Review: Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne
Kanye West and Jay-Z released Watch The Throne today. The album is a very important collaboration of arguably the two biggest names in rap music today. Predictably, everyone is talking about Watch The Throne. If you want your Twitter client to bug out, search for the album title or #WTT.
And why wouldn’t the internet be blowing up right now? These are two icons of the rap game. This is the equivalent of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade playing on the same team. This is a can’t-miss team! If you want to remain relevant on the web, I suggest you pick the album up post haste because…
Game.
Done.
Changed.
Watch The Throne is, without a doubt, the most important work of art since Leonardo da Vinci and Michaelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni decided to hook up, mesh their talents and form the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yeah. It’s that good. And if you don’t love it? You are a hater. Nobody likes a hater.
The album is incredible. Ye’s verses vary from hot to unstoppable while Hov brings the ruckus at an alarming pace. I’ve never heard such hip-hop music before and I don’t think I’m speaking out of school when I say that the game, as we once knew it, likely will not be viewed in the same way ever again.
Like anyone who cares about important artwork, I pre-ordered Watch The Throne on iTunes – the Streets of Digital Music Download. Obviously, I ordered the Delux version since I’m not a hobo and don’t intend on listening to songs on YouTube.
Let me tell you, it was fresh my friends. I started listening at midnight as soon as the first track downloaded. I stayed up all night scribbling notes about my favorite lyrics. There are plenty of “Did Yeezy really say that!?” moments. (Spoiler alert: Yeezy did say that!)
I haven’t stopped listening to Watch The Throne yet. In fact, I found a Monday morning funeral service to be much more enjoyable than previously expected while “Murder to Excellence” and “Ni**as In Paris” bumped through my Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. When my grandmother glared across the pew at me as I bobbed my head to and fro, I simply handed her the cans and put “Made In America” featuring the incomparable Frank Ocean on blast. Grandma quickly changed her tune and without prompting, proclaimed these two young men must be the “illest motherfuckers alive.” Word to your daughter, grandma. The entire room was in tears.
Even the mainstream media loves the album. USA Today’s Steve Jones lays it down as clear as day.
As soon as Jay-Z and Kanye West announced they were naming their joint album project Watch the Throne, it was clear that the superstar rappers were aiming to raise the creative bar for themselves and hip-hop in general. They’ve realized those ambitions on Throne(**** out of four), a potent set of tracks that finds them stepping up their games and stepping out of their comfort zones.
Indeed. If you know what is good for you and your reputation, you will buy this album and you will buy it last night at midnight. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’re a poser. When you drive through the neighborhood, you don’t want to sound like a poser.
[Image via Getty]

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82 Responses to “Review: Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne”
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August 8th, 2011 at 3:30 PM
No joke, I saw vague mentions of watch the throne on Twitter and thought people were talking about Game of Thrones
/i’m lame
August 8th, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Love Jay-Z. Kanye can go away forever and I won’t miss his shitty song-writing
August 8th, 2011 at 3:31 PM
In case it was missed in the last thread….
I love dogs.
fin.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Hov brings the ruckus at an alarming pace
That’s a great sentence.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:34 PM
I give Kanye respect for his production and his creation of the music. When he opens his mouth, I lose all respect for him.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Otis Redding was a god. He was unbelievable. I highly recommend getting a work of his greatest hits because it’s a lot more than just “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.”
August 8th, 2011 at 3:35 PM
This. I had his greatest hits on vinyl for many years. Him, Sam Cooke, and early Marvin Gaye is some of the best music ever.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:37 PM
Wouldn’t it be Kobe and LeBron teaming up? Since Jay is probably the best in the game but at the end of his career and Kanye is a loudmouth douchewank?
Good review. Haven’t heard a track off this yet though.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Meh. Both of those embedded songs sounded pretty pedestrian.
/Enjoyed the Eminem segment on 60 minutes last night.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Did they sample other artists’ work in a way never thought possible before?
August 8th, 2011 at 3:38 PM
I thought this as well.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Wait, SC and I totally agree on something?
/checks sky for biblical plagues
August 8th, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Did they sample other artists’ work in a way never thought possible before?
I hate when rappers are called artists for sampling other peoples work. Buffet artists maybe.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Listened to it a couple times today. Seems pretty solid so far.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Why? Just leave Otis be, he is perfect without you assholes butchering his songs.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Dow’s going to end up down 600. HOORAY BEER!
August 8th, 2011 at 3:45 PM
I’m obviously in the minority, but I like this album. Need a few more listens, but it’s really good.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:45 PM
/reads comments
//pours one out for Jonathan Swift
August 8th, 2011 at 3:45 PM
After listening to “Otis,” I’m inclined to agree with the Col. Parker.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:46 PM
He’s still the best in my book.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:46 PM
/oh, there they are
August 8th, 2011 at 3:47 PM
SELL! SELL!! SELL!!!!
August 8th, 2011 at 3:47 PM
/slowly steps away from computer…
/runs to bank
August 8th, 2011 at 3:48 PM
The thing I love about Otis Redding that this song (I only listened once, so I could be wrong) fails to capture and in fact seems to miss completely, is that when you listen to an Otis Redding song, you can hear the pain in his voice. He sounds like he lived a long, hard and trying life…yet he only lived to the age of 26! So when I hear lyrics like “I smoked Cubans in Cuba with Castro” and other “sick brag” lyrics, I can’t help but think they miss the point on what Otis represented.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:48 PM
IT WAS THE DUKES, IT WAS THE DUKES!!!
August 8th, 2011 at 3:48 PM
I feel like watching Wall Street after a day like today.
“Money is neither made nor lost, it merely changes forms”.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:49 PM
That’s the one thing you shouldn’t do. We don’t need a bank run. Hell, the 10-yr treasury is at 2.33%. The CDS on US Gov’t debt is still priced lower than Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia and France. Relax people.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:49 PM
With ease.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:49 PM
IT WAS THE DUKES, IT WAS THE DUKES!!!
That movie is still required watching for me in the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
“It ain’t cool being no jive turkey so close to Thanksgiving!”
August 8th, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Stop making the Fear Index rise. Of course after 2 days of no market trading it was going to dive after the credit rating drop. I’m not going to stand here like Kevin Bacon in Animal House screaming, “ALL IS WELL! ALL IS WELL!” but there’s no need to panic.
Unless you’re over the age of 50. Then you can panic.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Currently airing on AMC, by the way.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Unless you’re over the age of 50. Then you can panic.
You clearly didn’t get my mocking tone. I was referring to the CNN homepage and the like that made it seem like the end was nigh. Other than the effect this may or may not have on the economy (which might end up being large and hurting me)… this really doesn’t affect me at all, as I don’t own a home and don’t plan on retiring in the near future.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Didn’t think this album was going to reach as far as it has. These guys are good.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Give me my money Bailey!
August 8th, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Give me my money Bailey!
MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. POTTTTERRRRR!!
August 8th, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Headline on the CNN homepage:
“SELL FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER.”
I’m not sure that’s very responsible reporting. But then again, it is CNN. Par for the course.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:54 PM
It’s a good thing the economy is fake anyway.
/Hicks’d
August 8th, 2011 at 3:55 PM
I’ve got a pretty good grip on CRM’s sarcasm, but I cant tell if he actually liked it or not. Both of these guys used to be kind of good, but its been a while.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:55 PM
That’s why you needed to put a lot in money markets so you won’t get absolutely hammered during this.
/my parents
//thankfully
August 8th, 2011 at 3:56 PM
I was underwhelmed.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Both of these guys used to be kind of good, but its been a while.
I’m usually not a fan of rap or hip-hop (shocking I know) but I though Jay-Z’s last album was pretty decent. Empire State of Mind I believe it was called?
August 8th, 2011 at 3:57 PM
All I know is that I see lots of buying opportunities with all of these 52-wk lows.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:58 PM
All I know is that I see lots of buying opportunities with all of these 52-wk lows.
/glass is half full’d
August 8th, 2011 at 3:59 PM
Blueprint 3. The Blueprint (released on 9/11) is among the finest hip-hop albums of all time.
August 8th, 2011 at 3:59 PM
Red Hot Chili Peppers has an album out at th end of the month I think…excited for that one
August 8th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Oil is at it’s year low yet prices are $.90/gallon above what they were a year ago. I’m still waiting for gas prices to drop. Fucking assholes
August 8th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
!!! OH snap!!!!
via DS:
But, all told, chances are I wouldn’t pay money for the photo based on your description. Honestly, I don’t know who would. Maybe TMZ? Big Lead, maybe? If you’re still interested in making money off of your cellphone photo, I’d try those guys.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
It was called Blueprint 3. Empire State of Mind was the song with Alicia Keys that got played 10 million times too many. Overall it was a good album. His best work is still Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint 1 and the Black Album.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Go nuts if you’ve got disposable income. Sadly, mine is all tied up in Blackhawks tickets and Faberge eggs.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:01 PM
t was called Blueprint 3. Empire State of Mind was the song with Alicia Keys that got played 10 million times too many. Overall it was a good album. His best work is still Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint 1 and the Black Album.
Got it. As I said, rap/hip-hop isn’t exactly my wheelhouse.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:01 PM
The way I look at it I don’t retire for another 30 years (at least), so I’m just going to keep putting the max in my 401k and buy low.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
The way I look at it I don’t retire for another 30 years (at least), so I’m just going to keep putting the max in my 401k and buy low.
Same here. It’s not a loss until you cash it out.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Just waiting for the transfer to my brokerage account tomorrow morning.
/then I’ll go heavy into FCOJ
August 8th, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Personally, I’m just waiting for Irwin R. Schyster to give us his feelings on today’s DOW action. Then I’ll form my opinion.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:05 PM
I’m really getting tired of Kanye’s production. If you must sample, fine, but I’m getting tired of him sampling songs I already know/like.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:05 PM
I’m definitely going to be adding into my positions of Wells, Oracle, and J&J tomorrow.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:06 PM
keep waiting. with the national eye on the economy/S&P/credit ratings, gas isn’t going to drop.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I go back and forth on the Black Album. Undoubtedly BP2 & American Gangster are his worst.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:08 PM
I’m definitely going to be adding into my positions of Wells, Oracle, and J&J tomorrow.
I’m one of those people who puts my max amount in, but I don’t have the slightest idea what I’m invested in. Mostly international stocks I think.
I let some guy at Vanguard named Duane make those decisions for me.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Kanye’s last album (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy) was really good.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I like Jay-Z and Kanye. I like Watch The Throne. The game didn’t done change though.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:13 PM
I have my 401k, but I also buy individual stocks as well, bought a lot after things crashed in 2008. Large cap stocks with dividends and cash. Best thing I did was buy Apple at 150.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:14 PM
Anyone notice the S&P 500 closed -6.66% on the day?
August 8th, 2011 at 4:16 PM
You watch your mouth about American Gangster. Most underrated Jay-Z album and very, very good. Didn’t like BP2, but Kingdom Come was his worst and In My Lifetime Volume 3 wasn’t great either.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Anyone notice the S&P 500 closed -6.66% on the day?
I bet Westboro Baptist Church did.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:18 PM
I contribute enough into my 401K and have an ING savings account. After that? Not much else really going on.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:19 PM
I agree on American Gangster WeaponX, extremely underrated.
Blueprint 1 > the Black > Reasonable Doubt > American Gangster > Blueprint 2 > In my life vol 2 > In my life vol 1 > In my life vol 3 >>>>>>>>>>Kingdom Come
/Kingdom Come sucked a major on
August 8th, 2011 at 4:20 PM
I would switch the order of Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint 1, otherwise I really like that list.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:22 PM
I can see that, Reasonable is much more raw, however Blueprint had rawness mixed with Kayne’s incredible mixs.
/plus it really kicked my appreciation of hip-hop
August 8th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Thanks whitey.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Yeah, I don’t really care if someone prefers one over the other. Same with Black Album. Three of my all time favorites.
August 8th, 2011 at 4:50 PM
Spoiler alert: Yeezy did say that!
Damn you! I wanted to find out for myself!!
August 8th, 2011 at 5:01 PM
ohhhhhhhhhh so THAT’S what the whole #watchthethrone twitter thing meant! I thought it was just a hashtag encouraging people to watch Game of Thrones.
That Otis single totally sucks donkey balls. Might be one of the worst rap songs I’ve ever heard.
August 8th, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Watch out for Detox!
/D.R.E.
August 8th, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Blueprint 2 was a horrible album. Listening to “Hovi Baby” gives me a headache…he really didn’t care about the album. The only good tracks on that album were Excuse Me Miss and The Watcher 2.
Also, haven’t checked out the album yet, but Jay’s album collabos usually tend to suck donkey balls (remember him and Kellz?).
August 8th, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Eminem yells more than he raps nowadays. Switching up your flow and making it faster (while screaming on to the mic) doesn’t mean you’re a better rapper than others. I can’t tell you who the best in the game right now is, but I’d say someone like J.Cole.
With that being said Eminem from 1998-2002 was a king. Encore, however, was possibly one of the sloppiest, laziest album by a superstar emcee I’ve ever heard. Its’ up there with BP2.
August 8th, 2011 at 10:53 PM
These 2 are the worst thing to happen to rap. It stopped being music. Their beats suck. Their voices suck. Their lyrics suck. These to are the NCIS of the music industry. They killed rap.
August 8th, 2011 at 11:20 PM
no..Piles of shit like Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and all those fucktards ruined mainstream rap. Fuck those guys.
oh and Vanilla Ice
August 8th, 2011 at 11:21 PM
/not racist
August 8th, 2011 at 11:22 PM
also – autotune ruined rap.
August 8th, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Autotune ruined music. These 2 hacks ruined rap.
August 8th, 2011 at 11:34 PM
I agree on Kanye. I can’t agree on Jay-Z.