November
2010: Kanye West releases “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album and
immediately announces that he is preparing an album together with Jay-Z!!!
January
2011: 2 songs leaked: “That’s My Bitch” and “H.A.M.”, which would later be the
first single!
July 2011:
“Otis” is released as a second single, but no further details released about
the album… “Otis” takes a sample from an Otis Redding song and his voice and Ye
with Jay rap about diamonds, cars and champagnes… Is this what we all waited
all year long? Certainly not…
August
2011: “Watch The Throne” album released!!! Finally we get the chance to listen
to one of the most anticipated albums of the year.
Both the
productions and the rapping are good, very good!!! Once you hear the album you
‘ll want to hear it again and again! You will listen to great productions and
rap themes that don’t stay at the “money, cars, clothes” theme of “Otis”!!!
Both rappers touch their feelings and share some of their personal experiences
and views about family on “New Day” and “Made In America” songs, about murders
and killing without a purpose on “Murder In Excellence” etc…
The
features on the album are limited: Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Curtis Mayfield, Mr.
Hudson & The Library but are exactly the amount of guests needed to give
the album a soul/R’n’B touch!!!
What really
caught my impression is Kanye West. He stands at the same height lyrically as
Jay-Z and all the productions of the album gave me the sense that was chosen by
him, as the aesthetic outcome is very close to the “My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy”(… in my opinion)!!!
Songs that caught
my attention: “No Church in the Wild” featuring Frank Ocean, “New Day”, “That's
My Bitch”, “Made in America” featuring Frank Ocean, “Why I Love You” featuring
Mr. Hudson & The Library, “H.A.M.”, “Welcome to the Jungle”
Conclusion:
Definitely one of the best albums of the year!!! A classic… I totally recommend
this album!!!
Tracklist (Deluxe Version):
1. No Church in The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Love You So (Feat. Mr Hudson)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Love You So (Feat. Mr Hudson)
Bonus
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bitch
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bitch
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)
