Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Kanye West and Jay-Z collaborate on “Watch the Throne,” one of the most anticipated albums of the year, released in the beginning of August. Digital releases of the album were available Aug. 8, while those who preferred the physical copy had to wait until Aug. 12 to purchase it in stores.
Setting the stage for greatness
In Oct. 2010, West first announced in an interview with MTV that the two were working on a project together. Fans got their first taste of the album when the duo released the single “H.A.M.” in January. The final product has grown from what it was originally meant to be. When they first announced they were working together, they were planning on putting together a five-song EP, but this soon developed into a full-length album.
Fans anxiously anticipated a Fourth of July weekend release date, but instead received an opportunity to pre-order the album through lifeandtimes.com, Jay-Z’s webzine. Once fans decided to pre-order the album, they were sent to Island Def Jam’s website and were able to choose from four different versions of the album. Fans were able to choose from a deluxe version for $16.99, a standard CD for $13.99, a deluxe digital version for $14.99, or a standard digital album for $11.99. After many delays, West and Jay-Z announced the album would be released in August.
The album features many big names including Beyoncé, Frank Ocean and Mr. Hudson. West produced most of the songs on this album with some help from Swizz Beatz, The Neptunes, RZA and other notable producers.
A mixture of solid lyrics and powerful beats
The album starts out strong with the track “No Church in the Wild.” This opener sets a serious precedent for the rest of the album with Frank Ocean’s haunting vocals mixed with heavy guitars. Frank Ocean’s vocals are also featured later in the album on “Made in America.”The lyrics for “No Church in the Wild” are full of historical references from Plato to Socrates and make bold statements about customs practiced throughout the world. This track is filled with skepticism on Jay-Z’s part, while Kanye’s verses reveal the truth about a fast-paced lifestyle.
An innovative collaboration
The album’s sound is strong, making it easy to disregard the lyrics and their depth. The beats and overall direction of the sound are unlike anything that has been heard of in hip-hop, but sometimes this can distract from the emptiness in the lyrics. Although there isn’t too much lyrical depth, there are instances where both rappers show profound insight. In fact, the most notable songs on the album are engaging because of their lyrics. “New Day” is one of those tracks. Produced by RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, this is one of the most candid and emotionally driven songs on the album. Kanye’s verse is an extremely personal reflection as he proclaims the type of life he wants his son to have, “See, I just want him to have an easy life/ Not like Yeezy life, just want him to be someone people like.” These lyrics are reminiscent of the days when he was first gaining popularity. He reflects on his life and how he would not want his son to have an ego, nor would he want his son to make the same mistakes he has. Jay-Z starts off his verse by apologizing to his future child for all of the attention he is going to get for what his father has done, “Sorry junior, I already ruined ya/ Cause you ain’t even alive, papparazzi pursuin’ ya.”
Although this is one of the most anticipated albums released this year, it seems to be lacking in unity. Each track is solid and unique in its own way, but there doesn’t seem to be much linking them together besides the brief instrumental interludes between some songs. The plus side is that both artists go where no one in their genre has gone before, proving that they truly are watching the throne as they preserve creativity, authenticity and their reign as two of the most innovative artists in their genre. Overall, it’s more than a typical hip-hop album in content and definitely worth the listen.
