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At this point in their respective careers, Kanye West and Jay-Z don't have anything else to prove. They're already iconic megastars of the highest order, with an endless array of classics that rekindle an interest in Annie and Ray Charles, blurring the lines between rap's underground affinities and pop music's robust stadium sound. They are full-fledged stunt men, focused more on preserving their own monetary interests than advancing the hip hop culture. Therefore, one shouldn't expect the second coming of Run-DMC on Watch the Throne, even if Otis Redding's and Curtis Mayfield's disembodied voices inject dashes of soul into the otherwise glossy project. These rappers have lots of money, lavish tastes and the world at their collective feet. They want you to rejoice and be glad in it.
Still, that doesn't hide the fact that Watch the Throne sounds like a conflicted tug-of-war between the two, with Kanye lyrically dominating the album's first half, and Jay struggling to clean up the remains. There's an obvious brotherly connection, and Kanye rhymes with the zeal of a younger sibling looking to topple his older relative once and for all. "I just want him to have an easy life, not like Yeezy life," Kanye raps on New Day, a metaphorical song about imagined fatherhood; "Just want him to be someone people like." At times, Watch the Throne is triumphant and celebratory: No Church in the Wild is a moody gospel stomp with primal screams and an insistent guitar riff, while Lift Off finds Kanye trying to match Beyoncé's soulful moans with Auto-Tuned verses of prosperity.
Elsewhere, the duo tackles serious topics with mixed results. The tribal Murder to Excellence is an impressive glimpse into the urban homicide epidemic, while Made in America fails to resonate because of a contrived chorus that pays homage to West's Sweet Baby Jesus, among others. In the end, Watch the Throne is a very noble attempt at cohesion, but its inconsistency ultimately stalls the project, resulting in an uneven recording that buckles under the weight of its own pressure. The world is still watching, however, so Kanye and Jay can't lose.
--Marcus J. Moore
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Product Description
titolo-watch the throneartista-kanye west jay-z etichetta-universal-n. dischi1data-6 settembre 2011supporto-cd audiogenere-hip hop e ra
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
'Watch The Throne' is a dark, sinister album consisting of two of the biggest rap stars in the industry today, Kanye West and Jay-Z. The album starts off with 'Church In The Wild', a moody, bouncy track featuring a chilling chorus from upcoming r'n'b singer Frank Ocean. Already you can tell the production is luscious, expansive and larger-than-life. The next song, 'Lift Off' features Beyonce, mixing synth-heavy production with horns and trumpets, following with a chilled ending that leaves you wanting more. Thankfully track 3, 'Ni**as in Paris', brings back the fiery nature of the two rappers, with large beats and a brilliant breakdown. Kanye tells us that there is much more to come, "You are now watching the throne, don't let me into my zone...". Lead single 'Otis' is a fun throwback to Otis Redding, with a catchy piano melody and both rappers playing off each other. 'Gotta Have It' has excellent production with the Neptunes, and the beat is great. 'New Day' is a track I dislike but many people may like it. It has Aretha Franklin heavily autotuned in the background but IMO it's a bit too slow and dull. 'That's My B**ch' brings the momentum back up again, with Ely Jackson singing a very catchy chorus while you can feel heavy tribal drums pulsating. It's a highlight from the album. 'Welcome To The Jungle' has a great irregular beat that works well. 'Who Gon Stop Me' is a hard-hitting semi-dubstep rap track that definitely sounds great when you turn the bass up. 'Murder To Excellence' is another highlight from the album, and consists really of two songs, both outstanding. The background children chants in the first part sound great, with a dark subject matter and suitably added piano melody towards the middle of the first part of the song. The second part has a different production that sounds just as awesome. 'Made In America' features once again Frank Ocean, a bit soft on the chorus but it's a nice downtempo song. Doesn't really fit in with the album much though. 'Why I Love You' has a catchy chorus thanks to Mr Hudson, although the song doesn't feel that much like a rap song - more like a dance/club song when the chorus kicks in.
All in all an EXCELLENT rap album that anyone who enjoys hip-hop should add to their collection!!!
All in all an EXCELLENT rap album that anyone who enjoys hip-hop should add to their collection!!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was looking forward to this album, especially when I heard Otis. The album doesn't disappoint at all. So many great tracks. If you are a fan of either artist you will surely enjoy this!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Right now Kanye West is in a similar place to where Dr Dre was in the late 80s and early 90s, when Dre was churning out great albums by NWA, Above the Law and the D.O.C. In the time that Dre has been seeking elusive perfection in forever polishing Detox (will it ever see the light of day?), Kanye has built a whole career, from his early moments of genius on Jay's Blueprint to their current Watch the Throne project. I don't know if the two have ever met, but master-producer Dre could learn something from Kanye's easier, more collaborative approach. Kanye's production fingerprints are all over Watch the Throne, but he happily works with a whole host of other producers, including the unsung hero Mike Dean, who did so much of the underlying work on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
As Chuck D said many years ago: 'All the critics you can hang 'em, I'll hold the rope'. And the critics have been out in their hordes for this one, waiting for the masters of the game to slip. Well, much of what has been written about this is nonsense. This is by no means a perfect record, but which is? (Nothing is perfect in this world Dre, so just drop that Detox and be done with it bro.) Whether it will survive as a hip-hop classic remains to be seen, but for now let's just enjoy some of the great moments on Watch the Throne. Of the 12 tracks on the album proper, most are very good, and a handful brilliant. The weaker moments come with the stabs at commerciality (the Beyonce featuring Life Off and the silly That's My Bitch, and even Otis wears on repeated listening). Some of the strongest tracks are bunched together in the album's great climax, beginning with the astonishing Who Gon Stop Me, where Jay chases the crazy heavy-synth beats; the brilliant 'nah, nah, nah' Swizz Beats hook of Murder to Excellence and its segue into an equally intriguing beat by No ID; the Frank Ocean beautifully crooned Made in America, and the full-blooded roar of Why I Love You. Elsewhere, the Neptunes produced Gotta Have It is a standout, as is the moving RZA-handled New Day, and the enigmatic No Church in the Wild, with its great performance from Frank Ocean.
Kanye's talents have always been in the production department and - although he raised his lyrical game in his last solo album - his rapping here is often disappointing, sounding over-confident and sometimes lazy (success can have its downsides, as 'Ye well knows). Jay, though, kllls it throughout. Kanye is at the top of the production game, and Jay is at the top of his lyrical game, with keen and urgent delivery on every track.
So, forget the haters, the cheap commerciality (dull r'n'b choruses etc.) of much of today's rap output, and enjoy a pioneering real hip hop album, 'cos these boys ain't vacating the throne for some time to come...
As Chuck D said many years ago: 'All the critics you can hang 'em, I'll hold the rope'. And the critics have been out in their hordes for this one, waiting for the masters of the game to slip. Well, much of what has been written about this is nonsense. This is by no means a perfect record, but which is? (Nothing is perfect in this world Dre, so just drop that Detox and be done with it bro.) Whether it will survive as a hip-hop classic remains to be seen, but for now let's just enjoy some of the great moments on Watch the Throne. Of the 12 tracks on the album proper, most are very good, and a handful brilliant. The weaker moments come with the stabs at commerciality (the Beyonce featuring Life Off and the silly That's My Bitch, and even Otis wears on repeated listening). Some of the strongest tracks are bunched together in the album's great climax, beginning with the astonishing Who Gon Stop Me, where Jay chases the crazy heavy-synth beats; the brilliant 'nah, nah, nah' Swizz Beats hook of Murder to Excellence and its segue into an equally intriguing beat by No ID; the Frank Ocean beautifully crooned Made in America, and the full-blooded roar of Why I Love You. Elsewhere, the Neptunes produced Gotta Have It is a standout, as is the moving RZA-handled New Day, and the enigmatic No Church in the Wild, with its great performance from Frank Ocean.
Kanye's talents have always been in the production department and - although he raised his lyrical game in his last solo album - his rapping here is often disappointing, sounding over-confident and sometimes lazy (success can have its downsides, as 'Ye well knows). Jay, though, kllls it throughout. Kanye is at the top of the production game, and Jay is at the top of his lyrical game, with keen and urgent delivery on every track.
So, forget the haters, the cheap commerciality (dull r'n'b choruses etc.) of much of today's rap output, and enjoy a pioneering real hip hop album, 'cos these boys ain't vacating the throne for some time to come...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2 Giants of the rap world collaborating on an album, the listener is...
Kanye and Jay Z collaboration on this album was pure genius. I have not stopped listening to this album since purchasing it. Read more
Published 23 days ago by LLBH
Damm did dey do dat
Ohhh To be honest this was better than expected from the first track I was hooked. When I say better than expected my expectations of jigga has not fell but thougt he may not have... Read more
Published 1 month ago by hiphop int ded it lives n me
fantastic album cheapest price
If u love kanye or jay z u will love this album. Not one bad song. Also at this price was an absolute steal thanks amazonite!!!
Published 1 month ago by Mr J D Acornley
I REALLY LOVE THIS CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kanye west and jay-z are awesome but when put together its a really good cd i my favorite track otis . Read more
Published 1 month ago by mr.d.duck
Quality album from two of hip hops greatest.
I risked buying this album based on the two tracks i'd heard (Otis and N****s in Paris), and wasn't dissapointed. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Fester4810
Amazing Collaboration - A Must Own
I am not a hardcore hip/hop fan but having enjoyed the work of both of these artists in the past I thought this was worth listening to, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Elk2011
Good but not Great
Jigga has clearly made some classics in his time, although arguably hasn't delivered a sure shot since 'The Black Album'. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Real Talk
really good
Its one of them albums you can listen to over and over. Really good for any hip-hop fan. Not sure if i prefer this or American Gangster from Jay though, as my all-time favourite. Read more
Published 3 months ago by kerri p
Not their finest but pretty close
There was a lot of hype about this album and for most part it is worth it. There are quite a few qood tunes and the reworking of Otis Redding is an instant classic. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rex
spot on!
this has got to be the best album i've bought in a long while.
great use of samples in 'otis', 'new day' and 'why i love you'. Read more
great use of samples in 'otis', 'new day' and 'why i love you'. Read more
Published 4 months ago by eddie b
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