.[8]Idolator stated that while the track lands along West's GOOD Fridays singles, it's not as elevated with companions "Good Friday" and "Devil in a New Dress".[12] Kia Makarechi of The Huffington Post commented that although he song offered little lyrical depth, it functioned effectively as a confident display of boastful rap.[15]
In 2012 year-end lists, both Complex and Spin named "Mercy" the best song of 2012.[16][17]Rolling Stone named the song the 6th best song of 2012.[18]MTV named "Mercy" the seventh best song of 2012.[19]XXL named it one of the top five hip-hop songs of 2012.[20]Billboard named it the third best song of 2012.[21]NME named it the 39th best song of the year.[22] "Mercy" was placed at 31 on Club Fonograma's best songs of 2012 list.[23]MSN listed the song eighth on its best 2012 songs list.[24] It would go on to win Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 2012 Soul Train Music Awards.[25] That same year, the song was featured on the soundtrack for NBA 2K13.[26] In end of the decade best songs of the 2010s lists; Stereogum placed it at 53,[27]Crack listed it at 62,[28] and Uproxx ranked it at 36.[29]
"Mercy" debuted on the BillboardHot 100 at position 38, later achieving a peak position of 13.[43] It also peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[44]Hot Rap Songs,[45] and Rhythmic Airplay charts in the United States.[46] By July 2012, it sold one million digital copies.[47] In May 2018, it ranked as West's 14th biggest success on the Hot 100.[48] Internationally, the song charted in Australia,[49] Belgium,[50] Canada,[51] France,[52] and the United Kingdom.[53] The song also charted at number nine on the latter's Hip-Hop/R&B charts.[54]
West released a black-and-white image of a Lamborghini on his Twitter account, serving as promotion for the video.[55] It was filmed in a university at Qatar Foundation's parking garage in Doha, Qatar, while West was producing his short film, Cruel Summer.[56] On June 6, West "unleashed the deceptively minimalist video" onto his website.[57] The video was shot in a wide aspect ratio, featuring the artists performing in what appears to be a parking garage as the camera pans smoothly across the space. A Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is prominently displayed in the background, adding to the video's sleek aesthetic.[58] Marc Hogan of Spin praised the video for its minimalistic black-and-white visuals, primarily featuring West and his collaborates exuding style and attitude.[57] He highlighted the sequence coinciding with the song's synth lift as the visual peak, noting the moment when two versions of West appear simultaneously as a standout creative choice.[57] Carrie Batton of Pitchfork described the video as a minimalist yet visually striking black-and-white production, notable for its use of leather outfits, keffiyehs, and sharply composed camera angles that enhance its stylish presentation.[59]
Live performances
The song's debut performance was at the O2 Arena in London, during West's Watch the Throne Tour in May 2012, with him performing his portion of the song.[60] 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".[61] At the 2012 BET Awards, all four featured rappers performed the song live, with a stage design that included a Lamborghini model as part of the set.[62]Los Angeles Times critic Randall Roberts observed that the performance reached its peak when West transitioned into his hit "Cold", followed by an improved freestyle on "New God Flow" that ended in a powerful, rhythm-driven breakdown.[62]
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