Review: Kanye West x Jay-Z – Watch The Throne

They continue to make music history, so here are my thoughts:

Gave Watch The Throne a whole week of repeated playbacks on iTunes after I downloaded the album in my hotel in Las Vegas. This project had so much hype and anticipation that many people were questioning the quality of the project because of all the buzz around it. And it’s understandable, Kanye has put so many chart topping hits and Jay-Z has eleven number 1 albums so it’s natural that expectations were at an all time high.

WTT is different from what we’ve heard this year, it’s Kanye’s artistic music ideas and Jay-Z’s lyrical style all in one. This album is not to make money or gain more fame, they have enough of it, I perceived it as two of today’s biggest artists making good music with no restrictions and pressure from labels. From the start you can see this, a fresh new artist like Frank Ocean gets the opening track on No Church in The wild which reminds me of a western movie. Lift Off is ok, Beyonce kinda overshadows the track and it seems like it’s just a little too much for the album, it would’ve been better for a Beyonce bonus album track. N***as in Paris though it’s the truth, Jay is far from modest and goes off on the Hit-Boy production with brags like “Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, game six” and Ye doesn’t stay behind with his fashion rhymes “Whats Gucci My N***a, what’s Loui my Killa, what’s drugs my dealer, what’s that Jacket, Margiela”. One of the best tracks off the album by far, excellent production and superb wordplay from both artists. Otis follows and by now everyone has their opinion on this track. Gotta Have It follows, were both go back and forth exchanging raps over a nice Neptunes beat, basically addressing all the haters in their life and their luxurious life. On New Day the duo reconnects with the RZA, a more personal track about their unborn children. Ye recites “and I’ll never let my son have an ego, He’ll be nice to everyone, wherev- er we go, I mean I might even make ‘em be Republican, So everybody know he love white people” while Jay-Z responds “Sorry junior, I already ruined ya / Cause you ain’t even alive, paparazzi pursuin”. One Day sets the tone for second half of the album, a more serious track were they become more realistic with the effects that their career has done to their personal lives. It’s not all about luxury and bragging after all.

That’s My Bitch starts the second half, Ye and Q-Tip handle most of the production on this track which is truly a feel good track with a nice sample from the original track Apache. What’s a Jay-Z album without Swizz Beatz? Swizz does the hook and handles the production for Welcome To My Jungle where Jiggaman discusses the pain about loosing his uncle, dad and the tragic loss of his newphew. This sounds like a track that was supposed to make Jay-Z’s album, he goes solo and gets really serious reminds me of The Blueprint Jay-Z. Who Gon Stop Me brings it back to that luxury rap, but the I can’t Stop sample from Flux Pavilion is amazing, truly one of the best beats from the album. With three tracks left Murder to Excellence really sets the tone to close the album, Jigga starts off and Ye’s recycled rap “And I’m from the murder capital, Where they murder for capital” gives us hope that Kanye still keeps Chicago in his heart. Great track and Kanye really touches some great issues we are living here in Chicago with the crime rates and this I don’t give a fuck attitude. I understand why Kanye doesn’t come to Chicago too often, it’s a tough city and specially tougher for artist.

Frank Ocean gets another feature, what more can you ask for. Frank Ocean is super talented and really did his best with the Made it In America hook, amazing track and one of the most realest tracks of the album. Pure realness and to really comprehend the song, I think you need to listen to the old albums. Mr.Hudson handles the outro’s hook, very lyrical track and Jay addresses the haters again along with those lawyer fees he paid for those who turned his back on him. Great way to end the album, we all know this is a tough game and Jay-Z really opens up about all the people that have turned their back on him while they watch him grow as an artist, also watch Ye and Jay take Hip Hop’s throne. As far as the bonus tracks, well they are just that, bonus tracks.

I normally don’t do album reviews because the game has changed over the last few years, but Watch The Throne is special. Whether you’re a fan, were a fan, became a fan or completely dislike these two individuals, you can’t deny that they are ahead of their time and have complete control of their destiny in the music game. The production on the album is one of the best we’ve seen in years, yes they brag about their millions, cars, bottle popping, fashion and talents, but this is the life they live. They worked hard for nearly two decades to get to this point, to have full control of their music and most importantly have fun in the process with still keeping one thing in mind, making good music for us, the listeners.

Gerson Donis