The day is upon us.
The highly anticipated Watch The Throne from both Jay Z and Kanye West hits record stores today to be greeted with a cautious appreciation by this fan.
There is nothing special about this album. It's good. As I'm used to with Kanye West's newer efforts there are definitely highs and lows to this album. Repetitive themes. Watch The Throne's moral to its story is money, expensive watches, women, lavish lifestyles and being proud to be black in America.
In a nutshell.
Riddled with fantastically produced beats with credit to notable hip-hop producers Mike Dean, The RZA, The Neptunes, Q-Tip, Kanye West (obviously) among others. This album's light shines from the sheer production value and clear talent for the art of producing.
Initial thoughts:
- Is there a bad beat on this album?
- Nope
- Will Farrel sample, cool (Niggas in Paris)
- Head bob
The chemistry between the Hova and Yeezy is second to none. Songs like Gotta Have It, Otis and Why I Love You display this better than any other tracks on the album. They can seamlessly finish each others sentences and throw rhymes back and forth. I appreciate the camaraderie and willingness to give each other center stage.
The best song on the album is Why I Love You hands down. No argument can sway it. It's the best song. Period. Mr. Hudson (Forever Young) returns to grace another Jay Z album in a big way. If you haven't heard it yet scroll down and let it be the soundtrack to finish my review. This song will be everywhere in a few months I guarantee it. And if not BIG mistake.
With all the nice things being said it's time for a little negative. I mean little because this is good work. Like I said earlier there isn't anything ground breaking or life changing about this album. Even though Kanye West might think differently. Heavy hitting rap partnerships have been popping up forever (Method Man/Redman and more recently Nas/Damian Marley). It seems like Kanye's rapping has improved dramatically since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy which causes this fan to believe that ghost writing played a major role in making this album work. Even though Kanye does have the swagger ghost writing is cheating. If you're not good enough to write the rhymes don't spit them. I don't think every word he speaks was written for him but I think Jay Z should take the credit for some of the wittier flows.
Also not appreciated is Beyonce's effort on Lift Off. Mainly because I'm fairly anti Beyonce. The song in general just doesn't fit. All it offers is some ego stroking for Kanye and a weak slow flow by Jay. It seems like this song kind of just came together because they wanted Beyonce on the album somehow when it wasn't necessary at all. It's mostly an instrumental and offers nothing to the album other than a break between good songs. Or to make the up coming songs sounds better in comparison. Either way the song is a complete waste of effort (or lack of). A fly in your soup.
Overall a good album. Not great, but good.
DIG IT
Choice: Niggas In Paris, Otis, Gotta Have it, Murder to Excellence, Why I Love You
Bogus: Lift Off, Who Gon Stop me, Made in America
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