Hamler Presents:
Watch The Throne Review
After those two pricks Jay-Z and Kanye West announced they would be producing a collaboration album together and making us wait a fucking decade, Watch The Throne...is here. And what's any Kanye related project without a review from yours truly.
1. No Church In the Wild (feat. Frank Ocean)
It starts out fine but yet underwhelming at first. An album called
Watch The Throne should definitely start off fucking huge. While Jay-Z's verse is ih so forgettable Kanye raps about forming new religions. Frank Ocean sounds pretty good but I feel this song should have been later in the album. The beat switches at the end for no reason whatsoever.
2. Lift Off* (feat. Beyoncé)
Let me start off by saying Rihanna > Beyoncé. The chemistry is already there between these three so I don't see why she isn't on the track. Anyways, the much anticipated track featuring the Jay-Z's bitch is not as great as i was expecting it to be. Beyonce starts the song with her powerful vocals, but after the intro, we only hear from her in the chorus. The last minute or so is the most interesting, as the chorus which weve heard over and over gets reworked on some new percussion, but alas, its just an outro.it's the second track from the album yet still not much. Kanyes verse starts off strong before he begins mumbling his lyrics, while Jay Zs follow-up is almost nonexistent. The song looks to have most mainstream appeal (with Beyoncé and all) but there isnt enough of a definitive or inventive line to really draw me in.
3. Nigg*s In Paris
I like this shit, my personal favorite from the album. "That shit cray." Hahahaha, this beat is amazing. Basically, Paris is representing a place that you are not. Not exactly Kanye's best verse here as I can't understand what the fuck he is saying but damn this song is catchy. Theres also a Blades of Glory sample (No one knows what it means, but its provocative!). Lol.
4. Otis (feat. Otis Redding)
I did a review of this song earlier in this thread. Go read it. It's received great praise but I can't bring myself to give a fuck about this track.
5. Gotta Have it
A phenomenal reminder that Jay-Z and Kanye West are no to be fucked with. The two trade lines instead of verses which proves these two together are unstoppable. They finish their partners thoughts in a way ive come to expect is still satisfying, particularly when filled with humorous pop culture references.
6. New Day
If you hate Kanye, listen to this song. Dedicated to their hypothetical sons, Kanye and Jay resolve not to make the mistakes their parents did and its hard not to be moved by the trackif not by the verses, then by their moody underpinnings, particularly by the end, where a distorted guitar sample and Simones full lyrics at the end.
7. Thats My Bitch
I've did a short little review when it was leaked. Go listen. There's few minor changes and like i said back then, it wasn't done at the time.
8. Welcome to the Jungle
Ok song. Most of the track is consumed by Jays self-doubt (I look in the mirror, My only opponent) though things spiral downward after he initially announces himself as King of the Jungle, starting the track off with a bombastic statement like much of what that fills the rest of the album (Black Axl Rose, Move halfs and wholes / Come down to the jungle, Jus ask for Hov). This song can go fuck itself.
9. Whos Gon Stop Me
This beat relies heavily on a slowed down version of Flux Pavilion's
I Can't Stop. The song fits the album title so perfectly with the "no one can touch us" theme. It's a good song and all but some of the lyrics are ******ed. Like Jay-Z's verse like a rabbit, I like carrots. Im allergic to having bunny ears sounded incredibly stupid. Jay-Z also sounded like he was gasping for air when he was spittin'.
10. Murder to Excellence
This track is good. Produced by Swizz Beatz and producer S1, this track relies heavily on a chorus of vocal samples and aggressive drums along with some of the most pointed lyrics present on the album. It switches production styles halfway through the song. Jay and Kanyes somber lyrics bringing drama with Jay and Kanyes somber lyrics bringing the song together. Kanye sounds really good here...and he's singing.
11. Made In America (feat. Frank Ocean)
Kanye spends his time looking back, remembering his rise from summer school student to most demanded producer. Jay-Z is planning ahead for the future and his potentially expanding family. Jay-Z reveals things he may be thinking but no regularly willing to share with others. While the songs chorus seems to honor all of those Made In America, the track is really a look at the history these two have shared and differing futures, which is a fitting way to end the album.
12. Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson)
One of my more favorites from the album. Jay-Z and Kanye interact more on this track then any other track on this album so I'd say it's worth the listen. G.O.O.D. Music's Mr. Hudson joins these two spitting the chorus which is incredibly catchy. Kanye weaves in and out of Jay's verses. Overall cool song and when it ends, so does Watch The Throne.
Album Rating - 8/10
It's definitely good, but the album feels more like a Jay-Z album with Kanye sticking behind the scenes. Yeah he has numerous verses thorughout but Jay-Z is definitely the one most will appreciate. On
Watch the Throne, they push each other and have fun doing it, and the result is huge rap spectacle that still sounds like two insanely talented guys that put a lot of work into their album. Seems rushed but I'm fine with the way it turned out. If you're a fan of Kanye's producing and Jay-Z's rapping then this is the album for you. Jay-Z is actually rapping as if he gives a shit. Kanye forces Jay to step it up everytime they share a track together. It's been roughly 8 months since
My Beautiful Dark Twoisted Fantasy was released. Kanye's had one of the best years for any rap hip hop artist since Lil Wayne in 2008. Hats off to both Kanye and Jay-Z for a well worked collaboration album.
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