“Watch the Throne” Album Review by Kanye West & Jay-Z

Watch The Throne
by Jay-Z & Kanye West

They deliver, in full, a masterpiece well worthy of hanging up next to the painters they revere in MOMA….

At a certain point in time, every honest man reaches a point in life where he sees behind the curtains and finds a mirror and is face to face with their impact on the world. When he reaches that point, can an average man on the world openly poke holes in that existence without imploding? Can he be that honest and avoid cynicism and collapse? Can a common man? Can an entrepreneur? Can a Nation? Can a King? Can a God? These are weaved together to ask one of the many not-so-simple questions asked by Jay-Z & Kanye West on their new joint album with Kanye West- Watch the Throne.

To truly appreciate the craftsmanship of Watch the Throne, it has to be viewed in larger context. Hip hop has a long history of consciousness, a lineage revered for artists like Tupac and Lupe Fiasco releasing angst towards the establishment and regarded as being the heartbeat of the streets of America. With rare exceptions, the vein of rappers speaking on societal issues has been crippling in how unproductive it is and dangerously misinformed it is. The most respected voices have shown to be the most ignorant in spouting conspiracy ridden theories of anarchism, illuminati and a complete disregard for real political movement . . . Such lines have a history of being overvalued, as shock value wins out over seriously contemplating issues.

Certainly there’s reason to be angry, at least for anyone who has given any pause of America’s history of racial based slavery & segregation, the war on drugs & it’s racial based engineering, the prison industrial complex, anti-immigrant policies, and the disappearance of upward mobility. And yet, there’s a march of progress and an ability to overcome that is undeniable. And no one better epitomizes that duality than Jay-Z.

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Once a street drug dealer, Jay-Z is now a business mogul with an immense drive to help others prosper and change the world for the better. On the charts he has far surpassed Elvis and is nipping on the heels of the Beatles. Into this world came a Jay-Z fan and young beat-maker, Kanye West, who lived in the studio under wing and in turn developed into the world’s greatest record producer and a damn fine wordsmith in his own right. The two interact here as brothers, individually exploring very complicated topics while acting as sounding boards, spark plugs and counterweights to one another.

There’s so much to discuss with “Watch The Throne”, but, the heaviness of the lyrical content is what really stays with you. Jay is out on an entirely other level than any rapper has dared or had the skill to go. His poetry ranges from contemplating existence through the lens of Socrates’ philosophy to being the last male of his bloodline to survive the streets.

Indeed, the content of the words here are generally closer to a Harvard Professor than a songwriter. I’d venture at least three references a song will be lost on all but the nerdiest of listeners. When trying to keep up with two jet-setters with hundreds of millions of dollars each, it’s doubtful to me that anyone this side of Bill Gates will be able to keep with with the scope of all their references. Yet both lyricists manage the impressive feat of maintaining an every-man connectivity as they name check New York’s Museum of Modern Art twice and frequently bring up painters ranging from Picasso to Basquiat. For the most part, Jay goes deep while ‘Ye plays the role of the party-starter. Which isn’t to say Kanye handles his half of the lyrical load with irreverence. Indeed, he delivers the album’s most heart stopping set of lines during the grippingly somber “Murder To Excellence”,

Is it genocide? / Cause I can still hear his momma cry / Know the family traumatized / Shots left holes in his face / Bout piranha-size / The old pastor closed the cold casket / And said the church ain’t got enough room for all the tombs / It’s a war going on outside we ain’t safe from / I feel the pain in my city wherever I go / 314 soldiers died in Iraq / 509 died in Chicago’

As undeniably intelligent as the lyrics of “Watch The Throne” remain, the album is not without immense fun- especially where Kanye is concerned. Most the songs have 3 sets of verses, with one of the rappers going deep in one verse and surrounding it by cleverly boastful wordplay about sex, drugs, haters, hypocrisy & entrepreneurship. Irregardless of the topic at hand, every word and rhyme is interesting and potent and there’s not a single moment your ears or brain will drift.

The production is a zenith for Mr. West. Right off the bat, the tones of Frank Ocean’s introductory hook made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Sonically, things remained sensational right up to the 3 minute break between the album end and the bonus content. With the exception of an occasional poetic snip from Gill Scott Heron, Kanye’s recent craftsmanship has revolved around weaving together and digitally manipulating studio sessions from other sonically obsessed pop super-talents such as La Roux & Bon Iver. The tapestry of the album is rich with their presence here, as it is with Ocean, The Dream & Kid Cudi.

Long time Kanye fans will be ecstatic to find his usage of classic James Brown, Nina Simone & Curtis Mayfield samples. Critics who despise rap music frequently panned West’s early work for heavy sampling of r&b and soul. It seemed the critics had chased him away from the practice. Happily, 7 years after “The College Dropout”, ‘Ye is back at it and utilizing all his refined talents to tweak the samples into sensational new sounds.

On “Watch The Throne”, Kanye has positively mastered sampling, digital manipulation, and beat making. The producers who joined him in the endeavor are spectacular as well. RZA, 88 Keys, Q-Tip, Swizz Beatz, Sak Pase and Mike Dean all turn in beautiful bangers.

The pacing of the album is perfect, reaching a fever pitch with “Murder To Excellence” and following it immediately with one of the most beautiful, reverent & patriotic songs you’ll ever come across, “Made it in America”. The track features another stellar turn by Frank Ocean who joins the rappers in thanking God for the many beautiful individuals who have come and gone and acknowledging the responsibility and opportunity that we all have to keep the Nation moving forward. Particular moving is Jay-Z’s summary of rising up through crack manufacturing, hiding it from his Grandmother in order to make his Grandmother proud. The album then bounces back up for one last high, “Why I Love You”. On this note, “Watch The Throne” ends leaving you wanting much more, thanks in part to frequent pauses throughout in the calming form of an oft repeated intro-outro loop.

At the end of the day what you have here are two of the most talented and influential men in America taking the responsibility that comes with such status. Their friendship and chemistry is apparent throughout, as is their undeniable drive to create classic and enjoyable art. They deliver, in full, a masterpiece well worthy of hanging up next to the painters they revere in MOMA.